A total of 48 Lancaster University students have furthered their careers in the last three years through working with Cumbrian company Brampton 2 Zero (B2Z).

Based in Brampton in Cumbria, B2Z is a Community Interest Company set up to implement sustainable energy solutions and encourage projects to enable resilience to climate change.

The Founding Director is Lancaster University’s former Schools Outreach Officer Phil Furneaux, who is now an Honorary Teaching Fellow in the Department of Physics.

He said: “We’re grateful to the university for allowing us to benefit from working with students on a range of projects. Working with B2Z has given them an insight into a community group's activities to combat climate change and also provides them with valuable work experience to help their career prospects as well as academic projects for their degree.”

One of this year’s graduating MSc Physics students Amy Ferra recently completed her internship with B2Z on a feasibility study for a Community EV charging project in Brampton.

She said: “I have been enjoying the chance to apply my physics background to a real-world setting. This has included assessing local demand, researching ownership models, and analysing costs. It has been rewarding to see how the skills I use in my degree can contribute to benefit the community. I have also learnt a lot about the challenges of balancing sustainability goals with financial challenges, helping to develop skills I know will be valuable for me in the future.”

Phil said: “We were so impressed with her work we invited her to look at a group source heating scheme at a social housing block of flats. The results of this gave us confidence to apply successfully for a Great British Energy Community Fund grant to decarbonize the secondary school gas heating system using borehole technology. Amy has now a place on the management board of this project and will gain work experience and a paid role in writing the feasibility study setting her up with quality experience for a Net Zero career.”

Lancaster University’s Student Engagement Manager Pam Pickles said: “We have been delighted to work with B2Z to host internships for our students over the years. These have not only benefited the students by giving them valuable work experience and enhanced career prospects, but have also helped to give back to our community in supporting the excellent initiatives which Phil and his colleagues are so passionate about. We hope this partnership can continue for many years to come.”

Phil and Amy will give a talk and lead a discussion about the role of B2Z at Lancaster University’s Roundhouse B07, from 16:00 to 17:00 on Wednesday July 1. Book your free ticket here.

Other B2Z community projects with Lancaster University students have included:

2022/23: 3rd year physics industrial project on the completion of a model community energy scheme

2022/23: Internship for physics Masters student George Stephan on a visualisation of the community energy scheme modelling

2022/23: Masters dissertation project with LEC student Holly Bassett for a citizen science project with public engagement on encouraging hedgehogs back into Brampton

2023/24: 3rd year physics industrial project for a Model Heat Pump

2023/24: 3rd year physics student internship for Robbie Messenger on an explanation of the model heat pump

2023/24: Masters dissertation project with LEC student Ellie Gillard on a biodiversity survey of farmland

2023/24: Collaboration with LUSU Society Climate Action including two visits to Brampton for hedge planting and advising on B2Z public engagement

2024/25: 3rd year physics industrial project on building a model EV charger

2024/25: 3rd year geography project on measuring attitudes to climate change in Brampton

2024/25: visit by the LUSU Green society to visit the B2Z projects and help with hedge tending

2025/26: Internship for physics student Amy Ferra on researching a feasibility study for a community EV charger in Brampton