Why engineers built their own professional body

The UK renewables sector has grown faster than almost anyone predicted. Gigawatts of solar PV and battery storage are now connected to the grid, with more being built every month. The technology has moved on. The investment has moved on. But the people who actually design, build, commission and maintain these assets have been left without a professional home.

That is why AmpTrust exists.

AmpTrust Professional Members Limited is an independent, engineer-led membership body created to raise technical standards, reduce poor practice, and give the renewables workforce a collective voice. It is not a trade body. It is not a lobbying group. It is a professional association built around the people on the tools.

Technical Membership is open to engineers and hands-on professionals working across our two divisions: Utility Scale, covering large-scale solar farms and grid-connected BESS, and Commercial and Industrial with Residential, covering rooftop and domestic installations.

To hold a Technical Membership, you need to demonstrate an electrical qualification at NVQ Level 3 equivalent or a recognised City & Guilds certification. That bar exists for a reason. When you see the AmpTrust mark next to someone's name, it means they have been verified. They have done the work.

What does Technical Membership actually deliver?

First, verified credibility. In an industry where anyone can call themselves an engineer, AmpTrust provides a trust mark that means something when you are tendering, hiring, or recommending.

Second, peer-level knowledge sharing. Closed channels where you can ask the questions that do not get asked in public, compare notes on failure modes, and learn from people who have actually been on site.

Third, a direct line into the standards conversation. What our members feed back becomes what the industry hears. We are building workstreams around O&M and asset management, consulting, C&I, and commercial practice so that technical experience shapes the decisions that affect everyone.

The founding board of 17 senior renewables professionals came together at our inaugural AGM in April 2026 at RES Group headquarters in Kings Langley. Matt Newbury was elected Chair. Robert Harley and Clive Cosby were elected Vice Chairs covering C&I and utility-scale respectively.

If you have ever sat in a project meeting and watched a decision get made by someone who has never been on site, this is for you. If you have ever had to fix the consequences of that decision, this is definitely for you.

Morals before profit. Safety before speed. Technical excellence above all.

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Brett Baber Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Thanos Renewables

Brett is a seasoned leader in utility-scale renewable energy with deep experience across solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and project delivery.