The 2020 Fastest Growing Firms: The Renewables Consulting Group

Consulting: What were the main factors that contributed to your firm's exceptional growth?

Chivers: I would say our success is largely down to a combination of an exceptional team, a unique value proposition, and delivering results for our clients every time. Over the past five years we have worked hard to build one of the most formidable advisory teams globally – diverse, and with truly unique experience to offer our clients. Our value proposition from the outset has been to bridge the void between the top-tier management consultants and the large engineering firms, and we see more and more clients requiring that blend of strategic advice and market intelligence, with deep sector-specific engineering and technical competence. Finally, putting our clients' needs first, always, and focusing on our client service, our responsiveness, producing the highest quality outputs, and ensuring discretion and confidentiality, has driven a repeat engagement rate that we are extremely proud of.

Consulting: How is this year shaping up for your firm?

Chivers: In spite of the Covid-19 global health emergency, we have posted a very solid first quarter for the new financial year, with significant growth for the period from 2019 both in revenue and earnings. As I am sure has been the case for most SMEs during these uncertain times, we have been "hunkered down" for the past couple of months, but we see a very positive outlook for the renewable energy sector, and we have worked on some significant M&A processes, secured major new clients and some strategically important engagements across all three of our regions, and even on-boarded new colleagues. Quite unbelievable when you think about it!

Consulting: How would you describe your firm's outlook for 2021? Where do you see the most opportunities?

Chivers: Looking towards next year, we have a number of things that we want to accomplish. We plan to further expand our EMEA business into the Nordics, with the opening of a local office, and we will also continue to grow our other locations to support an ever increasing demand for our leading project development and bid strategy expertise, and our world-class transaction and IE services. We opened an office in Tokyo at the end of 2018, and we have been growing a very strong presence and unique capabilities there ever since. We are seeing an ever-increasing demand for our services, both at tactical and project-level, and we plan to invest further in building the leading local team of experts. Also, in the APAC region, our Taiwan office continues to grow, and with the third round of offshore wind on the horizon, and an increasing amount of solar work, we will continue to grow the Taipei office to service that demand.

Consulting: What would you say are your firm's biggest challenges in 2021?

Chivers: The global health emergency due to Covid-19 has certainly dented confidence and caused short term delays – but we strongly believe the long-term picture for the sector globally remains extremely positive. There is an unprecedented and rapid transition underway in the energy system, requiring trillions of dollars of investment, and necessitating the need for top-tier advisory services in all parts of the value chain. With global consumers, investors and market players recognising the increasing threats posed by climate change, the near parity of energy cost between renewables and fossil fuel-based generation in leading markets cannot be ignored. RCG will continue its mission to be on the leading-edge of the sector, helping our clients with their most challenging issues, and building a firm that our staff can be truly proud to be a part of.

Consulting: What does being named a Fastest Growing Firm mean to your firm, employees and clients?

Chivers: As a firm, we tend to stay out of the spotlight by choice, and we do not regularly publicize client engagements, unless there is a strategic imperative, or we are asked to be named by our clients in a press release. We prefer to remain discreet and let the quality of our work do the talking. Being selected for awards like this therefore does mean a lot to the team, and I know it will be a cause for celebration when the winners are announced.