Louise Kingham OBE
Chief Executive
As you know from last year’s centenary celebrations, the Energy Institute (EI) – now 101 – has been a professional body by several names but with a constant purpose over the years to promote “the hallmark of the profession”. We interpret this today as promoting knowledge, skills and good practice in the energy industry for public good.
The EI’s longest-serving home has been 61 New Cavendish Street, a grade II* listed building in central London which the EI first occupied in the late 1950s on a 999-year lease. Upon taking occupation, the members of the institute donated funds to refurbish the building and make it ready to house the activities of their professional body, and to welcome new members and visitors. With minor improvements along the way for the Library and the Lecture Theatre, the facilities have largely remained untouched over six decades. Yet, (like Topsy – but in a more organised fashion), the EI has grown to serve many more professionals in new and exciting ways – whilst keeping its core purpose close to its heart. Now, 60 years on, it’s time to ask for your help once more.
The EI’s governing Council has been building a reserve to upgrade your institute’s professional home and has sought some sponsorship too. Now we would like to invite EI members to get involved just as they did in 1957. The ambition behind this refurbishment is to get the EI’s home fit for purpose for the future with upgraded facilities for members, visitors, volunteers and staff alike. New meeting rooms, hot desk facilities, refurbished training rooms, a remodelled Lecture Theatre and restoration to the Library with new IT, audio-visual and communications equipment throughout, will bring new life and opportunity to your professional body. Once completed, the grade II* listed building will also be an example of good practice in retrofitting energy efficiency improvements.
The project has been planned over three years and work has now commenced, so your support would be most timely. We’d be delighted if you would like to help – just as members did in 1957. If you would like to contribute to our fundraising efforts, there are a number of ways you can do so. A Just Giving page will go live on the EI website next week and you’ll receive a message to access it then. Alternatively, you can send a donation to me at the EI, 61 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7AR, or email me at e: lkingham@energyinst.org so I can contact you to discuss your gift in person.
I made the first donation because I know how important this project is and some members have already made generous gifts too. I hope, like me, you will be keen to help make a little history and put the EI on a firm footing for the future. So please do get in touch with me and, to any senior members who might recall the project some 60 years ago, I’d love to hear from you too.
