Meet Tom Kemsley - Scotland Branch Manager

Tom recently rejoined Midsummer having spent the last 2 years in New Zealand, working as the Procurement and Warehouse Manager for one of the country’s leading solar installation companies. Before travelling Down Under Tom originally came to Midsummer as one of the first trainees on the Midsummer graduate scheme. After the end of the FIT in the UK, he went to help set up and lead our Irish sister company, Midsummer Renewables in Dublin, where new government grants had just been introduced to kickstart the market.

A Geophysics graduate from the University of Edinburgh, he has a keen understanding of earth sciences and would point to taking action on climate change as his primary motivator towards working in the renewable energy industry. Outside of work you can find Tom climbing Scotland’s hills, running around a hockey pitch or enjoying a pint at the pub.

Here's a few more things about Tom...

Favourite biscuit: 

Not into biscuits, too much mess for the amount of food. If pushed I would go a Leibniz because they are mostly chocolate.

The greatest bit of advice he's ever been given?:

  ‘Whatever you are, be a good one’, It’s a bit of a vague quote but I like the idea that whatever you end up doing you should just get really stuck in and do it well.

If he could live in any period of history?: 

12,000 years ago, hunter gatherer type time period before we started farming and messing with the world. I like the idea of running around looking for dinner then having a BBQ - though in reality it was probably grim, always looking over your shoulder at a lion.

3 people he would have dinner with?: 

Mark Cavendish, to speak about cycling very fast. George Monbiot, to speak to about making the world a little more feral. Tom Waits, seems like he has lived a life, and what a voice.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?: 

Surfing, being thrown about in the water by some decent waves is the best way to spend time.

Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?: 

Getting around is so slow, tedious and expensive without a bike.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?: 

Toasties, the variety of combinations, the speed and efficiency, add a lump of coleslaw on the side and I don’t really know why you would need anything else.

Most looking forward to at Midsummer?: 

Taking on a fresh challenge with the opportunity to help the company grow and succeed from a new hub in Scotland. It has also been great to reconnect with the old crew and get to know all the new faces.