Celebrating 12 years – Meet Sean Gibson
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Tell us a bit about what it was like growing up with AltGen?
AltGen has grown with the RE industry, completely in-step. Initially we started out focussed purely on the REIPP, and over time this morphed into a balance between utility and C&I, and some large scale roll out of residential.
AltGen has always been a direct barometer of how well RE is doing in Africa – 2012 to 2015 were years of growth, then we struggled through the “lost years” and reflected strong growth in 2022 – 2023 as the rooftop market took off. There are also many “associated” service providers who use our services – retailers, equipment suppliers, online portals, and various others.
Did AltGen have a big-brother kind of company in the early stages? Someone to look up to?
Honestly, no. But I also have to honest and say this is not our first rodeo. We have previously grown and sold another specialist recruitment brand.
What skills do you think AltGen will be looking to add to the family in the next few years?
Confidential question 😉
What were some of the growing pains of starting out in the renewable energy recruitment space?
The phone didn’t ring for the first 6 months. Our administrator at the time was wondering what on earth she had got herself into. But as they say, timing is everything (and in our case it was blind luck) and eventually the phone started to ring.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
Watching people grow. The demand for skills in RE has been a bit of a time sucker and creates many sleepless nights over how to retain good staff, but in the end those that stay are incredibly appreciated and it is amazing to see them develop and own their own roles and space.
Do you have a favourite memory from the early days of working at AltGen?
Bringing international skills back to SA in the early days – calls from Scotland and Ireland from the diaspora were a highlight, because our name was “out there”. And of course staying the course. There were many many late nights, but as they say, “annhouers wen”. And of course the calls from the international new entrants to the SA RE market. But the candidates remained the highlight.
And paying a small fortune for a .com web address and watching the raised eyebrows of the staff 😊 was also a fun (albeit expensive!) exercise.😊
Sometimes working in the recruitment industry can be difficult, how have you managed to stay motivated throughout the last 12 years?
Building a company is incredibly exciting. Having a high risk tolerance also helps, especially when there is no money in the bank and none coming in… and school fees to pay, really helps to focus the mind.
What do you do for fun?
I was an overland guide in my previous life, this remains my passion. I love exploring way out of the way places, especially when the comments come back, “what do you want to go there for, there is nothing there!” and then getting lost and having to overnight on a dirt track 100’s of miles from anywhere. Love it!
What technology do you anticipate making the biggest bang in the industry this year?
Hydrogen, in Africa. And I am a big fan of chemical energy production and storage. Not a big fan of heat and pressure, seems to me to be outdated and clunky way of producing electricity.
What would you say is the most special thing about AltGen?
Without a doubt, the people. And yes, you and raise your eyebrows and say “but you would say that” and yes, you would be right. We are nothing without our people.
What advice would you give to youngsters looking to get into the renewable energy space?
Don’t be a snob about it, take what you can get and grow from there. New market entrants often come with preconceived ideas of their value, and we spend a lot of time coaching this out of them.
How do you feel about implementing 4pm end of workday on a Friday?
Happy to, but in a sales environment there is no such thing as hours anyway. Our consultants are online most hours of the day, its just the reality of the job.
If you could share one pearl of wisdom, one golden nugget of advice for those coming after you, what would it be?
Work hard.
