He says: “Around three years ago when looking at the business and who and what we were and wanted to be, we developed the line ‘Inspiring change today to protect future generations’.
“That is our purpose and it’s what drives the business forward on a daily basis. It’s what gets us up in the morning.”
“We are excited by the opportunity we have with the next phase of the business and the enormous growth potential there is.”
That growth potential isn’t just in the UK. The business opened its Ireland operation in Galway in 2015 and sees the developing market across the Irish Sea as a great opportunity.
Opportunity has been a central theme, particularly over the last 15 months, which have been about building the Low Carbon Energy Company team to take it on the next stage of its development.
Ged says: “We’re looking to deliver bigger projects. Battery technology is an increasingly important part of the mix and we’re also growing our maintenance service, so we can be with our customers throughout their low carbon journey.
“It is important we build relationships and look for repeat business to grow our revenue streams. Solar, storage and maintenance will give us that lifelong commitment to the customer.
It is a strategy that has already been driven by Benedict, who joined the company five years ago. Like his father and mother the 26-year-old also has a clear focus on the direction of travel.
He says: “We have worked really hard over the last three years to develop a strategy to deliver significant growth for the business and build on the base we have.
“We’ve built a solid team over the past few years and we are now geared up for the next stage of growth.
“Businesses are more aware than ever that energy, carbon and cost reductions are critical elements of making them sustainable and successful.
“The business and team have grown significantly to allow us to support the UK and Ireland business community in meeting their ambitions.”
The Low Carbon Energy Company began life when his father Ged, who had been in the construction business, began looking for a new venture. It was
very much an early mover in what was then a fledgling green energy sector.
Ged says: “We spent a year carrying out research before we launched, looking at all the different technologies but we kept coming back to solar. From day one we decided to specialise in serving commercial clients.
“It’s been an interesting journey so far. Someone recently described us as a 15-year overnight success story!”
From its base in Clock Tower Mill in Burnley, the business has been at the forefront of the evolution of green energy, which is much changed from the days of government tariffs and uncertainty over solar’s future direction.
Ged says: “From day one we’ve gone about our business building our reputation for delivery. Honesty and integrity are important to us and everyone in the company.
“We have always taken the approach we are here to give customers advice. We put the facts in front of them and show them what solar will deliver to their business. It is a simple, straightforward approach.”
It’s also an approach that has impressed a growing list of high profile clients, including a deal with Drax Power as its solar pv provider throughout the UK.
The team also delivered the UK’s largest SolarEdge project, a 2.7MW system for Boohoo in Burnley. Other clients include the NHS, Boeing, BMW, United Utilities, Co-op, Tesco, Network Rail and Tata.
As he and Maura prepare to hand over the reins to the next generation, Ged looks back on the past 15 years with a strong sense of pride and achievement.
He says: “It’s not the financial side so much, though that is important, for me it has always been more about the customer. If we get great feedback off a customer and they are happy, that’s when I get a real buzz.”
As for the future, he adds: “Benedict is completely committed and ready to take on the challenge and is ambitious for the business. The handover has been well planned and we’ve worked hard to put together the management team.
“We’ve also built the strategy around understanding what we do. It all comes back to that line ‘inspiring change today to protect future generations’. If we keep that at the forefront we won’t go far wrong.”
LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
IEW.CO.UK
25
ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
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