Oakes Energy Services has appointed experienced HVAC & Renewables specialist Nik Smith as its new director, to drive the growth and expansion of the business.
Nik’s appointment coincides with the opening of a new, additional office for Oakes Energy Services in Newcastle, housing its commercial team.
Oakes Energy Services is part of PHS, which is more commonly recognised under the 0800-repair brand and is one of the UK’s leading home services firms, headquartered in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham.
It provides dedicated renewable energy solutions, such as air & ground source heating, solar PV and traditional heating for both domestic and commercial property markets with its ultimate parent company being Viessmann, the German engineering company, which employs around 14,000 people with turnover reaching four billion euros across 74 countries.
Nik was born into an engineering family and has worked in the industry for more than 30 years, beginning his career as an apprentice at Crown Housing Engineering.
He worked nationally delivering major projects for the Swedish engineering giant ABB before being was headhunted by Australasia’s largest HVAC specialist, at the time Hastie Group, to deliver major projects in New Zealand.
Nik returned to the UK to create and run his award-winning HVAC businesses for more than 20 years, which he sold recently to investors.
He is a Chartered Engineer registered with the UK Engineering Council, a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers and multiple entrant into the ‘who’s who’ of Britain’s business elite.
Joining Nik in the growing commercial team in Michael Simmons, who joins at general manager. With over three decades of management experience, Michael will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the business and project activities within Oakes Energy Services.
Nik said: “I am thrilled to take up this new role which is crucial to support Oakes’ drive to net zero in domestic and commercial properties. Oakes has a great reputation, and as part of the larger PHS group of businesses it will continue to play a key part in helping its customers meet their low carbon energy ambitions, I am thrilled for Michael to join us on the journey, along with Jason the three of us have been competitors for decades so to unite as a team is exciting.”
Jason, who has been promoted to PHS sales director, said: “Nik and Michael each have over thirty years of experience in this industry, so I am naturally delighted to welcome them to the business and look forward to working with them to take Oakes further.
“With Nik and Michael in place, I am now able to take a broader role in the PHS business, focusing on sales opportunities across our divisions.”
