Worcester: Ron Sims Heating and Electrical Services turns 50

Ron Sims Heating and Electrical Services, Gregory’s Mill Street, started up in 1974.

The firm has since tackled projects big and small, doing large-scale manor house renovations and office and school fit-outs through to hotels and domestic homes while covering Worcester and across the county.

Three generations of the family are now involved with son Jonathan taking over control from Ron whose grandson Connor joined as an apprentice in the heating and plumbing department last year.

It all started when Ron Sims opted to work for himself despite having a management position at a highly-rated company where he had been for 20 years.

Ron had decided the time was right with new owners appointed and changes afoot.

Now 85, he said: “At the beginning of March 1974 I decided to set up trading as a heating and electrical installation and maintenance contractor.

“It was up to me to take the next step to safeguard not only myself but also most importantly my wife Anne and two young children plus my wife’s nine-year-old brother.”

Ron bought a second-hand Morris Minor van and did work for friends and family while setting up accounts with suppliers.

He then accepted work from the then-Hereford and Worcester County Council attending breakdowns, repairs and renewals of boilers at schools. With the work flooding in Ron, who was clocking up the hours along with his wife, needed support with more recruits.

He continued: “Although winter was nearly over, heating plants and systems were still in use and requiring same-day attention.

“Some days my wife Anne would receive up to six call-outs within a single day to attend to problems ranging from minor to those requiring replacement parts.

“The school locations could be in Malvern, Pershore and Evesham, Droitwich and Bromsgrove with occasional visits to Redditch.

“On many I would be able to visit as many as six schools in a working day which was usually a minimum of 12 hours and travelling well over 100-plus miles per day.

“Some six weeks on we were approached to also include homes for the elderly on our list as they were mindful I would always do my utmost to attend to any problems out of normal hours.

“On the back of this enquiry plus a request from the city of Worcester, who at that time managed their own schools, to carry out their works then it was necessary to either refuse one or the other or employ at least two skilled engineers.

“Having advertised these positions they were filled within the period of a couple of weeks with each person being provided with a suitable van.

“Two years later on the back of acquiring further private schools within Worcester, private colleges within Malvern and district and a major catalogue company in Worcester and Droitwich, we were employing six engineers and installers.

“My wife and I were working well into the early hours of the morning preparing estimates and invoices.

“In my wife’s case it was necessary not to miss telephone calls during the evening if I had not returned whilst bringing up a family virtually on her own.

“To overcome this problem a former colleague and friend, a draftsman and design engineer joined us and subsequently a limited company was set up.

“This meant my wife was relieved of duties during the day though typing more than the usual estimates together with invoices by nightfall.”

The firm picked up more private clients on the back of recommendations and created a second company, allowing it to provide its own installers together with routine materials without delivery delays.

Both moved to its current home in the late 1970s, buying and refurbishing an almost-derelict building in Gregory’s Mill Street.

Ron said: “This allowed us to expand further by taking on additional installers and apprentices, office staff and a company secretary as well as the store manager which increased the total head count at that time to 26 and a fleet of 11 vehicles.

“1980 to 1990 saw the company workload increase considerably when upgrading of boiler plants to gas-fired at a well-known Malvern college took place over a five-year period together with the same exercise at state schools throughout Worcestershire.”

Ron’s son Jonathan joined the company in 1988 and worked his way up via training and experience to managing the heating contracts side in 1999.

His daughter Tracy also joined the family business and both have since become directors.

Ron continued: “During 2010 to 2020 we continued to trade reasonably well, however, there were periods when, due mainly to financial restraints and doubt about the future of the markets, some of our prominent clients for obvious reasons cut back their budgets and as a result curtailed somewhat substantial works. We did, however, increase the amount of smaller works for the domestic sector.”

Over the years the firm has supported both school leavers and older people via re-training, apprenticeships, qualifications and work experience to get them involved. But Covid struck in March 2020 and Ron decided it was time for him to step back.

Ron said: “The epidemic in full swing meant we, in common with all businesses, were unable to trade for a given period.

“This coincided with my decision to step down from the day-to-day running of the business albeit that was some 15 years past the recognised retirement age during that period.

“In addition my wife needed more or less constant care which has unfortunately now become more essential.

“Jonathan is in full control of the business with back-up from his sister Tracy. That is since the Covid problem ceased somewhat and I am now pleased to report the company is now operating in a strong trading position with its present workforce.

“While it has been extremely demanding during the former 50 years in order to maintain the company in a strong financial position during times of uncertainty, looking back I would not have changed the decision to commence trading on my own account and thus provide employment for local people who in return served the local community with pride in the way they went about their work.

“I wish to pass my sincere thanks to all for entrusting my company with their works over the years and wish to give the assurance that the company will continue to do their utmost to maintain these standards at all times.”