Turnover tops �12m.

From humble beginnings to one of Honiton’s biggest employers – Nu Heat is celebrating 20 years of trading.

The major UK supplier of underfloor heating systems, which is based on the Heathpark Industrial Estate, was established in 1992 and is now toasting an annual turnover of �12m.

Nu Heat’s sales and marketing director, Adrian Troop, who helped set up the family-run business, said: “We are proud of what we have achieved and proud of our employees and to be able to contribute to the local economy in Honiton.”

Nu Heat started from a converted garage and grew from there, later transferring to an office in Sidmouth before finally settling in Honiton in 2001.

The company, which also specialises in solar thermal heating and is one of the areas biggest employers, boasts 105 staff.

It is the third largest underfloor heating firm in the UK. In the future, Nu Heat hopes to enhance its presence nationally as Adrian explains: “We just want to try and make sure that our presence in the whole of the UK is expanded.”

However, Adrian feels the business’s success is down to reinvestment in the business and making sure its employees are taken care of.

“We have reinvested heavily back into the business and expanded consistently, rather than recklessly, and not taken on big borrowing.

“We make sure we look after people.”

Despite Nu Heat’s success, Adrian admits he could never have imagined that the company would be where it is today.

He said: “You try to nurture your business the very best you can - to give it the best chance of growing.

“I don’t think I ever envisaged it.”

The company also boasts a 100 square feet training centre, built in 2008, where it trains installers from all over the country - passing on its expertise, which was recognised with a national training award in 2009.

Over the years, the company has enjoyed buoyant sales figures and expects business to boom in the coming years as a new renewable energy initiative is launched by the Government, which Adrian hopes will “give the market a big kick”.

He added: “Although there is doom and gloom about the future, we see opportunities for a well-run, organised business - even in the construction industry.

“Because we are in a niche area, we still provide a service and look to increase our UK presence.”