Gary Fielding – Joint Managing Director

Gary served his apprenticeship in the construction industry with a major multi-national company before taking over the Northwest region for a UK building firm, were he took financial responsibility for a variety of construction projects. This was followed by a role supervising the commercial side of a major power company’s district energy business and it was here that Gary began to develop his reputation for delivering large-scale energy projects on time and in budget. These included over-coming the logistical problems of developing an urban combined heat and power (CHP) scheme on the one hand, and those of constructing a waste to energy plant in the remote Scottish islands, on the other.

Gary has considerable consultancy experience too and since becoming joint managing director his entrepreneurial skills have since seen Vital Energi become one of the most respected companies within the community energy sector. His approach to business is people-focussed and he strongly believes in developing long-term relationships with customers, associates and suppliers alike, close partnerships which help to create dynamic and successful businesses.

Ian Whitelock – Joint Managing Director

Ian has over 25 years experience in the construction industry and a strong track record of managing growth. He began his career as a quantity surveyor with a leading international engineering firm before moving into commercial management heavy civil engineering projects. In 1988 he became a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Diversifying into the building sector, Ian took up a senior appointment with a blue chip construction company, successfully managing their design and build portfolio during a period of rapid expansion. He then made the transition into project management, where he developed a keen sense of commercial awareness as well as a logical approach to problem solving and strong management skills.

At Vital Energi he now oversees all contractual, operational and financial matters, successfully managing the growth of the company to ensure it is well placed to meet the challenges ahead.

Steve Webster – Contracts Director

Steve has a background in mechanical engineering gained in both the public and private sectors. His expertise is based on an in-depth knowledge of district heating systems, and as a project engineer Steve worked on several pioneering combined heat and power (CHP) schemes for major city councils.

Experienced in both on-site installation and maintenance, as well managing large teams, Steve is now a project manager and responsible for the implementation of all the company’s district energy projects throughout the UK. He also fulfils a vital role co-ordinating the training of the next generation of engineers and site operatives.

Helge Wonsbek - Design and Proposals Manager

Danish born Helge began his career as a project engineer, learning from highly qualified colleagues about the design and installation of a scheme to supply heat and hot water to over 6,000 homes. Soon working as project manager he supervised the implementation of three combined heat and power (CHP) power stations in Denmark, taking sole responsibility for the design, installation and client/ supplier liaison.

This role enabled him to move into consultancy, where he advised clients on energy issues as well as running training courses on CHP design. He moved to the UK in 1988 to work on a major Scottish CHP project, a position which included training local staff in how to operate the system. He now manages design and installation, as well as the operation and maintenance of CHP and biomass projects.

Martin Robinson –Design and Proposals Manager

Martin has 25 years experience of working within the buildings services and energy markets and during his time in project management built up considerable experience in the control and operation of a wide range of building and industrial services plant, including boilers and compressors.

Transferring to a global utility services provider, he held a series of senior roles in several areas of the business from data acquisition to project managements and sales, where he had responsibility for concept design and commercial feasibility.

Martin’s current role combines this engineering and commercial know-how is developing innovative solutions for the provision of combined heat and power (CHP). His expertise at financial modelling, and knowledge of the grants and incentives which are available, also ensure projects maximise their fiscal potential too.

Brendan Clancy – Business Development Manager

Brendan first became involved in district heating systems in the early 1980s, training in design and installation with a leading Danish manufacturer. From there he moved to a major power technology businesses, working as project manager on a series of cutting-edge district heating installations.

Moving to French power specialists Alstom, Brendan took his engineering skills into the field of technical sales, with special responsibility for customer liaison. As business development manager at Vital Energi he is responsible for developing new combined heat and power (CHP), community energy and biomass projects, with a special remit to raise the company’s overall market profile.

Mark Howell – Business Development Manager

Mark has nearly 20 years experience of the energy industry, having worked in both consultancy and the utility sector.

He spent nine years as a project engineer working on combined heat and power (CHP) feasibility modelling and assessment, including several high profile PFI contracts in the educational and healthcare sectors. In the late 1990s he moved to a top five utility company, working firstly as construction manager for a major University energy scheme, and then in business development with responsibility for the development of a CHP initiative for a London borough.

As operations manager for a heat and power company he then gained an insight into running a power business, from customer services through to the energy trading of gas, electricity and LECs. Now as Vital Energi’s business development manager, Mark is utilising this exceptional knowledge and operational experience to develop projects in biomass, CHP, tri-generation, and district heating and cooling.