Heat Pumps Today

16 December | January 2023 W O M E N I N T H E H E A T P U M P I N D U S T R Y Heat pump industry How did you get into the heat pump industry? It was a comment from my dad, a chartered surveyor, that set me o on what at the time may have seemed an unusual, male- dominated career path. I’d always loved maths and physics and was studying hard for my A levels at the time, when he o ered me the worst possible advice. He suggested I shouldn’t worry about the exam results as I’d probably just end up getting married anyway. Well, it was like a red rag to a bull and I was determined to prove him wrong! I’m pleased to say that the exams went well, and I went on to study Building Services Engineering at Loughborough University. I might have been the only woman in what was very much a man’s world, but I didn’t let that bother me. In fact, truth be told, I rather enjoyed being a bit di erent. I’m proud to have mentored lots more amazing women into the industry since then. And the rest, as they say, is history. I’ve now been in the construction industry for over thirty years and I can honestly say that I love it as much today as I did when I started out. What was your first job? My first job was as a Building Services Consultant for RW Gregory and Partners. I enjoyed putting my design skills to use but soon realised that my interests lay more in the commercial side of business. So, I set out to hone my sales skills in the heating and cooling industry, first at Trane UK, then at Space Air Conditioning. In 1999, I joined Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems, starting as a Sales Engineer and working my way up to Corporate Solutions Director. Nearly twenty years swiftly flew by! My team worked closely with UK end users, providing education and advice on the best ways to manage their commercial estate e ectively and e“ciently. One of the aspects I loved most about my time at MEUK was coaching and mentoring – helping people enter the industry, developing in them a similar passion for carbon reduction and the all- important self-belief and confidence that they can make a di erence. This led to my next contract position as Sales Director for a collaboration between Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI) and Beijer Ref UK. In this role, I was challenged with developing a new external and internal sales team to support the implementation and growth of air conditioning and CO2 air source heat pump sales in the UK. Helping customers realise that saving energy and carbon is straightforward and de-mystifying heat pump technology is so rewarding. What does your current role involve? I’ve recently joined Baxi as their Renewables Director, tasked with helping the business to accelerate heat pump sales within the residential and commercial markets. As a well-established heating manufacturer, Baxi is at the forefront of the energy transition and is committed to developing and o ering a ordable low-carbon heating and hot water solutions to its customers. And while it may currently be better known for its boilers, in fact, Baxi already boasts a strong and expanding heat pump portfolio for both the domestic and non-domestic sectors. With vast experience and technical expertise within the company (which has some of the industry’s best-known brands including Remeha, Heatrae Sadia and Andrews Water Heaters) and the wider BDR Thermea Group, it’s a fantastic time to step in and take the reins of the renewables division. I’m looking forward to tapping into my leadership skills, sustainable focus and, of course, my knowledge of air source heat pumps to support the Baxi heat pump sales drive. I can honestly say that I am relishing the challenge of turning the perception of Baxi from a boiler manufacturer to a serious player in the heat pump business! There are numerous loyal Baxi installers and clients crying out for reliable and honest advice on how to make the switch. What do you see as the challenges facing the industry? Training and education are the main challenges we face, in particular getting traction with all current installers to support the energy transition. Harriet Evans, newly appointed Renewables Director at Baxi, discusses her love of heat pumps, why she switched from primarily air conditioning to focus on heating, and the challenges the industry faces