R A Brown Heating Services was founded over 35 years ago in Norwich by Richard Brown. In 2001 Richard and his first apprentice were beginning to work further out of the city on barn conversions.
By 2008, they had started installing heat pumps which complemented the underfloor heating which was becoming a bit of a specialism alongside the work on rural properties. In 2012 the company was growing, moving into an office and showroom space. The following year, R A Brown won a H & V News award, which was to become the first of many national awards.
We speak with Louise Howlett, Commercial Director.
How has the business changed/ evolved since then?
The company now employs just over 20 people including a full time M & E designer and a designated service team. We are currently experimenting with introducing a technical supervisor role ahead of the changes to the MCS structure – now delayed until next year.
What are your main service offers/ areas of business?
The main focus is air and ground source heat pumps but other services include MVHR, air conditioning, plumbing and gas services.
Facts and figures
The company turnover has dipped over the last few years. There have been many challenges since covid and we have experienced a significant reduction in retrofit enquiries and a greater challenge converting leads. Homeowners have felt heat pumps are expensive to run with high electricity prices. The switch to the BUS grant has in effect reduced the amount being paid to homeowners for switching. Equipment costs have risen significantly over the last few years.
One shocking statistic is that, in the year after BUS was introduced, we carried out zero ground source heat pump installations. We would normally expect to complete around five or six per year. We currently employ just over 20 people and are set to grow when the market improves.
What are your goals for the business for the next few years?
To be ready to grow and scale when some of the misaligned economic factors fall into place. We have been working with MCS to support the new Low Carbon Heating Incentive to be delivered in our local college. We have always had a comprehensive apprenticeship programme and this new qualification is key.
We are working with various platform developers whose products can support the customer to have a smooth journey to having a heat pump installed. Our main goal is to be a good example of best practice in domestic heat pump installation. I am currently writing an e-book aimed at homeowners on how to set about switching to a heat pump.
What’s your view of the renewable energy landscape as it stands?
It is not working at all well in the retrofit market. There has been too much conflict with resources put towards exploring the possibility of utilising hydrogen in domestic heating. This has felt very political to us with big business money connected with the oil and gas industry. The question has been can the domestic gas grid be said to be decarbonising by switching to or adding hydrogen?
The proposed trials have been cancelled, and all that is realistically left to contribute to the carbon zero targets are heat pumps. Unfortunately the image of the domestic heat pump industry has been damaged by bad press. Confusion is rife around which properties are suitable for a heat pump, partly caused by utility companies ‘cherry picking’ small easy retrofit installs to install at ‘loss leader’ prices.
The knock on effect is that ‘rejected’ homeowners are left feeling their house isn’t suitable or feeling independent companies are ‘ripping them off’ when they seek alternative prices and are faced with a realistic quote for a quality low temperature system.
What do you think are the main challenges for your business at the moment?
Keeping enough work flowing through the books until some of the imbalances in the market shift after the General Election.
What are the main opportunities for your business/the renewable industry at the moment?
It feels like a time of innovation and collaboration where all kinds of people are trying to create platforms and software to help the installers and homeowners to be able to achieve the outcome of transitioning to a heat pump. The missing piece of the jigsaw is a clear strategy from Government.
Do you agree with the Government’s net zero strategy?
I’m not sure I even know what the Government’s net zero strategy is.
Do you have any particular ideas/ solutions for advancing the net zero agenda?
Providing a smooth, informed, ‘safe’ journey for homeowners to transition. We would like to see all homeowners that want to switch to a heat pump to be able to access the funding to do so.
Highlight a business achievement, project or case study you’re particularly proud of
Being instrumental in lobbying and supporting my local college to offer the new Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship.
Are you involved in any industry bodies, membership organisations or campaigns that you’d like to highlight?
I am a spokesperson for Heating Trade Networks UK, a campaign to set the record straight on heat pumps after all the toxic press.
Image credit: R A Brown Heating Services
