16 April 2025
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R.A. Brown Heating Services, the recent recipient of the prestigious Heat Pump Installer Award at this year's National ACR & Heat Pump Awards, share their history and what they believe, makes them stand out.
Prior to installing ground and air source heat pumps in 2007, the company was a successful plumbing and heating business, initially serving a more urban customer base in Norwich. They gradually expanded to barn conversions and other rural properties by specialising in underfloor heating. The decision to install heat pumps stemmed from Richard Brown’s desire to work at the cutting edge of the industry, offering what he sees as the best in technology to customers. This ethos continues today and has been instilled within the current workforce, from senior management down to new apprentices.
Showroom premises: Allowing customers to see and understand working products
In 2012, the company moved into showroom premises, having previously operated from a home office. Since then, it steadily grew from 7 employees to an expansive workforce of 22 today. Richard felt strongly that prospective customers need to see these technologies and understand how the systems would fit into their properties. In the showroom, they can view mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) systems, radiators, underfloor heating (UFH), ground source heat pumps (GSHP) from NIBE & Stiebel Eltron, air source heat pumps (ASHP) from NIBE, Stiebel Eltron & Ariston.
The showroom also has working displays of MVHR, ASHP, UFH allowing the customer to experience these products in action and they can practice using controls. This adds credibility and demonstrates that the company is a professional establishment.
Supporting and educating the industry: CPD events and raising awareness of heat humps
R A Brown Heating Services strongly believe in supporting and educating the industry. In 2025 they reinstated their CPD events which had a brief hiatus due to Covid. Dax Parsons, General Manager hosted the events for Architects and Property Developers. The events had support from suppliers who also gave presentations, which allowed the delegates to understand more about the technologies and how they could be specified to fit with their client's needs and objectives.
Louise Howlett, Commercial Director has taken the lead on being active and networking within the industry. She is passionate about raising awareness of heat pumps and being a positive voice in the heat pump industry. Over the last couple of years, amongst other things, she has been involved in roundtable discussions with politicians and invited an MP who was a member of the Environmental Audit Committee to our showroom to discuss the industry and government initiatives. All these opportunities are seen as small building blocks in being able to promote the heat pump industry and for homeowners to be informed to help them make the right decisions.
Staff development
They continue to maintain their aspired high standards by ensuring staff are fully trained. Both in terms of apprenticeships, manufacturer product training and health and safety training. Demonstrating this, their installation team comprises of 9 fully qualified engineers and 4 apprentices. They also have 3 apprentices, who are conducting their NVQ level 3 in Plumbing and Heating, also 1 T-level Student who will be joining them on an accelerated apprenticeship once he has completed his T-level course.
Their staff also have the qualifications to provide advice to new customers and produces technical drawings, assist with site surveys to enable accurate assessment and calculation of heat loads in accordance with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), identifying the installation requirements and production of CAD plans. Attending the higher-level technical training for NIBE & Ariston.
