From IT to Renewables: Why I Love Marketing Complex Sectors

If you’d told my 22-year-old self when I graduated university that I’d spend the next 30 years marketing and writing about technology, I’d have been horrified.

Firstly, it doesn’t sound remotely glamorous. Secondly, I was a complete technophobe.

I handwrote essays at university purely to avoid the scary computer lab. I was the last of my friends to get a mobile phone - and even then it took me another year to work out text messaging.

I was far more likely to set tech on fire than set any tech sector alight with my marketing prowess.

And yet, here I am nearly three decades later, having built a career on my ability to understand, translate and promote complex technologies.

Over the years I’ve worked with countless IT and technology organisations, from brilliant boutiques to global consultancies including Hitachi Consulting, Avanade and Dell Technologies.

I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolution of everything from identity and cyber security to cloud computing, digital twins, data science and AI.

And for the last seven years, I’ve worked predominantly in the energy and renewables sector, supporting organisations including Advizzo, Plug me in and Calisen.

What 22-year-old Sarah didn’t know was how much she’d love working with the brilliant minds and incredible people who are leaders in their respective fields. And how much satisfaction I'd get from translating their complex subject matter into clear, commercially-focused messaging that helps businesses understand not just the technology, but the wider market context, commercial pressures and opportunities too.

For the last six months, I have been supporting a national commercial solar installer called Plug me in as their part-time interim marketing manager -working across commercial solar marketing, messaging and content strategy.

One of the recent pieces I wrote explores a topic dominating the headlines once again: energy volatility - and why more UK businesses are turning to commercial solar as a risk management strategy, not just a sustainability initiative. Read the blog 'The Commercial Solar Surge: Why More Businesses Are Investing in Solar Now'.

My role and skillset might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I genuinely love the challenge of making complex topics engaging, relevant and commercially meaningful.

So if you’re in the IT, energy, utilities or renewables sectors and looking for experienced marketing or content support, I’d love to connect.