Meet the Board series introduces the volunteer Board Members who help guide Staffordshire Community Energy. Coming from a range of backgrounds and places, they share what motivates them and why community energy matters, showing that getting involved is open to anyone with an interest in people, place and community benefit.
Ian Smout, Secretary
Ian Smout joined the Staffordshire Community Energy Board in May 2025 and serves as Secretary. His role focuses on ensuring the society operates in line with its rules and legal requirements, and that strong governance and records underpin SCE’s continued growth. He lives in Nottinghamshire.
Tell us a little about your background
I am a retired Chartered Civil Engineer with experience in the governance of not-for-profit organisations. I was Director of the Water, Engineering and Development Centre at Loughborough University for eight years, and Chair of the international humanitarian charity RedR UK for five years. I became Secretary of Chase Community Solar in 2022 and took on the Secretary role at SCE in 2025.
What motivated you to get involved in community energy?
I started investing in renewable energy through community benefit societies around ten years ago as a personal response to the challenges of climate change. When I learnt that Chase Community Solar, and later Staffordshire Community Energy, were looking for a Secretary, I was pleased to get involved and support their development.
What does community energy mean to you?
Community energy is about democratic, not-for-profit societies tackling the climate emergency at a local level. It combines the generation of renewable energy with meaningful community benefit, ensuring that value is retained and reinvested locally.
Is there a project or achievement you are particularly proud of?
I am proud of the international development and humanitarian work I supported through Loughborough University and RedR UK. Looking ahead, I am keen to make a useful contribution to SCE as it expands and delivers new projects.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity for community energy in Staffordshire?
For me, it’s about making better use of the buildings we already have. Hospital roofs, GP surgeries and community buildings offer a huge opportunity for solar, helping those organisations cut energy costs while also generating long-term benefits that can be reinvested back into the community.
