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29.09.2023, Norfolk UK: Last week, a team of seven trekkers walked 100 miles for the UK’s 54 children’s hospices including East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The team, made up of crafting superstore Hobbycraft’s leadership team, and leading children’s palliative care charity Together for Short Lives’ Chief Executive, are aiming to raise £50,000 to support the UK’s 54 children’s hospices.

Setting off in Thetford on Friday 22 September, the trekkers – known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ – completed the Angles Way Walk through Norfolk and Suffolk, finishing in Great Yarmouth on Monday 25 September. The trek is their eighth, which has so far totalled 800 miles for seriously ill children and their families across the country.

One family in particular were cheering on the team from their local children’s hospice, EACH. Five-year-old Libby, from Peterborough, lives with Bohring-Opitz syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects the development of many parts of the body. Libby needs 24/7 care and is unable to sit, crawl or walk. She is severely delayed, having to have someone watch her at all times to check she is safe. She also needs postural care, is being treated for seizures and is fed through a feeding tube 16-hours-a-day.

Libby’s mum Kirsty said: “EACH is a massive part of our lives. Since that first devastating diagnosis when Libby was just three months old, we’ve been supported in so many ways by the incredible team there. From symptom management and hydrotherapy sessions for Libby, to sibling days for Libby’s brother Jake and respite stays for the whole family, I’m really not sure where we’d be without them.

“It’s heartwarming to know that there are fantastic people out there like those from Hobbycraft and Together for Short Lives who are going the extra mile to support families like mine across the country.”

Dominic Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of Hobbycraft, said: “We know first-hand from 10 years of partnership with Together for Short Lives just how much of a lifeline hospices are for families of seriously ill children. They are places full of life and joy, and give families the time and space to make precious memories – something that sits at the very heart of our partnership. While the trek really put us to the test, it is nothing compared to the hardship these families face every day, and we are so proud to play our part in supporting them.”

The Magnificent Seven were supported by Hobbycraft colleagues across the country, including those in Kings Lynn and Cambridge, who took on their own fundraising over the weekend to help reach the £50,000 target.

Since 2013, Hobbycraft has partnered with leading children’s palliative care charity Together for Short Lives. Each of their 116 stores is twinned with a local children’s hospice and Hobbycraft teams up and down the country have raised over £2.5 million so far through the partnership to support seriously ill children and their families, cared for by hospices like EACH.

Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives, said: “We’ve been so fortunate to have the incredible support of Hobbycraft for over 10 years and in that time, we’ve witnessed such compassion and creativity from them, not to mention eight years of trekking! The Angles Way Walk was challenging, but we were motivated every step of the way knowing we were walking through the vast area EACH covers, and just how many families they help every single day.

“I am so grateful to my fellow trekkers, and to the Hobbycraft teams up and down the country who fundraised throughout the weekend. The money raised will help us in our mission to make sure families like Libby’s have access to the best palliative care, when and when they need it.”

For more information or to sponsor the trek team, head to https://www.justgiving.com/page/hobbycraft-team-1691073354541

A business networking group launched to raise vital funds for charity is going from strength to strength.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) unveiled its Business Circle – a new corporate venture open to companies across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex – in June.

Members have the chance to build connections and attend events, while at the same time making a financial commitment to EACH.

The group has already caught the attention of companies across all four counties and a special brunch event recently took place at Royal Norwich Golf Club, hosted by MCB Financial.

“We had a fabulous, productive and positive day and are grateful to Mark Burton, from MCB Financial, for giving us this wonderful platform,” said EACH Corporate Fundraising Manager Caroline Allen.

“In addition to being extremely useful from a networking perspective, I’m pleased to say we secured ten new sign-ups.

“There were more great conversations with other attendees, with the potential for additional support moving forward.”

An added bonus was £560 being raised from a raffle where the top prize was a VIP box at Happy Christmas Ipswich – the music and comedy spectacular organised by EACH Patron Griff Rhys Jones and taking place at the Ipswich Regent on 4^th December.

The cost to join the Business Circle is £1,000 a year, including VAT, and membership includes the chance to visit one of the charity’s hospices.

Twelve supporters were given a guided tour of Milton on Friday and had the opportunity to find out more about EACH’s work. Another group are due to visit The Nook, in Framingham Earl, on 13^th October.

Members have the opportunity to sponsor events at a discounted rate, in addition to being a host venue for networking functions.

There are also PR opportunities, in addition to having exclusive use of the Business Circle logo for internal communications, as well as being featured on EACH’s dedicated Business Circle webpage and being listed in EACH’s Report and Accounts.

The first full Business Circle event, for both members and non-members (for whom the cost is £15), is being held at Bedford Lodge Hotel, in Newmarket, on 2^nd November. To sign up, head here.

“We rely on voluntary donations and a key part of our fundraising income comes from corporate friends and supporters,” added Caroline.

“This is a very special opportunity to cement that commitment, by pledging a certain amount every year – money that will make a tangible difference to the families, children and young people receiving our care and support.

“It’s also a golden opportunity for companies to come together and join us at one of our quarterly networking events.

“It will give them an opportunity to make new contacts and forge connections with businesses across East Anglia.

“Those who sign up will be helping us continue our vital work, offering a family-centred, needs-led approach to care and ensuring all the needs of the children and young people we care for are met – whether that be psychological, physical, emotional, social or spiritual.”

To read more or sign up, head here.

Alternatively, email Caroline via ([email protected]), Laura Southcott (Norfolk) via [email protected], Hannah Forbester (Cambridge and West Essex) via [email protected], Billie Nugent (Suffolk and East Essex) via [email protected] or Rachel Mayes-Dally (Suffolk and East Essex) via [email protected]

A new survey on the Tourism, Leisure and hospitality sector has been launched this week by leading players in the sector to gather detailed financial details from across the sector to establish the true cost to the sector of this pandemic.

“All the businesses in this sector are facing huge challenges that nobody would ever have imagined they would experience” said Chris Scargill, Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality specialist partner at MHA Larking Gowen, the business advisors.  “While some parts of the sector are in the early stages of re-opening, the vast majority are hoping the potential date of 4 July is a reality and regulations eased then, but it is accepted that some parts of the  sector are likely to be last to be released from lockdown.  Even when they open, they will have to operate in a completely new way, with greatly reduced capacity and revenue, whilst working with expensive and challenging guidelines.

There are some big challenges ahead and in light of this we have been working with some key tourism and leisure business leaders across the sector to create a survey researching the likely outcomes over the next nine months”.

One of the key players party to the creation of the survey and the importance of this research is Ian Russell MBE of Wroxham Barns and Chairman Where to Go in North Norfolk. He said “There are many organisations working on behalf of the tourism, leisure and hospitality sector, lobbying Government on the local industry’s behalf. MPs in Norfolk and Suffolk have been supportive of the sector and they too are doing all they can to represent businesses and fully understand the jobs the sector has created.   

“The Government’s support via the Job Retention Scheme, CBILS, Bounce Back and business support grants have all helped support most businesses through this period of closure, but these programmes may not be sufficient to take businesses safely through until more positive times return.

I feel this type of research is really important, and we need the businesses in the sector to get behind the survey.  In asking for sector support from Government, businesses understand that they have to evidence the complex set of pressures which could cause that “perfect storm” next winter”.

The surveys launch has been facilitated by the group issuing a letter to other key business owners, highlighting the need for the collection of business data. In addition to Ian Russell and Chris Scargill, the signatories to the survey include Dr Andy Wood of Adnams who is also Chair of Visit East of England and a member of VisitEngland Advisory Board, Andrew Hird, Chair of Visit North Norfolk, Martin Dupee a Director of both, Norfolk & Suffolk Attractions and Visit East of England, Peter Williamson, Chair of Norfolk & Suffolk Tourist Attractions and Greg Munford, Chief Executive Director, Richardson’s Boating Holidays and Holiday Parks and also Chair of British Marine.

Andrew Hird said “A key priority for businesses is keeping their teams and customers safe. Early research is indicating that guests are very unsure about visiting hospitality venues until they are sure that they can be kept safe. Notwithstanding all endeavours to reassure and comply with government guidelines, it is not clear when customer confidence will return, and that will have an impact on business performance.”

Martin Dupee said “we know our local attractions are working hard to open and operate safely.  We know that on opening the local, loyal customers will visit first, and looking after them is essential. In doing so, however, businesses face further financial hardship due to investment and management of those provisions – creating than normal costs at a time of lower capacity and income.

Peter Williamson, chair of Norfolk and Suffolk Tourist attractions added “There has been a lot of general commentary on the sensitivity of the situation, but there is now a clamour for real facts, which this survey intends to provide. There is widespread concern that the “three winters” scenario will put a significant number of businesses and jobs at risk.”

Chris Scargill added “The survey does require some time to pull the numbers together, but it is the key numbers that will give us the evidence we need”. 

The survey, which can be paused, saved and returned to is available online only.  If you would like to support the survey, please contact [email protected].

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OCTOBER 2023 — Entrepreneur Kelly Cartwright wowed guests at the National Federation of Builders’ Top 100 Influential Women in Construction (WIC) Awards last night, wearing a showstopping gown fashioned entirely from PPE to highlight the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in the sector.

The owner of Core Recruiter, a specialist construction recruitment company based in Norwich, was nominated for the Local Hero (Eastern Region) category. Her neon-orange dress was specially made for the event by dressmaker Hannah Wilde and was paired with her steel-toe-capped boots to complete the look.

“This dress is my armour,” states 31-year-old Kelly. “I asked Hannah to make it because I wanted to feel strong and confident at this year’s ceremony.

“I feel most comfortable out on a building site, wearing my PPE. I don’t feel that way in a ballgown at an awards ceremony. You can only be comfortable when you wear something that truly resonates with who you are, so I’ve often joked about going to an event in my PPE!

“Women always power dress for confidence. For instance, wearing a blazer might make you feel powerful, or popping on your favourite heels might put an extra swing in your step. Clothes are a powerful way to express yourself, while shielding vulnerabilities, insecurities or buried emotions. Why should it be any different in construction?”

As the winner of last year’s Ally award, Kelly is vocal about the importance of authenticity in the sector, living by her motto ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’.

By making her own career path highly visible, she hopes to encourage more equality, diversity and inclusion into the industry, bringing unique skills and perspectives with them. And armour can help to quell anxiety about bucking industry stereotypes.

As a woman who has worked in the construction sector for more than a decade, she emphasises that you should be comfortable with who you are and not change your identity to suit your industry. You may sometimes feel that your differences make you vulnerable, but if you’re driven and are good at what you do, your differences should be no limit to how far you can go.

It’s important to note that Kelly has also allowed her vulnerability to be as visible as her success, demonstrating that everyone experiences moments of insecurity. She recently opened up about her struggles with anxiety, showing that social media doesn’t paint an honest picture of success. Earlier this year, she published images of herself getting ready for an awards ceremony on LinkedIn, with an anxiety-induced rash visible on her chest.

She used the photograph to highlight that although she may seem confident on the outside, she often suffers from doubt, Imposter Syndrome and anxiety – particularly at awards ceremonies and public-speaking events. She wore armour at this year’s WIC Awards to simultaneously shield and draw attention to her feelings of vulnerability.

The dress is also a nod towards the Chartered Institute of Building and Construction Management magazine’s #PPEthatfits campaign, which highlights the lack of diversity in protective equipment, and how this is having an impact on safety on site, while also hampering the industry’s ability to attract and retain a more diverse workforce.

Their research found that the majority of protective clothing isn’t suitable for a diverse workforce, potentially leaving them at risk on building sites. By using 6 extra-large hi-vis vests to make a dress, Kelly hopes to reinforce the need for change in this area, to ensure everyone feels both confident, inclusive and safe on building sites.

Investment and Expansion

Department for Business and Trade Investment Minister, Lord Dominic Johnson, joined South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss for a tour of award winning UK manufacturer Peerless Plastics and Coatings, based in Thetford, Norfolk. Peerless is one of only a handful of companies in the world capable of producing specialist hard coated, polycarbonate sheets, developed and marketed by Peerless as PolyGuard™. This unique selling point of hard coated, anti-scratch, anti-fog, anti-static and anti-glare means that Peerless’s products feature in multiple industries across the globe from electric vehicles incorporating PolyGuard™ as a viable lightweight, shatter proof alternative to glass, to personal protection equipment including face protection and safety glasses. Over the past 24 months, Peerless has invested nearly £1m in new business, machinery and technology, growing the work force from 30 to over 50 and is now looking to rapidly scale-up around the world.

The Peerless Plastics & Coatings team, including Managing Director Peter Llewellyn-Stamp and Sales Director Max Bromley, explained to Lord Johnson the extensive range of services the company provides its customers across a broad swathe of industries including Aerospace, Rail, Automotive, Medical, Retail and Construction. Having diversified its service offering, Peerless is able to offer a single-source solution for many plastic manufacturing requirements, reducing supply chains and ultimately the carbon footprint of their customer’s products. This ethos goes very much hand-in-hand with the sustainability journey the company is on, having significantly reduced energy usage in recent years through many initiatives that include renewable energy from solar panels and reduced consumption via voltage optimisation.

The PolyGuard™ is a new and unique range of products that Peerless has developed ready for international distribution. PolyGuard™ include specialist hard coated Polycarbonate sheets offering enhanced surface performance, making this a sustainable plastic solution for many applications. The PolyGuard™ range consists of six coated Polycarbonate products: Hard, Anti-Static/ESD, NIR Blocking, Anti-Fog, Anti-Glare and Formable.

Minister for Investment Lord Johnson said:

“I had a very insightful visit to Peerless Plastics’ factory and was incredibly impressed by the innovations they are making and the growth being achieved.

The opportunities for export are tremendous, and Peerless Plastics’ success demonstrates the type of innovation that is driving UK manufacturing.

I was very pleased to hear about the company’s future ambitions for growth and to discuss the vision and support that the Department for Business & Trade has for helping businesses like Peerless Plastics to grow and export across the world.”

Liz Truss MP added ‘It was great to be able to introduce Lord Johnson to the Peerless team so he could see their dynamic and innovative work for himself. Thetford, in my South West Norfolk constituency, is home to a diverse manufacturing hub, with a wealth of talent and expertise that can proudly compete on the world stage – and Peerless is very much at the forefront of this.’

Having recently launched PolyGuard™, Peerless has secured distributors in the UK and Europe, with further opportunities across the world. Peter Llewellyn-Stamp said, “It has been great to welcome Lord Johnson and Liz Truss to Peerless and show them our new sustainable plastic product. Peerless’s PolyGuard™ is very unique; we have spent time developing a product that is so versatile, one that will not only transform the way we make and build things, but also a product that ensures good value for money and is sustainable, this makes it an extremely attractive and viable purchase for the long term. We have serious ambitions to expand the distribution of this product on a global scale and are ready to speak with investors who will help fast track this growth. The guidance provided by Lord Johnson was invaluable”.

89 Howes Percival lawyers mentioned in 2024 guide for their
standout contributions to their practices

The 2024 edition of The Legal 500 – the authoritative guide to the UK’s leading law firms – has recommended Howes Percival for 21 different legal specialisms and awarded the firm top tier ranking for 11.

The guide, which is based on independent research, interviews and feedback from clients about the service they receive from firms and lawyers, also recognises the UK’s leading lawyers – 89 Howes Percival lawyers received specific mentions in this year’s directory, an increase of 12 on last year’s report.

Howes Percival has achieved top tier rankings for:

• Corporate and Commercial
• Dispute Resolution – Commercial Litigation
• Dispute Resolution – Debt Recovery
• Finance – Insolvency and Corporate Recovery
• Human Resources – Employment
• Private Client – Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
• Real Estate – Commercial Property
• Real Estate – Environment & Planning
• Real Estate – Property litigation
• Real Estate – Social Housing
• Technology, Media & Telecoms – Intellectual Property

Ten further Howes Percival specialisms are recommended in the guide; Agriculture and Estates, Banking and Finance, Construction, Contentious Trusts and Probate, Family, Licensing, Public Sector, IT and Telecoms, Media and Entertainment and Health and Safety.

The Legal 500 highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence.  26 Howes Percival lawyers are recognised by the legal directory as ‘leading individuals’, with 8 Partners achieving ‘Hall of Fame’ status – Paula Bailey (Employment), Steven Beach (Commercial Property), Geraint Davies (Litigation and Insolvency), Gerald Couldrake (Corporate and Commercial), Tessa Haskey (Commercial Property), Michaela Henson (Commercial Property), Graham Irons (Employment) and Matthew Talbot (Intellectual Property).

Howes Percival’s clients range from individuals and families to global businesses and government departments. In August, Howes Percival confirmed it had created 50 new roles in the last two years to meet increased demand for its services.  Over the next two years, the firm plans to continue recruiting across all six offices, creating a further 50 additional new roles, including partners, solicitors and support roles.

Howes Percival’s chairman, Geraint Davies commented; “This is a fantastic set of rankings and recommendations, and I’m absolutely delighted for the whole team. The results reflect our traditional strengths in corporate and commercial, insolvency and litigation, employment, real estate, IP and private client but also the way we have been able to invest and develop new areas for example in technology and media, regulatory and now social housing – our most recent top tier addition.  We are on a roll, as a firm, growing our market share in all locations, investing in our people and in creating new teams and with a clear plan to grow further over the next two years.”

Full details of Howes Percival’s rankings can be found on The Legal 500 website

The Carbon Charter is an environmental award scheme and sustainable business network, providing support and recognition to organisations throughout Suffolk and Norfolk as they take positive action towards Net Zero.

The Carbon Charter is delivered by environmental charity Groundwork East, in partnership with the Environment Agency and Suffolk County Council, and is just one of the sustainable business services which Groundwork delivers across Norfolk.  Our team also deliver Carbon Literacy training, and bespoke carbon management services including carbon footprinting and decarbonisation plans.

To help businesses identify their next steps to reaching net zero, the Carbon Charter has recently launched a new Net Zero Diagnostic Tool which Norfolk businesses can access for free at: https://carboncharter.org/net-zero-diagnostic-tool/

The new  Net Zero Diagnostic Tool will generate a bespoke Net Zero action plan for your organisation outlining our recommended next steps – with actionable advice, guidance on what to prioritise, and where to find help on your journey towards Net Zero.

Membership of the Carbon Charter provides a clear and visible statement of your commitment to reduce the environmental impacts of your business operations – and is open to every business across our region regardless of size or sector. Members also receive on-going support and advice from our team of sustainability consultants, as well as regular networking and training opportunities.

Find out more about the Carbon Charter and the benefits for your business visit: www.carboncharter.org

Photographer – Emma Cullen

A bereaved grandad has spoken of the heart-wrenching pain he suffered following the death of his ten-day-old granddaughter.

Little Violet-May had a serious heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, as well as pulmonary valve dysplasia and mild pulmonary valve regurgitation, and received end-of-life care at the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) base near Norwich. She died in October 2021.

Grandad Ziggy Nash has reflected on the harrowing time and was speaking during Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW), which runs until Sunday (9^th to 15^th October).

It is a chance for families all over the world to commemorate the lives of their babies and share memories of the brief time they had together.

“As a grandparent, it was a real double-whammy,” said Ziggy, who celebrated his 38^th birthday last Friday.

“I lost my gorgeous, special and precious granddaughter, who brought love beyond words and will have a special place in my heart.

“However, I also had to stand by and watch my daughter, Baylee, suffer. It broke my heart.

“Everyone grieves in their own way and there’s no right or wrong way to cope.

“However, Baylee has done amazingly and I’m very proud of her.

“She’s only young herself and no-one should have to go through such a daunting, life-changing experience.”

Baylee and partner Tom Pipe were able to create special memories during their time at The Nook, including going into the sensory room, taking their baby for a walk around the grounds and giving her a bath. They are still receiving support and feel they would have struggled to cope without EACH.

“I’ll always hold onto the special moments I shared with Violet-May,” added Ziggy, who lives in Norwich.

“I’m beyond proud of what such a tiny baby went through, and the way she fought, in such a short period of time. I’ll forever treasure the bond we have.”

In his quest to raise funds for EACH, Ziggy took part in The Boss Hog challenge on Sunday.

The fundraiser, an event featuring more than 40 obstacles over a sapping seven-mile course, took place at Wantisden Hall, in Wantisden Valley, Woodbridge.

He rallied a team of 12, including friends and colleagues from Anglian Water and the IMRWR Alliance, and they called themselves Violet-May’s Water Boys.

“We had a brilliant, fun day and it felt great doing something so worthwhile, supporting a cause so close to our heart,” said Ziggy, who raised more than £1,000.

To show your support and sponsor Ziggy, head here.

Ziggy and other family members took part in The Piglet Junior Hog fundraiser in July 2022, raising nearly £2,000.

Volunteers have the chance to make a “significant, positive and lasting” contribution to their community by sparing time to support a leading children’s charity.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is on the lookout for extra help in its 47 shops across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The organisation’s retail operation is a vital source of income to help run its hospices in Milton, near Cambridge, Framingham Earl, near Norwich, and Ipswich.

It relies on voluntary donations and needs to raise £7.8 million this year alone from its shops across the region, in addition to its Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford.

Volunteers play a crucial role and now EACH is launching its ‘Be the difference’ campaign, to encourage more would-be helpers to step forward and join its team. The initiative started this week and runs until the end of the month.

Posters will be on display in-store and staff and existing volunteers on hand to answer questions and explain more.

“It’s hard to emphasise enough just how special and important our army of loyal, dedicated and selfless volunteers are,” said Hannah Milbourne, EACH’s Volunteer Services and Development Manager.

“Quite simply, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them and now the hope is that we can encourage more people to step forward and join them.

“We’re always so grateful to hear from anyone interested in lending a hand and volunteering in one of our shops is the perfect way to make a significant, positive and lasting contribution to the community, as well as the children and families receiving our care and support.

“They’re also a vibrant, welcoming and fun place to be and I love visiting our shops. The atmosphere and enthusiasm you’ll find there is infectious.

“When people think of volunteering, they think of someone offering a whole day. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.

“We appreciate people have busy lives and giving a morning or afternoon once a week or fortnight would make the world of difference in your local shop.

“The hours people donate are entirely flexible and a friendly welcome is absolutely guaranteed.”

Hannah also pointed out that there is a range of jobs in the shops, to suit people’s tastes, skills and backgrounds.

“Some people enjoy serving customers, but others are less keen to use the till and that’s absolutely fine,” she said.

“There are so many other things they can do, including sorting and organising donations and listing eBay items – something that is a particular need for us.

“There’s something for everyone and I’d encourage anyone to go along to their local shop and give it a go.

“As well as finding it genuinely enjoyable and rewarding, our existing volunteers tell us it’s very sociable and a lovely way to meet new people and make friends.”

For more information, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email [email protected]

To find your nearest EACH shop, head here.

Image credits EACH

Leanne Gill, operations manager for Attleborough-based renewable heating company Finn Geotherm, has beaten off stiff national competition to win a prestigious award for women in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry.

Leanne won HVAC Woman of the Year in the Heating & Ventilating Review (HVR) Awards 2023. The awards champion innovation, excellence and achievement across the heating and ventilating industry. The hotly contested HVAC Woman of the Year category was new for this year and looked to recognise a woman who has made an exceptional contribution to her employer’s business, stands out among peers for her hard work and dedication, and upholds the highest standards in business.

Finn Geotherm’s longest serving employee, Leanne joined the company 15 years ago as a receptionist and administrator to work alongside technical director David Alston as he set up one of the UK’s first heat pump installation companies. She has been a driving force in the growth of the business ever since whilst developing her career to become a qualified accountant, operations manager and, in 2022, company secretary at Finn Geotherm.

Joining the heat pump industry at a time when people didn’t know what heat pumps were or what they could do, Leanne was also one of the very first women in the HVAC sector. Working in a very male dominated industry, Leanne was among those leading the charge for women in HVAC and shifting perceptions of females. Today, her knowledge of the systems and how they work is second only to Finn Geotherm’s most senior heat pump engineers. Leanne represents not only determined and driven women but also working mums. She managed to juggle working and progressing her career at Finn Geotherm with having a young daughter.

During the past 15 years, Leanne’s role has also grown to cover new regulations within the heat pump industry and the necessary compliance for Finn Geotherm, as well as taking on project management for increasingly complex installations as Finn Geotherm continues to be appointed for more challenging heat pump projects.

Leanne Gill, operations manager at Finn Geotherm, said: “I am delighted to have won this national award. As a female in the HVAC industry, my role has been challenging at times but I always had the full support of Finn Geotherm behind me. Things have moved on a lot in the past 15 years – there are now more women taking up key roles in HVAC and I hope the next generation of project managers and installers will be filled by many more.

“I love this job. No day is the same. Every project is unique and has different requirements. We’re genuinely making a difference to people’s lives and, at the same time, we’re doing our bit to help the environment which is crucial right now. The large-scale projects we’re currently working on at Finn Geotherm are really exciting and cutting edge and I’m looking forward what HVAC brings in the future.”

Guy Ransom, commercial director at Finn Geotherm said: “We are immensely proud to see Leanne receive this prestigious national award. Leanne’s dedication to our company, and her rapidly accelerating role and responsibilities, has been incredible. It has been a pleasure to watch this amazing young woman develop in confidence, skill and knowledge – her abilities evolving as the demands placed upon her have increased enormously over the past 15 years. Leanne is a fantastic role model. We are honoured to have her in our team at Finn Geotherm and representing women in the HVAC industry.”

Continuing its success at the HVR Awards 2023, Finn Geotherm was also awarded Collaboration of the Year alongside heat pump manufacturer Panasonic, for the partnership developed to specify and install the first 210kW air source heat pumps in Europe for University of West London’s Paragon House.

For more information on Finn Geotherm, see www.finn-geotherm.co.uk.

Photo caption: Leanne Gill receiving HVAC Woman of the Year. From left to right:  Kelly Bullivant of Fujitsu Air Conditioning; Leanne Gill, operations manager at Finn Geotherm and TV and radio presenter Lindsey Chapman who hosted the awards

Image: HVR Awards Copyright: HVR Awards

Photo caption: Finn Geotherm’s Leanne Gill has won HVAC Woman of the Year

Image: Finn Geotherm Copyright: Finn Geotherm