Grant UK's Managing Director, Paul Wakefield, takes a look back at 2021 and reflects on what the year has brought for the Company and the wider heating sector.
Reflecting on the past twelve months, 2021 has certainly been the most challenging trading period I can remember for Grant UK but also one of the most memorable ones as it has shown us the strength of the relationships we have with our loyal customers.
When we set our goals back in January, we were hopeful the worst of the Pandemic would be behind us. Thankfully, most companies in the heating industry have weathered this period relatively unscathed despite continued disruption to business operations.
Looking positively, Grant UK have been experiencing exceptional demand for all our heating products and this is showing no sign of slowing. However, worldwide material shortages are still affecting many industries with electronic components at the top of this list. This combination has, at times, made it difficult to meet the increased sales demand resulting in extended lead times.
The UK Government announced recently in the Heat and Buildings Strategy, an acceleration to the move away from fossil fuels with oil heating appearing to be first in their sights. Whilst the oil industry through OFTEC is still pushing Government to agree that any transition period should include the option of biofuels for the harder to heat homes, where heat pumps would not be suitable without major refurbishment work, so far, no biofuel option has been accepted. As a result, we are increasing our investment into other technologies and expanding training operations across the country to meet the growing demand for product knowledge.
The Grant UK Team and I are extremely grateful for your continued support and would like to thank you for your loyalty during this period. We hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable festive break with your families.
Best wishes,
Paul