This year Grant UK celebrates its 30th Anniversary. PHPI sits down with Paul Wakefield, Managing Director, to look back on three decades of success and what the future holds.
When Paul Wakefield first met Grant Engineering’s owners, Stephen Grant and John Fay, few could have predicted that a fledgling idea to bring Grant’s oil-fired boilers into the UK would evolve into one of the country’s leading names in oil fired and renewable heating technologies. What began 30 years ago, with Paul travelling the length and breadth of the country carrying a boiler in the boot of his car has today grown into a business at the forefront of the heating industry.
Back in the early 1990s, Paul was working for some of the larger established gas boiler and radiator brands. The experience and knowledge he gained allowed him to join a small group of likeminded individuals to set up a business manufacturing gas combi boilers. When he came across Grant Engineering in Ireland, he spotted an opportunity to bring their products to a wider audience.
There were already some well-established brands selling oil fired boilers in the UK, but Grant had a strong range of appliances and owners willing to invest in new technologies.
“I bought a few boilers, sold them and quickly realised there was potential,” recalls Paul. “But it needed work. The Irish market was geared towards outdoor and boiler house models, whereas the UK was used to white case, utility room installs and had a growing interest in combination boilers. We therefore set about redesigning the range for UK needs.”
Early collaboration
The success of that early collaboration led to the official formation of Grant UK in 1996. Like many new businesses, those early years were defined by commitment, long hours and the close-knit spirit of a true family business with Paul’s wife Christine running the sales and distribution operation and daughter Anna stuffing envelopes on work experience.
Grant UK quickly established itself among smaller merchants, training installers and building sales one region at a time. “It was very hands-on,” says Paul. “I’d work closely with an independent merchant and their local installers, get them up and running and then move on to the next.”
Eventually, the larger merchant players took notice with one placing an initial order for 600 boilers, a full week’s worth of production at the time. Other milestones followed, including further partnerships which saw orders of similar scale.
Game changer
Then came a real turning point – the development of the Vortex range, Grant’s first condensing oil fired boiler. It stemmed from a simple conversation; Grant’s owner Stephen Grant was interested in how he could bring his vast experience in the oil sector to developing the condensing concept whilst maintaining the reliability, size and ease of installation associated with the existing range.
“The Grant Vortex changed everything,” Paul recalls. “It was ahead of its time. Condensing technology was still new to oil and many installers were hesitant. But we saw it coming and acted early. We have always been flexible and nimble enough to spot opportunities and make products that are more efficient and bring them to market quickly.”
There were challenges, installer resistance to running condensate pipes among them, but Paul already understood the importance of training and the offer of technical support helped ease the transition.
Over time, as regulations tightened and condensing became mandatory, Grant UK was well-placed. The Vortex became a defining product for the company, opening doors to wider markets and broader customer bases.
Renewables
But while oil has remained the bedrock, the mid-2000s saw the company expand into solar thermal and PV, later followed by air source heat pumps. Grant UK’s approach was always methodical: understand the market, find the right supplier partnerships and develop products tailored for UK homes backed with installer training, guidance and support.
The 2024 launch of the Aerona 290 air source heat pump range (Grant’s fifth generation) marked another of those pivotal moments. “It’s the best heat pump we’ve ever had,” says Paul. “More efficient, future-proofed with R290 refrigerant and backed by an extensive support network. This is our Vortex moment for the renewable era.”
The company now offers entire system packages, from heat pumps to hot water storage, radiators, underfloor systems and smart controls.
Grant UK is known for its products, but Paul emphasises the heart of the company has always been its people. Individuals 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 together with numerous long-serving staff have become part of the company’s identity. Many employees that moved on, have later returned or remained connected, a testament to Grant UK’s friendly atmosphere and legacy in the industry.
This continuity has helped the business maintain a culture of stability and loyalty. “We’ve always grown steadily, not in spikes,” says Paul. “John Fay – one of our original Irish owners once told me, ‘I want growth, but not boom and bust, just steady, reliable progress.’ And that’s exactly what we’ve delivered, year after year.”
Heat pump adoption
Challenges remain, not least around government policy, energy pricing and installation costs, but Paul is optimistic. Heat pump adoption continues to rise and Grant’s installer-focused support, including its dedicated sales engineer team and G1 Installer Scheme, is well-placed to meet future demand.
As Paul puts it: “Not starting out from a gas boiler background has meant that our business was not 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 offer. The business is well set for the future. There are so many exciting times ahead for Grant in the coming years that it makes me wish I was just starting out!”
Image: Grant UK
