My alarm goes off at …
Between 4am and 6.30am, depending on where I’m travelling or if I’m working from home.
The first thing I do each day is …
Have a shower to wake me up.
I prepare for the day ahead by …
Walking my two Border Collie dogs through the local countryside for about an hour. Good exercise and connecting with nature help clear the head.
I can’t leave the house without …
Walking the dogs, they would go mad without exercise. The other thing I always have is a cup of peppermint tea!
My typical day…
I know there isn’t a ‘typical’ day in many people’s lives. Mine is generally filled with talking to customers, listening to what they are doing, the situation in the market, and the opportunities that exist. The next is talking to staff and my leadership team, typically around new roles we need to recruit and updating our strategy.
We plan to build several factories for ‘near shore’ manufacturing in the UK. My team and I discuss many aspects of our software and portal, all of which is based here in the UK for our global customers. I also spend many of my days with stakeholders such as MPs, local universities and colleges, trade associations, the Chamber of Commerce, and many others.
I often say my job is about people and numbers – if my team are happy and customers are happy, then the numbers will follow. Given that we are the largest energy storage system manufacturer sold in the UK and have around 50% market share, the team is doing something right.
My most memorable work moment …
Recently it has to have been receiving planning permission for our first factory which happened in November 2022. It was delayed for about 6 months whilst one statutory consultee made the most ridiculous requests and demands. Eventually, they were satisfied and, in part overruled by the local authority, and we were able to start building. This is such a major step to start manufacturing all our products for the UK and Europe, here in the UK.
The worst part of my job …
Trying to engage with government and policymakers. We have so many great ideas and solutions to help solve the energy crisis and help people in genuine fuel poverty, yet the government keeps focusing on short-term solutions. We also need more land to develop, putting UK manufacturing on the map. It’s so frustrating that we can’t move faster in many areas, which the people in the UK desperately need.
The best part of my job …
Knowing we are making a massive difference every single day to the UK’s energy security. With upwards of 1000 systems installed every week in the UK, you can physically see our impact. It’s also about how we engage locally to support young people, apprentices, and graduates to inspire them to want a better future. We try really hard to be great corporate citizens and focus on the small things that make the biggest impact to everyday lives, locally, nationally, and internationally.
I relax after work by …
Walking the dogs again, reading historical fact-based fiction – especially works by Bernard Cornwell and Simon Scarrow – and maybe an episode from a box set we’ll be watching. I’m looking forward to the final season of ‘Succession’ on Sky.
On my bedside table is …
A photo of my two children when one was a toddler and the other a baby – it’s quite an old photo now…
The last thing I do each day is …
Set my alarm and kiss my partner goodnight.
I’m normally in bed by …
Around 10.30pm – unless I’m with customers, then it can get very late!