The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 27: Oct/Nov 2016

IN PROFILE What's your role in the firm? What’s the most poignant thing you’ve learnt in business? I currently manage the office on a full time basis. What's been key to the business's growth? The key to our growth has been careful planning and not running before we can walk. Each time we recruit a new member of staff we like to make sure as far as possible that we have created a secure long term position. What’s it like being female in such a male-dominated trade? It’s really very interesting! It always surprises people at networking events when I tell them what my business is,I love the challenge of changing people’s perceptions of traditional heating and plumbing companies. That nothing lasts forever, good times or bad, everything happens for a reason, you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, and probably most importantly you need to look after yourself. Locally you’re known to be a great apprentice employer. Why are you so passionate about this? John started out his career as an apprentice, and it was always part of our plan, to get to a point where we could start employing apprentices, but also ensuring we had a job for them at the end of their apprenticeship. We think it’s really important to train the workforce of the future and secure the pipeline of future engineers. What are your business values? Debbie Williams John Williams Heating Services John Williams Heating Services is a family run business, owned and operated by husband and wife team John and Debbie Williams. Established in 2004, the company has a combined knowledge and experience of over 100 years and is based on Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate in Chippenham. The business currently employs 21 staff and their most famous client is Michael Mcintyre. Debbie's never met him, but she's spoken to him on the phone and he's hilarious! Do you think you’re treated differently being a woman in your industry? Yes I do, there are very few women in this industry and I find that often new sales reps are surprised when there meetings are with me to discuss new products, and it often throws them completely that I actually understand what they are talking about! I also find that in a group of plumbing and heating engineers they often use very different language when a woman is part of the group! What tips would you give other women trying to succeed in business? Particularly in maledominated environments. Be honest, ask when you don’t know something, be inquisitive, never stop asking why? Always stay true to yourself, don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Never stop learning, about yourself and the business you’re working in. To charge a fair price for a good job, to be transparent in our pricing and to provide excellent customer service from first point of contact for our customers to the end of a job. We don’t always get it right but we always put it right. Corporate Social Responsibility is important to you. What charities do you support and how? We are very proud to support Business against Poverty and we are main sponsor for their fundrasing annual ball, for the second year running. We also support Carers support Wiltshire, we recently hosted a coffee morning for them in our showroom, and we are also going to take part in Britain’s Best Breakfast raising much needed funds to support Wiltshire’s unpaid carers. We are hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning on Friday September 30 this our third year of supporting and raising much needed funds for them. And we always take part in a Christmas Jumper day which this year is Friday December 16 raising money for Save The Children. What did you do before JW Heating? I had a very successful beauty business, I am a trained beauty therapist, nail technician and reflexologist! Next edition we interview: Linda Todd, PR Director at Geometry PR Catering • Events • Venues • Equipment & Furniture Hire • Marquees The experience to deliver quality service whatever your needs www.hospitalityservices247.co.uk 14_04_Wiltshire_Business_Advert.indd 1 Tel: 01793 513888 15/09/2015 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 201610:16 25

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