15 July 2024
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Emma Bohan, Managing Director of IMS Heat Pumps shares her journey into the Heat Pump sector with us.
How did you get into the heat pump industry?
By accident!
In a previous life I worked for a business development company called International Innovation Services (IIS). Back in 2001, the company started to focus on supporting new and innovative environmental and energy related start-ups.
Another company we supported was called ECO Heat Pumps, who we helped to grow their business until, back in 2008, they sold to a manufacturer. I remained friends with the people behind ECO Heat Pumps, and subsequently, in 2016, they persuaded me to come and join the heat pump game. I’ve been here since then, and part of IMS Heat Pumps since 2019.
What was your first job?
My first job was working for a banqueting suite called Baldwin’s Omega, when I was 13 or 14 years old. It was for three afternoons (after school) and all-day on Saturday’s. The role included laying and decorating the tables for the weddings and events they were holding. It was run by a formidable gentleman, Mr Baldwin, who was a stickler for delivering high quality with attention to detail – it’s stuck with me ever since, although I do not miss polishing plates.
I went on to do silver service and bar work, and this led to my eventually heading to university to do Hotel & Catering Management.
What does your current role involve?
The day job is very varied; at IMS, we are 37 people and growing. With offices in Scotland and England so during a day I can cover everything from checking on our Health & Safety, holding sales meetings, discussing various marketing efforts, looking over operations, and/or completing inductions and reviews.
As Vice-chair of the GSHPA I am involved in promoting the work of our members and of course the benefits of the technology. So, it was great to be able to present the Ground Source Heat Pump awards at the recent National ACR & Heat Pump Awards in Manchester.
More recently, as the person behind the NESTA Installer Survey with Nathan Gambling of BetaTeach, I am currently spending time reviewing the data this has produced. Overall, it’s such a positive message for the industry and I can’t wait to get the data out there at InstallerLive in June.
What do you see as the challenges facing the industry?
To be honest, I think the biggest challenge at the moment is the fossil fuel lobby. Heat Pumps, when well designed and well installed, simply work. But that messaging is thwarted by the headline grabbing ‘I’m cold, and it’s the expensive heat pump that has ruined my life’ being pushed out there. There are thousands of heat pumps out there working fine with happy homeowners who are saving money – IMS have been installing them since 1997 – but ironically, we have been here before with the transition to Gas. And as we overcame that, so we will overcome this, and like many of the Nordic countries, Heat Pumps will become the norm.
Do you have any mentor’s or anyone in particular who inspires you? (Either in or out of the industry)
I am constantly inspired by the passion of the ladies I meet – and there are more of us than you think!
Two of the main Trade Associations are headed by Women – Charlotte Lee at the Heat Pump Association (HPA) - and Laura Bishop and Andrea Ellison at the Ground Source Heat Pump Association GSHPA - it’s brilliant to see. But I reserve special props for Leah at Your Energy, Your Way, and her dedication to supporting more women into the industry, truly trail blazing stuff.
What would you say to other women who are considering coming into the heat pump industry?
There are so many great people in the industry, and, as a woman in a male dominated environment, I have felt super supported and super welcomed. Almost without fail I have been helped, assisted, informed, and inspired by the people I have met along the way.
The industry is still so relatively new, that outside of the construction aspect, which has some way to go in encouraging more female people into trades, the rest is very ‘open arms’ – we need all hands on deck!
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work?
Like many people running a company, the lines can get blurred between a work/life balance but at IMS we have worked very hard to ensure that everyone can have a happy life. So when the tools are down, I really enjoy cooking with my husband, who, as a third-generation caterer, is convinced he is better than me, but we’ll agree to disagree!
