16 June 2025
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Michelle Wright, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Qvantum Energy Technology, shares her fascinating journey into the heat pump industry. Her simple ethos —work hard, play hard, and be transparent which has played a key role in shaping her career. She also discusses what she believes are the major challenges facing the industry, and reflects on the mentors, both professional and personal, who have inspired her along the way.
My career began in sales administration for a roofing company, which gave me my first taste of the sales environment. But it was my five years in the Royal Navy as an Operator Mechanic, specialising in communications, that truly shaped my discipline, resilience, and ability to perform under pressure. It was an incredible chapter full of learning and camaraderie but ultimately not conducive to the family life I wanted to build.
On leaving the Navy, I stepped into my first external sales role and I’ve never looked back. That move set me on a path through the building services industry.
I quickly learnt the importance of building strong relationships. I entered the field at a time when success often hinged more on who you knew than what you knew. As the only woman on my team, I felt a constant pressure to prove myself, not because of my gender, but because I believed I had to be better. Over time, I realised that success wasn’t about being female or fitting a mould, it was about delivering on promises, managing expectations with honesty, and leading with integrity. That was never a gender thing, that was about doing a good job.
There was no secret formula to my career growth. It was simple: work hard, play hard and be transparent. That ethos led me into key account management, a space I’m deeply passionate about. I thrive on the autonomy and responsibility of building strategies and relationships that create mutual success. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a customer partnership evolve into a long-term, trusted collaboration.
Using my transferable skills, especially when paired with strong customer relationships, has opened doors across multiple sectors. That journey brought me to my current role with Qvantum. As the UK embarks on its transition from gas boilers to heat pumps in pursuit of its Net Zero emissions target by 2050, it’s an exciting time to be in the industry, especially for professionals like me who are interested in both legacy systems and emerging technologies, and who bring with them the trust and respect of long-standing customer relationships.
What does your current role involve?
I lead the development and management of distribution and key partner relationships for Qvantum Energy Technology. Having just entered the. UK market and with no established brand presence, I’ve leveraged deep industry relationships and market insight to build strategic alliances that drive mutual profitability and market share growth. My responsibilities span the full partnership lifecycle, from crafting and executing joint go-to-market strategies to negotiating and structuring trading agreements tailored for long-term success. Within my first six months, these efforts have been instrumental in establishing a credible market footprint and accelerating commercial momentum.
What do you see as the challenges facing the industry?
The energy sector is going through a major transition, but it still faces a number of serious challenges. As more homes and vehicles are powered by electricity, the strain on the grid continues to grow, especially during peak times. Managing that demand is becoming more complex and expensive. Time-of-use tariffs could help, but many systems still aren’t able to respond intelligently to them.
Heat pumps, while highly efficient and environmentally friendly, haven’t yet been adopted at the scale needed. Upfront costs, limited public understanding, and the complexity of retrofitting existing homes all act as barriers. At the same time, the growth of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar introduces more variability into the system, making it harder to balance supply and demand.
Policy uncertainty adds another layer of difficulty. Inconsistent incentives and shifting regulations can discourage investment and slow down innovation.
In the midst of all this, it’s genuinely rewarding to work for Qvantum — a company that not only recognises these challenges but actively develops smart, f lexible solutions to address them. With a clear focus on innovation and sustainability, Qvantum is helping to drive real progress in the shift towards clean, low-carbon heating.
Did you have any mentors or anyone in particular who inspired you?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with some of the best people in the industry. Throughout my career, I’ve been blessed with outstanding managers and peers, each of whom has left a lasting impression and helped shape the professional I am today.
- Adam Turk was my Sales Director at Polypipe Terrain; he gave me my f irst real opportunity. He taught me the importance of expectation versus agreement and the art of building meaningful relationships.
- Rob Erwood was Sales Director at Baxi Commercial; he knew when to challenge me and when to let me fly. He gave me the space to grow across multiple disciplines while always championing my development.
- Rachel Brown was Marketing and Communications Manager at Baxi Heating; when she spoke, the room listened. Her ability to challenge the status quo with such subtlety and insight is unmatched. She has a rare gift for understanding both individual needs and the bigger picture.
- Harriet Evans, Sales and Marketing Director at Qvantum Energy Technology, has shown me that sunshine yellow is a force to be reckoned with. Her technical knowledge, drive and infectious enthusiasm constantly inspire me to raise my game.
Outside of work, I’m lucky to have a strong circle of friends — my ‘rock-solid girl gang’ — who’ve been by my side for over 40 years. Among them are women in senior roles, stay at home mums, and a single mum who gives her all every day. They’re my sounding board, my cheerleaders, and my reality check.
Despite being in different industries, we share experiences, offer honest advice, and always support one another. No jealousy, no judgement — just loyalty and tough love when needed. Their influence and encouragement have helped shape who I am and how I move forward.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Netball has been my lifelong passion. From a young age it was my escape, my “me time” away from the noise of life. After 40 years of playing competitively, including through three shoulder surgeries, I finally hung up my trainers two seasons ago. But I couldn’t imagine life without netball, so I transitioned into coaching. Now a qualified Level 2 coach, I’m proud to work with Real Bedford, supporting over 150 members from U11s to seniors, including players in regional leagues and even the National Super League. I coach the U16s, U19s, and 1st team — and while it’s supposed to be my happy place, watching them play often gets my heart racing more than when I was on court myself!
At home, I’m a simple soul. I cherish time with my family, though with three grown daughters, Chloe, a PR director in London; Georgia, a team manager in Evesham; and Libby, soon graduating from university, it’s rare we’re all in the same place at the same time. That’s given my husband Chris and I the chance to travel more, with a goal to explore somewhere new every year. And then there’s Hutton, our lovable labrador (named after the Aston Villa player), who sheds endlessly, eats everything, and brings joy to our lives with his ever-wagging tail every day.
