STEVEN RAWLINGSON CEO at Samuel Knight International
What is your role at Samuel Knight International?
I am CEO of Samuel Knight International. The Group consists of Samuel Knight International, Samuel Knight Energy, Samuel Knight Projects Samuel Knight Rail and Samuel Knight Climate-Tech. Having identified how we differentiate ourselves in the key markets we serve, my main role is building a strong senior management team to ensure our vision, values and core behaviours are embedded in all that we do.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I’m very blessed that I have a job which is more like a hobby, I work alongside tremendously talented and passionate colleagues. It is my role to support them and to encourage them to do great things.
What is your proudest business achievement?
So many come to mind however the ones that stick out are raising institutional investment with Gresham House Ventures in 2018, breaking into the US market in the middle of the pandemic and achieving record breaking sales and finally completing an MBO.
What challenges have you encountered?
Continuing to scale is always a challenge. We have been adaptable to changing the business as we grow each year. The biggest challenge to date was understanding the complexity of operating within different US states, but we are two years in now and have a fantastic team who understand best practices whilst operating across the USA.
We have also worked to ensure we have a dedicated team that fits the motivation of the business so that both the company and the team mirror each other in terms of vision, values and passion.
How has the industry changed since you began your career?
Renewable energy wasn’t high on the agenda 20 years ago. It has evolved massively with countries globally striving to achieve net zero carbon emissions with private investments and also pension funds financing green growth initiatives.
Renewables is now not just perceived to be a buzz word. Within the UK the governments Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener all sectors of the UK economy are to decarbonise by 2050 with many on track to cut carbon emissions and reach net zero by 2030.
We are seeing people become more aware of what we have done to the world and the increased damage to the environment and change needs to happen.
Do you have a mantra that you like to do business by?
If you want to go fast, go alone! If you want to go far, go together!
How do you like to unwind?
I enjoy getting outdoors, so hiking and climbing mountains with my dog Darla. I’m also into fitness and enjoy spending time with my friends and family.
