Runner-Up in the Sussex Chamber Business Awards 2022

Paul Padgham, PDP’s MD, is the runner-up in the Sussex Chamber Business Awards 2022 ‘The Game Changer – Entrepreneur of the Year’ category. PDP Services was also short-listed for ‘The Problem Solver – Business Diversification Award’.

Paul Padgham started PDP Electrical Services in 2000 as a one-man band, soon expanding the business and taking on additional staff. PDP Electrical Services Ltd was born in 2003.

The introduction of the Feed-in-Tariff in 2010 gave PDP Electrical Services the first significant opportunity for expansion. The Feed-in-Tariff was the scheme introduced by the government to encourage the uptake of renewable technologies, and stimulated a boom in solar PV installations.

Initially there were many unskilled and uncertified installers of solar PV, Paul ensured that PDP was both competent and certified, giving Customers peace of mind and providing an excellent service. Branded as PDP Solar, the company ensured it was at the forefront of the latest renewable technologies and schemes, becoming one of the early adopters of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme – MCS.

With two established divisions – solar and electrical – Paul Padgham realised there was a gap in the market to provide a complete mechanical, electrical and renewable solution for homes and businesses. The company encountered many customers that had to use multiple contractors on a project, sometimes facing integration and timeline challenges.

In 2013, PDP Plumbing was added as another division. By 2014, the plumbing and heating department had 3 engineers. This was the same year that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for domestic properties came into effect. Yet again, Paul saw the potential to be able to install and maintain heat pumps and solar thermal systems for Customers. The installation of heat pumps in the UK was still in its early days, and PDP ensured that it was at the vanguard of the latest products and technology.

With the addition of renewable and fire safety divisions, it was time for a re-brand. In 2016, PDP Services Ltd was born.

The organisation went from strength to strength, and its peak employed 30 members of staff.  Unfortunately, Covid-19 had a significant impact on the business. Overnight, all but essential works were cancelled. Most employees were furloughed, some engineers were kept on for emergency call-outs and some staff were able to work from home.

Paul made the decision to step down from his role a Managing Director, with Mel Padgham taking over this position. This enabled Paul to be back in the field as an engineer, installing heat pumps and leading the Company from the ground.

Since then, the Company has started to successfully emerge out of the pandemic. Alongside Mel Padgham, Paul is actively involved in the re-growth of the business. The business has recently employed new staff within the renewables team, and across the organisation.

Well done Paul and team PDP! Congratulations to the winners Best of British Events and Drallim.