Meet the team: Andy Oliver

By JR | Blog

Each month, we’re interviewing a different member of our team. This month we spoke to Head of Finance, Andy Oliver.

How long have you worked for Stevenson’s, Andy?

I joined the team seven years ago, in 2014, as Service Manager.

 

What did you do before that?

I worked for 30 years in the coffee industry as an engineer and service manager, repairing coffee machines in many of the big coffee chains. I used to head up the engineering section of Coffee Nation, which is now Costa Coffee.

Before that, I started out as a paper boy for John Menzies (remember them?!) and worked my way up to store manager.

 

What roles have you held at Stevenson’s?

I started as Service Manager, where I looked after the engineers and the service desk, ensuring everything ran smoothly. I was then MD for a while and took over the finance role in July 2020.

 

What do you want to achieve in your current role?

I’m working on streamlining our financial processes and systems, bringing in relevant technology to help. This will make it easier for the team and help us keep costs down – and remain cost-effective for our customers.

 

Tell us something we don’t know about you

I am a trained barista! Something I learned during my career as an engineer in the coffee industry. You can’t fix the machines without knowing how to use them!

 

What do you enjoy doing when not working?

I, like some of the others in the team, am an avid cyclist. I’ve done the London to Brighton cycle ride five times and have twice completed a 100-mile Olympic cycling route.

My family recently had two boxer puppies, so they’re keeping me busy at the moment too. They’re only 13 weeks old, so still require a lot of looking after!

 

Do you have a favourite film?

Oh definitely Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption.

 

And finally, tea or coffee?!

Given my work history, it’s no surprise I’m a big coffee fan! I love a proper, freshly ground cup of coffee.

 

Did you enjoy reading about Andy Oliver? If you’d like to read more about our other staff, click here.

Landlord Electrical Safety Certificates

By JR | Blog

New Landlord Electrical Safety Standards

Are you a landlord renting out your house or flat in the private sector? If so, the new electrical safety regulations require regular checks on your property. Here’s what this means for you.

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) require compulsory 5-year electrical safety checks on privately rented properties. This is in addition to the Gas Safety Regulations already in place for rented properties.

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 applied to new tenancies from July 2020 and from 1 April 2021  they apply to existing tenancies too.

 

Landlord Responsibilities under the new Electrical Safety Standards

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to supply safe electrical installations for your tenants. You will also need to arrange for regular testing by a qualified electrician:

New tenancies – came into force 1 July 2020:

– Before each new tenancy begins, and at every change in tenancy

– And then at least every five years throughout the duration of the tenancy

– More regularly than every five years if the safety report requires it.

Existing tenancies – from 1 April 2021:

– First inspection to be carried out before 1 April 2021

– And at least every five years throughout the duration of the tenancy

– More regularly than every five years if the safety report requires it.

 

Electrical safety reports

Your electrician will provide you with a written report after the inspection. This will include the results and any remedial action you need to take to repair/improve your installations.

You must keep a copy of the report and give your tenants a copy within 28 days of the inspection.

What happens if there are electrical faults or I fail the inspection?

If your electrical safety report identifies a fault or potential fault, you must ensure it is rectified within 28 days or less, depending on what the report says.

Once the problems are sorted, you will get written confirmation that the installation is now to standard or that further work is required. And again, you need to send this confirmation to your tenants within 28 days.

A qualified, registered electrician, such as those approved by the NICEIC, must carry out the remedial works. All of Stevenson Heating’s electricians are suitably qualified to carry out the inspections and remedial work.

Why do I have to do this?

If you don’t comply with the new electrical safety standards, your Local Authority will have a duty to act. Depending on the nature of the breach, this could be in the form of a ‘remedial notice’, enforced remedial works and even fines of up to £30,000 and cost recovery measures.

As such, ignoring the new legislation really could cost you greatly!

 

How Stevenson Heating can help

Here at Stevenson Heating, we can carry out the required electrical inspection and provide you with all of the necessary electrical safety certification. We can also carry out any remedial work, if needed.

We are NICEIC registered and can make sure your property checks are conducted in accordance with the new legislation when it is passed.

If you also provide gas appliances for your tenants, we can carry out your gas safety inspections too.

Choose us for both electrical and gas safety checks at the same time and we will give you a 10% discount.

To book your safety checks in preparation for July contact us on 020 8462 8822 or request a call back.

Meet the team: Paul Stevenson

By JR | Blog

Each month, we’re interviewing a different member of our team. This month we spoke to IT Manager, Paul Stevenson.

 

How long have you worked for Stevenson’s, Paul?

As it’s my family’s business, I started with Stevenson’s when I was a teenager during my school holidays. But I formally joined the payroll full-time in 1992, starting in the shop.

 

Have you worked anywhere else?

Yes, before I was fully employed here, I worked part time at Marks and Spencer while doing my A-Levels. I went to university but it wasn’t for me so I dropped out. I even once did a night shift in Tip-Top bakery in Orpington, but that wasn’t my proudest moment!

 

What roles have you held?

What roles haven’t I had?! I’ve done a bit of everything, from yard boy to MD, and still muck-in where needed. We all do – we’re a small family firm.

I’m currently the IT Manager and IT has formed a large part of what I’ve done during my nearly 30 years at Stevenson’s.

In my early days, I redesigned the stock management software, then I set up our first computer network and created the service department’s job management software. After a part-time AAC accountancy course, I took on the payroll management, updating us to the latest software accounting and payroll packages.

As technology improved, I installed our second computer network, linking all the computers, installing a Windows server and a much bigger telephone system.

Around that time, we had taken over Keston Boilers, so I spent some time getting hands-on gas experience with the engineers. I held various roles at Keston, latterly company secretary and office manager. I created a job management system and integrated it with the accounts and an engineer’s mobile reporting system.

In 2006, I transferred back to Stevenson Heating, spent a few years as Managing Director and then became IT Manager, which is really my first passion.

 

What do you want to achieve in your current role?

My priority is to streamline our IT systems again, as technology doesn’t stand still. It’s important we take advantage of technological changes – especially in these times of increased remote working – and continually improve our customer service.

 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

You can probably tell from my work history that I am a total nerd!

I’m also qualified as a Level 1 British Cycling Coach. My Saturday mornings are usually spent coaching at the Hayes children’s bike club, known as Bigfoot. We’ve done a version of the London to Brighton bike ride and a Hayes to Dunwich (Suffolk) three-day ride with them.

 

Do you have a favourite film or song?

My favourite film has to be Ronin. Music-wise, I mostly like 90’s Brit-pop and dance – I used to do mixing in the late 90’s.

 

And finally, tea or coffee?!

I am rather partial to a particular coffee from Costa: their vanilla latte!

Eco Deal to save on energy efficient products

By JR | Blog

Save Money With Our Eco Deal This Spring

We’ve just launched our Eco Deal spring offer to help you save money while becoming more energy efficient with your heating system.

Do you feel like you’re wasting money on your heating because it’s not efficient? And are your bills bigger than you’d like them to be, especially during the winter months when you need your heating most? Well, switching to newer, energy efficient models can actually save you money.

And this doesn’t just have to be for your boiler. Sometimes simply switching to Smart Controls, adding new thermostatic radiator valves to your radiators, or having a system power flush can improve your heating’s efficiency.

That’s why we’ve launched our Eco Deal for this spring, which gives you 10% off upgrades to a number of energy efficient products.

 

Eligible energy efficient products

Products included in our 10% offer are:

✅ A-rated high efficiency boilers
✅ New radiators
✅ SMART heating controls
✅ New thermostatic radiator valves
✅ New ‘modulated’ heating pumps
✅ A system power flush

So, don’t miss out! Take up our offer by contacting us before 31st March 2021 to book in your upgrade. Quote ECODEAL2021 when you contact us.

Call us on 020 8462 8822, request a callback or email us now to start benefitting.

Meet the team: Gary Chaney

By JR | Blog

Each month, we’re interviewing a different member of our team. This month we spoke to Sale Manager, Gary Chaney.

 

How long have you worked for Stevenson’s?

I’ve been working for Stevenson’s Sales for 34 years. I started in 1986 as a Sales Trade Counter Assistant and became Manager within a couple of years.

 

What does your role involve?

As the Sales Manager, I serve and advise customers in our shop, online, by email and over the phone. I also process and dispatch orders and I’m in charge of purchasing all the products we sell.

Over the years, my duties have varied, including the development of Keston Boilers when they became part of Stevenson’s. I was their Spares Advisor and Dispatch Manager to merchants throughout the UK.

 

What do you want to achieve in your role?

The move to West Wickham High Street in 2017 brought us many new customers wanting different products. I love helping them find new products and we continue to evolve to meet their changing demands.

As the industry changes, so do we. The shop will continue to add new stock lines. We’re an independent retailer and there aren’t many of us left in the heating and plumbing industry. We try to offer a different experience to the national companies and there’s definitely room for us to compete with them. I’d like to encourage people to shop local and support independent retailers as much as they can.

 

Tell us something we don’t know about you?

I’ve actually been working in this trade in some shape or form since I was 11 years old! And I’m still passionate about it.

 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

I’m an avid Crystal Palace supporter, both home and away. OK, the team’s not made it to Europe yet but it’s still good to dream. For me, that would compare with England winning the World Cup!

 

And finally, tea or coffee?!

Definitely tea! As for sugar, I say “No thank you, Turkish, I’m sweet enough!” (which might also give you a clue to the type of films I like…!)