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When you talk to Andy Slater, founder of HVAC Communications, his enthusiasm for the industry is clear. He’s spent over 20 years in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration world – or HVACR for short.
“I started out as a refrigeration engineer,” Andy explains. “Before setting up HVAC Communications, I worked as a Senior Engineering Manager for LG Electronics, looking after the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries.”
His work took him all over the world, from research and development to product launches and training. But after years of airports and hotels, Andy wanted a change. “I’d spent a lot of time abroad,” he says. “I set up HVAC Communications to be closer to home, and because I saw a gap in the market. Technical companies struggle to find marketing and PR partners who understand the sector. I had previously spent ages explaining details to agencies, and I knew there was a better way.”
Andy launched HVAC Communications in 2018, offering technical services, PR, and marketing. The idea was simple – save clients time and speak their language.
Although based in Barnsley, HVAC Communications has a global reach. The company has partnered with major names such as Fujitsu Air Conditioning, Samsung Lennox, Qvantum UK, Beijer Ref and IV Produkt in Sweden. “As I tried to stay closer to home, the company grew globally,” Andy laughs.
The team’s work now stretches across the UK, Scandinavia and even the USA. The company stayed busy through the Covid years, supporting essential sectors. “You don’t realise which industries are critical until something like that happens,” Andy reflects. “Everything we work with – heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration – it’s all essential.”
That period also showed how simple global communication can be. “Online meetings have made it so much easier to work across countries,” Andy explains. “You can’t beat meeting in person, but people are much more open to video calls now. It saves a lot of travel.”
The HVAC Communications team includes five staff, including Andy, working flexibly from different locations. “Most of our people have worked in the sector,” he says. “Even our graphic designer understands the industry. It shows we’re not just a generic agency.”
The company offers services from system design, specification writing and training, through to graphic design, social media and award entries. The team even creates and certifies CPD courses, helping clients train others and build credibility.
“We sit between the technical team and the marketing team,” Andy explains. “The technical team are the best storytellers, but they don’t always speak in a way others understand. The marketing team are the opposite, so we bridge that gap.”
It’s a clever niche, and one that has earned HVAC Communications a loyal customer base, with many clients growing their relationship over time. Most of their work comes through word of mouth, meaning Andy rarely needs to advertise.
For Andy, finding the right home for HVAC Communications was about more than office space. “I moved to The Business Village in 2020, as a natural step from a home office,” he recalls. “We’d just had a baby, so I needed a quiet space to work. The Business Village was the only local place with smaller offices available, and I didn’t even look anywhere else.”
Since moving in, the company has grown steadily and is now in its third office. “As we’ve grown, we’ve needed more room for desks and meetings. It’s handy for when customers call in. They know where we are and can easily drop by.”
The Business Village also provides the kind of everyday support that takes the pressure off running a small business. “Having reception manage parcels for us is huge,” he says. “You can be out of the office and know things are still getting done. The parking is great, too, and the location makes it straightforward for customers to reach us.”
Even with worldwide clients, Andy values being part of the local business community. “Although though our team often works from different places, it’s nice seeing other people in the building. You feel part of something bigger, instead of feeling isolated and sitting alone.”
These local links have led to new ideas. Andy started using drones in the business, obtaining training from another Business Village tenant. He’s also sourced branded workwear from another neighbour.
The mix of community, flexibility, and support has made The Business Village an ideal base. “We have 24-7 access, so if I need to call in at night or weekends, I can. And I know if we grow again, there’s space to move into a bigger office,” Andy adds.
Andy’s future plans are all about building on the company’s strengths. “We’ve just launched a sister company called the CPD Network,” he says. “It’s a certification service that also helps companies repurpose and promote their CPD content. It fits well with what we already offer.”
He also wants to continue growing HVAC Communications, both in client base and team members. But the core focus will remain the same – helping companies communicate complex technical stories clearly. He sums it up simply: “We save our customers time and help them make the most of their expertise.”
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