Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high - risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high - risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more

Solar for Schools

Renewable Energy - Bonds

28% raised
5.5%

Forecast
return

Investors
23
Days left
52
Raised so far
£221,973

Solar for Schools turns energy into opportunity. They harness the energy from the sun and turn it into benefits for schools, students, investors and in so doing, the planet.

IFISA

Target
£800,000
Min raise
£250,000
Offer opened
07/03/2025
Closing date
30/04/2025
cycling race illustration

Solar for Schools CBS Limited
Society no. 7364
Essex, UK
Incorporation date: 08 July 2016

Your money will

  • Decarbonise schools by helping between 11 to 15 UK schools cut their carbon emissions through solar panels

  • Bring hands-on energy education to thousands of students, fostering sustainability leadership and building STEM skills to grow a greener future

  • Save schools money on their energy bills by generating their own clean energy, which is cheaper than mains electricity

  • Earn you a potentially tax-free return Your investment will target 5.5% and can be held within an IFISA for tax-free returns*

The bigger picture

Decarbonising schools is a simple yet powerful means to address climate change. Schools cut their energy costs, enabling them to spend more on education and students are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to inspire behaviour change amongst their peers, leading to greater climate action and resilience. Solar for Schools CBS’ long-term goal is to equip every school in the UK with solar.  And to date, they have: 
  

  • Generated 17.46MW of solar electricity across 173 schools avoiding around 2,500 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. That’s the equivalent of powering over 5,000 homes in the UK for a year 
  • Provided energy education to over 30,000 pupils across primary and secondary schools, giving valuable insights into the future of renewable energy generation and inspiring more young people to join the fight against climate change. 
  • Raised more than £4m through bond offers, with an excellent track record of repayments to investors.

  • There are over 70 schools on the growing Solar for Schools waiting list. Your investment will help with the upfront costs of installing solar panels on them and creating a greener future for the UK.

    *IFISA eligibility depends on investors' individual tax status and current legislation.

What your money will do

Every £1,000 invested over 5 years will :

  • Save schools £2,000 to £3,000 in energy costs over the lifetime of the solar panels. 
  • Stop 1 tonne of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. 
  • Educate 20–25 students on decarbonisation.
  • Target interest repayments of £55 per year.

Team

Meet the Solar for Schools team : https://www.solarforschoolscbs.org.uk/governance


Wendy Litherland

Head of Education, SFOS; Associate Assistant Headteacher and Director of Sustainability as St Christopher's

Local Eco Cluster Group coordinator and employee of Solar Options for Schools since January 2024 to develop and deliver education in schools. Co-facilitates the UK’s largest children's environmental conference: NW Eco Schools. Winner of multiple sustainability education awards, including the Climate Week Awards, the SSAT National Sustainable Schools Award, and the 2021 DoE Sustainability Award.

Robert Schrimpff

Founder & CEO of Solar Optionsfor Schools

10 years’ experience in founding and building online businesses such as netXtra and hotels.com followed by nine years’ experience investing in renewable energy technology companies at TVM Capital and Greencoat Capital.

Ann Flaherty

UK Director for Solar Options forSchools

Over 12 years’ experience in solar development on schools using a variety of funding models and has helped set up three solar businesses in the schools market. Worked in education for sustainable development for over 15 years.
Co-creator and developer of an educational platform for HRH Prince Charles’ Rainforests SOS campaign, and for the HISTORY’s channel: The People Speak, led by Colin Firth.
Previous experience in journalism, media and brand marketing.

Peter Roberts

Company Director of ProjectManagement Consultancy

25 years’ experience in the education sector overseeing the design and contract management of new schools and capital programmes and ensuring project delivery to specifications and budget. Has always been an advocate of sustainable construction and estates strategies.
Has been working with the DfE for the last 10 years as consultant project manager and technical advisor in the Free Schools programme and latterly the new further education estates initiative.

Sian Herschel

Parent and fundraising leadat a Solar for Schools CBS member school

Fifteen years of professional experience in grant making and investing for organisations such as Fairtrade, Comic Relief, Power to Change and the Churchill Fellowship.
Areas of expertise include social enterprise, ethical trade, strategy development and impact measurement.
Sian has lived and worked in the USA, Peru, South Africa, India and Germany as well as the UK.
MBA from the University of Cambridge and executive coaching accreditation from Henley Business School.

Craig Ellin

Senior Asset Manager at LocatED,part of the Department for Education

Craig has over 20 years' experience in central government property, including 8 with the DfE as 
Operational Sustainability Manager (Achieving Best in Government, 2010, for in-year carbon reduction) and then Finance Manager covering project management, benefits realisation, sustainability, finance business partner (property) and FM & Energy contracts management. At LocatED he is part of the net zero accelerator programme looking to help all schools decarbonise and achieve Net Zero by 2050. B.A (Hons) in Economics and Law from Birmingham City University, ISO14001 Lead Auditor and achieved Carbon Trust Gold Standard for the DfE Environmental Monitoring System (EMS)

Marino Charalambous

CEO of North Star Community Trust, CBS Chair of Directors

Oversees five schools in North London at the North Star Community Trust, all of which have solar panels managed by Solar for Schools.
Introduced sustainability as part of the Trust curriculum in 2016 and has developed a Trust wide learning culture with the future in mind. Previous experience in finance and project management at HSBC and Siemens Financial Services as well 15 years at Managing Director level experience in digital marketing consultancies and other businesses.
B.Hons Business and Marketing Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
NPQ in Executive Leadership (University College London)

Nathan Odom

Director of Estates & Place Planning, Discovery Schools

More than 13 years’ experience in the education sector, 10 of which have been with a large local authority working with its schools and academies.
A project manager delivering various capital build projects and expansion plans for schools across Leicestershire.
Currently, the strategic lead for DSAT’s capital strategy for school site improvements with a focus on improving the physical learning environment to support the delivery of high-quality education, ensuring school sites are safe and compliant.

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Interest accrual and payment

Interest will accrue from the Interest Start Date (1 month after drawdown) and interest payments will be made annually on the 31st of October each year and paid to your account in the following month. 

 

Getting your money out

The Bonds are transferable, but won’t be listed on any exchange. Bondholders may request early re-payment by notifying the CBS with at least 3 months’ notice. The CBS will deal with all requests in order of receipt and pay as many as it can subject to available funds and Directors’ discretion.

Investing on behalf of children

Applicants must be 18 years old or more. Investments cannot be made on behalf of children.

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