PHAM NEWS | MAY 2026 30 CompanySpotlight


Keeping a step ahead with sustainable heating solutions


As Grant UK celebrates 30 years in the heating sector, PHAM News caught up with founder Paul Wakefi eld to refl ect on how the company grew from a small family business into one of the industry’s best known names.


F


rom its award winning Vortex HVO- compatible oil-fi red condensing boilers to the latest renewable


technologies like solar thermal, air source heat pumps, cylinders and innovative hybrid heating products, Grant UK has built a reputation for the development of aff ordable sustainable heating solutions. Now at the beginning of its fourth decade, it seems a good time to take stock of the company’s success.


Grant is about to celebrate 30 years of manufacturing, but how did it all start? “Back in the early 1990s, I was working for some of the larger established gas boiler and radiator brands. Through that, I met a small group of people who had similar ideas to me and together we set up a business manufacturing gas combi boilers. When I came across Grant Engineering in Ireland, I could immediately see the potential. There were already some well-established brands selling oil-fi red boilers in the UK, but Grant had some distinct advantages; its appliances were unique and it had owners willing to invest in new technologies. “We did need to adapt the


product range. The Irish market mainly used outdoor and boiler house models, but in the UK most installations were white- case boilers in utility rooms, and there was growing demand for combi boilers too. That meant redesigning the range to suit the UK market. In 1996 we offi cially formed Grant UK.”


Paul Wakefi eld Founder and MD of Grant UK


What were the early days like? “Hard work! I worked long hours, but it was a true family business; my late wife Christine ran the sales and distribution operation and my daughter Anna helped on weekends with customer mailshots. She offi cially joined the business a few years later to support the Training Academy and set up the marketing department. “We worked closely with


smaller merchants at fi rst, training installers and building sales one region at a time. It was very hands-on. I’d work closely with an independent merchant and their local installers, get them up and running and then move on to the next. “A big turning point came


When customers visit our HQ, they’re often surprised by our scale, our professionalism and how much we can offer


when Plumb Centre put in an order for 600 boilers, which was a full week’s worth of production at the time. Then City Plumbing and Travis Perkins making orders of similar scale and we were off .”


What were some of the major milestones for the business? “One of the biggest developments was the launch of the Grant Vortex. It was our fi rst condensing oil-fi red boiler and it changed everything. Condensing technology was still new to oil and many installers were hesitant but we saw it coming and we acted early. When condensing became mandatory, Grant UK was already several steps ahead. “Oil has remained at the


core of our product portfolio, but we’ve expanded into solar thermal, cylinders, and air source heat pumps. In 2024 we launched the Aerona 290 air source heat pump range and it’s the best heat pump we’ve ever had. It’s incredibly effi cient and uses the R290 refrigerant which has a much lower Global Warming Potential than any previous refrigerant. We now off er entire system packages, from heat pumps to hot water storage, radiators, underfl oor systems and smart controls.


 Grant UK moved to its new premises in Swindon in 2023


What support does the company off er installers who are new to heat pumps? “We can really help installers get started. We run schemes like the Nesta-backed Start with Grant, which gives installers the opportunity to fi t a fully funded Aerona heat pump in their own home with support from our design, training and technical teams. This gives engineers fi rst-hand experience of having a heat pump before off ering systems to customers. “We run a Training Academy


in Swindon which has a range of courses for heating engineers including Aerona3 and Aerona 290 air source heat pump courses where you can learn about operation, installation requirements and commissioning. For installers who want to go further, we also run an ASHP System Design course which looks at the fundamentals of designing systems with Grant heat pumps. “If you can’t make it to the


Swindon Academy, we have satellite training centres across Great Britain, as well as an online eLearning Academy with on-demand courses and shorter free introductory modules.”


Grant UK has built a strong reputation over the past three decades. What do you think has been behind that success? “We’ve always grown steadily rather than in sudden spikes. John Fay, one of our original Irish owners, once told me: “I want growth, but not boom and bust – just steady, reliable progress.” That’s exactly what we’ve delivered, year after year. We are obviously known for high-quality products but our methodical approach has defi nitely helped us grow. As a company we follow the same steps: understand the


market, fi nd the right supplier partnerships and back all our products with installer training, guidance and support. “But the heart of the business


has always been its people. We’ve got people like Phil Stanley, who built the Training Academy, Neil Sawers, who has been instrumental in OEM product sourcing and development for over 20 years, Andy Smith, who heads up the external sales operation, along with so many long-serving staff who are part of the company’s identity. Many of our employees that moved on have later returned or remained close to us in some way. This continuity has been really important to the company because we’ve kept a culture of stability and loyalty.”


How do you see the future for the business? “There are still challenges, particularly around government policy, energy pricing and the cost of installation. But there are also opportunities. Heat pump adoption continues to rise and our installer- focused support, including the dedicated sales engineer team and the G1 Installer Scheme, puts us in a good position to meet that growing demand. “We didn’t start with a gas


boiler background so our business hasn’t always been as recognisable as some of the larger established players. But when customers visit our HQ, they’re often surprised by our scale, our professionalism and how much we can off er. Grant UK is well set for the future. There are going to be so many exciting times ahead for us in the coming years that it almost makes me wish I was just starting out again.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/526/41


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