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Solar Farms To Play A Vital Role In UK Future Farming

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As solar farms begin to play an important role in addressing the UK's electricity needs and aiding the drive towards cheaper, cleaner electricity bills for the consumer, this maturing industry now plays a vital role supporting the economic stability of the agricultural sector and creating full time employment for local communities.

Mark Turner, Operations Director for Lightsource Renewable Energy commented, "By March 2014, we will have to manage over 4,000 acres of land responsibly and sustainably. That's twice as much land as surrounds Blenheim Palace! You could think of us as a new breed of tenant farmer, and the biggest challenge for us is that our land is spread across the entire width and breadth of the United Kingdom."

"Contrary to the opinions of some, solar farms do not harm the land they are installed upon. In fact they safeguard it for future generations and provide further options for farmland diversification like grazing small livestock or providing an ecological habitat for rare birds like the English Grey Partridge".

Lightsource Renewable Energy, the UK's leading solar energy generator, has announced it is undertaking a large recruitment drive across the UK, creating full time positions local to where their operating solar farms are based. The company has already created over 150 full time jobs in the UK in just 3 years. The new positions announced today, are within the Operations & Maintenance arm of the business which was officially opened by Rt. Hon Gregory Barker MP - Minister of State for Energy & Climate Change

Turner continued, "Not only are we responsible for the maintenance and care of our solar farm infrastructure, we are responsible for land management activities as well including weeding, planting and ensuring any stock proof fencing is kept in good order."

"We are kick-starting this initiative with 15 full-time positions first and many more will follow. These new specialist maintenance jobs are created in the towns or villages near our operational solar farms and therefore benefit the local economy directly. We're currently looking for experienced electricians with a real passion for renewable energy and the desire to be part of a great British success story."

Lightsource Renewable Energy has recently joined the National Farmers Union in order to progress their land management aspirations and ensure their land holdings are managed to best benefit the rural economy.

"We have great aspirations for the future and we are seeking guidance from professional bodies like the NFU to ensure we do things right. We want to show local communities that solar farms have huge tangible benefits aside from the clean electricity they generate. Some of our plans include our own livestock like sheep and also harvesting wild flower seed as there is a great shortage of indigenous seed in the UK. All these activities require expertise, we will have to hire more local people to make this happen and this announcement of 15 jobs is only the beginning." Turner concluded.

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