We end another year in a state of flux about the pandemic, with businesses and individuals uncertain about what the coming months will bring. There’s definitely a feeling of déjà vu!

Despite the challenges, 2021 has been another successful year for SunGift, for which we are grateful. Our team has expanded by around 30% during the year, with active recruitment in every area of the business, from marketing to engineers and apprentices. This expansion in expertise allows us to provide an even better service to our clients, and ensures our capability of designing and installing ever more demanding and complex projects.

Underpinning this is our new IT system which has been developed over the past year and is set to revolutionise our processes and client journey. The end-to-end cloud-based system encompasses initial client contact, survey, system design, project management, accounting, stock management and HR. We are expecting everything to be up and running early in the new year. We are already offering the most advanced troubleshooting technology available – as well as providing expert maintenance this means we can also use what we learn to constantly improve the systems we offer.

Projects-wise we have literally been inundated with enquiries. Some of these were undoubtedly fuelled by the energy crisis which has seen electricity costs spiral. But as well as a nervousness about rising costs, we are also aware that many enquiries are backed by a genuine concern about the environment. This has always been a core ethos of our business, so it is gratifying to see more and more people waking up to the reality and wanting to do something about it.

Work of note include several interesting projects with councils in the South West, tackling fuel poverty for council house tenants, and reducing energy use helping to meet longer-term net zero goals. We are also proud to have been involved with the green aims at Exeter Science Park where we installed solar PV, batteries and EV charging systems. In development is a Tesla Megapack system which will see hundreds of homes connected to enable self-sufficiency whilst also providing a major benefit to the grid. At the same time our residential team has been busier than ever fulfilling installations for homes of all shapes and sizes.

In the latter part of the year we were nominated in two regional awards. In the inaugural Exeter Property Awards we were delighted to win both our categories – Green Initiative and Suppliers & Services. And although we didn’t win at the Western Morning News Business Awards we were proud to be finalists in the Environmental and SME of the Year categories.

SunGift is moving into 2022 with a real hunger to continue growing both in size and reputation, making a real difference helping individuals, businesses and organisations to achieve their ambitions of clean energy systems.

Here’s to a brighter new year for us all.