Heattech (part of the national wholesaler Kooltech) has a small workforce of under five staff to serve their customers, a mix of domestic and commercial clients.
Russell keeps up to date with the industry through updates from a range of MCS and government body publications, looking for information and guidance without being pushed a hard sell. He gets email updates from Energy Saving Trust’s sustainable energy supply chain programme, which is funded by the Scottish Government, and he describes this as a reliable, dependable source of information from an impartial organisation.
Russell attended the Microgeneration Industry Focus Group in Glasgow in May 2016, which looked to generate a discussion about the challenges facing the energy efficiency industry in Scotland.
Russell found this to be a really beneficial event for himself and his business, especially in terms of allowing him to provide feedback and learn about key industry updates. He believes the event provided a good forum for dialogue within the industry, and said it was “good to meet relevant people higher up in the industry.”
Russell also attended the Feedback on Barriers to the Microgeneration Industry event in June 2016, which he found equally useful, and tuned in to the informative webinar on the Renewable Heat Investment Support Tool in December 2016.
In general, Russell believes the support from the sustainable energy supply chain programme has really benefitted Heattech. The updates and guidance have helped Russell to get a better sense of what is going on in the industry and to understand the opportunities this could hold for his business, both now and in the future. This has helped him win and retain new business.
The programme ensures Russell is up to date with requirements and opportunities in terms of training and certification, and he found the events he attended really useful. Russell would recommend the programme to others working in the industry.
“I just think Energy Saving Trust is great. They have always been the reliable, dependable body of people you know you can definitely turn to.”