As the year draws to a close, Thompsons is recognising staff members who reached milestones in their years of service in 2024.  

Two Thompsons employees have racked up an incredible 49 years between them as part of our team.  

Mark Bradford, our head of operations, joined Thompsons in its original form back in 1997 and is our longest-serving member of staff, with 27 years under his belt. 

Beginning his Thompsons career as a joiner, he then became a site foreman before becoming contracts manager, and then operations manager prior to taking on his current role. You could say it’s turned into a bit of a family affair too, with Mark’s three sons, Ben, Darren and Luke now also part of our team. Darren, a project manager, has been with us for 12 years.  

Transport and logistics manager Gary Swift was also part of Thompsons’ original team, joining in 2002 as a woodwork machinist. In the 22 years since, he has held the positions of bench hand joiner and yardman, before taking on his current position in 2020. 

We’re also celebrating Ged Devine, head of buying, who has chalked up 12 years at Thompsons, while 2024 saw John Higginbottom, electrical director, mark 11 years and Jason Nuttall, groundworker, reach a decade as part of our team.  

Ged joined Thompsons as a buyer and has overseen the growth of Thompsons’ buying department while leading our team of buyers. John joined us on a short-term contract as part of a project before being appointed as electrical manager, developing our electrical department and progressing to director, while his son Matthew has been part of our team for six years; having joined as a contracts manager and is now our operations manager and NICEIC QS.  

For Jon McGrath, Thompsons’ managing director, 2024 marks 10 years at Thompsons. He began his journey with us as a quantity surveyor in 2014, and since progressed through the ranks from project manager to associate director and operations director before taking on the role of our MD in 2023. 

Thompsons owner and executive director Matthew Thompson said: “Our high staff retention is a reflection of the loyalty and dedication of our team, as well as the positive workplace and employee culture we prioritise. 

“In addition to our long-serving staff members, our workforce continues to expand as we welcome new members to further strengthen our team as we grow our client services. 

“Congratulations and a big thank you to all staff for their contribution to Thompsons, and here’s to many more years.” 

Thompsons Solar has helped a local car body repair centre with high energy usage to reduce its business running costs, as well as its carbon footprint.

Our team was asked to design a system that would provide low carbon power to Phoenix Paint & Body, located on Whitehills Business park in Blackpool.

A suitably sized system was designed taking into account the roof skylights so as not to reduce the natural light into the building.

The solar PV array installed is anticipated to generate a yield which will substantially reduce the business’ energy bills. The system’s annual generation will exceed the on-site usage meaning surplus energy can be exported back to the grid and revenue generated through the smart export guarantee.

Due to the size of the installation, an application was required to connect to the grid. This was submitted and permission granted to connect the system without any limitations.

The system was installed and commissioning in October 2024 and, despite coming into the winter months, is already generating clean power for the business. It is predicted that the system will payback in just under six years of installation.

Technical information

• Electrical consumption Prior to Solar installation: 13,000kW Hrs PA
• Installed Solar Capacity: 28.05kW
• Projected yield from installed solar: 19,720kW hr PA
• Net Rate of return on investment: 22.7%
• System Performance warranties (manufacturer): 25yr

Customer feedback

Thompsons made all stages of quotation, design and installation really straightforward. The installation is very neat, the team was very professional and I would highly recommend.

K Nicolson, Owner

Want to power up your business with solar and achieve your green business goals?  Get in touch with our team of experts today.

According to the Property Industry Alliance, over half of the UK’s commercial property is rented by occupiers. Installation of solar on a rented building comes with some risks to tenants and so often isn’t adopted. But what if as a commercial landlord you could take away that risk, and gain a revenue at the same time? 

Why solar? 

Many businesses are striving to improve their green credentials and become more sustainable. In using power generated from a renewable source, a business can greatly reduce their carbon footprint and as such, become more attractive to customers. However, as a tenant the risk of installing on a building owned by another may put them off – if it’s even permitted.  

By installing commercial solar onto your property, you can provide your tenants with energy security and green credentials. The array would be owned by you, with any power generated being metered and sold back to your tenant at a set rate. 

Benefits for landlords and tenants 

Installing solar PV and agreeing a power purchase agreement (PPA) is a win-win scenario. As a commercial landlord, you benefit from a quicker return on your investment whilst your tenant benefits from cheaper, guaranteed power.  

Likewise, if you are currently developing a site or have vacant premises, solar is a great bonus to prospective tenants with many companies striving to be green – you’ve already ticked a box for them. 

Start your solar journey today 

At Thompsons, our solar experts can design an array to suit your roof size and provide guidance on setting up a PPA with your tenants.  

Get in touch with our team today to take the first steps on your solar journey. 

The total amount of funding raised for Bispham based children’s hospice Brian House by Elmer’s Big Parade 2024 has been announced. 

An incredible £200,013 was generated by the art trail, which saw 70 Elmer sculptures placed around the town earlier this year, and was organised by Brian House in partnership with Wild in Art and Anderson Press. 

Thompsons was proud to sponsor the art trail as part of our ongoing support of Brian House. From a Blackpool tram to fish and chips, each sculpture had a different colourful design, created by independent artists and illustrators.  

The funds will be used to help the wonderful team at Brian House continue to care for children with life-limiting conditions and complex needs. 

As a Presenting Partner, we sponsored two sculptures; ‘Elaughant’, inspired by Blackpool’s comedy carpet, and ‘Blackpool Rock’. At the trail’s farewell event held at Blackpool Tower, where the sculptures were auctioned off, Thompsons’ Lisa Thompson couldn’t quite bear to say goodbye, taking home the ‘Rainbow Elmer’– now she just needs to decide where to put it! 

The auction alone raised a staggering £143,550.  

Figures gathered as part of an independent evaluation have suggested the trail boosted Blackpool’s economy by £14 million, attracting thousands of people into the town to take part in the fun. An app was created, signposting elephant spotters to the herd’s locations, as well as tracking step counts. 

Lisa Thompson said: “What an honour it has been to be involved in this truly special event. The work done by Brian House is invaluable, and we are continually moved by the stories we hear about the impact this vital support network and its facilities has on the lives of families in the local community. 

“We want to congratulate Brian House and all involved in making this brilliant initiative happen, and thank you for all that you do.” 

Find out more about Brian House, and see how you can offer your support, here. 

It was a night to remember when the cream of Lancashire’s business community came together for the Be Inspired Business Awards (BIBAs) 2024. 

Making our BIBAs debut, team Thompsons was shortlisted for a total of five awards: Business of the Year, Medium Business of the Year, Scale Up Business of the Year, Construction Business of the Year and Leadership Business of the Year.

Though we didn’t come away with a trophy this time, we were proud runners up in both the Medium Business and Construction Business categories, and thrilled to be named Highly Commended in the latter.

The BIBAs is the county’s largest, longest running and most prestigious business awards ceremony.  

Known as ‘the one they all want to win,’ it’s organised by the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce with the final held every September at the stunning Blackpool Tower Ballroom. 

As well as the awards, the BIBAs Foundation uses donations made by businesses during the ceremony to help nurture and support young entrepreneurs from across the region.  

Congratulations to all this year’s winners, and roll on the BIBAs 2025! 

Most commercial premises, particularly Industrial or manufacturing facilities tend to have large energy bills and large areas of roof space. Solar lends itself perfectly to this scenario.

Commercial energy costs

Utilities can be a big expense for businesses with ever changing energy tariffs. Day rates, night rates, on and off-peak tariffs and tying into long term contracts to ensure energy security. By installing commercial solar, you take control of your energy bills by generating your own power.

Reduce costs = Increase profit.

Energy usage

Whilst installation of commercial solar will provide you with a free energy source, it’s also good practice to assess how you’re currently using your power. If energy savings can be made, its less to generate/purchase from the grid.

There’s lots of small changes that make big differences such as switching to LED lighting, installing motion sensor lights and encouraging the workforce to be more environmentally conscious.

Installing commercial solar panels

The process of installing panels onto your business has 4 stages:

1 Survey & Design

An assessment of your property will establish the most suitable installation for the business’ requirements. This will assess current energy usage, available installation space and other factors surrounding solar installation.

2 Consent & Notification

Once the initial design is complete, permission is sought from the relevant parties such as planning, grid connection and where relevant, landlords.

3 Installation

Solar Installation comprises two parts, mechanical and electrical. First is the installation of the mounting frame and solar panels onto the roof. The latter being the connection to the properties electrical supply.

4 Monitoring & Maintenance

Following installation, the system can be monitored remotely to check the performance of the solar array and re-set any potential errors. Whilst solar is a virtually maintenance free technology, periodic inspection is recommended to ensure the system is operating at peak performance.

Additional benefits of commercial solar

In addition to the above, there are other benefits to be considered when installing solar PV.

• Super-deduction and special rate first year capital allowances could offer a tax benefit on your solar installation. Your accountant will be able to advise on the ins and outs of this as the rates are business specific.
• In showing that you are taking strides towards reducing our business’s carbon emissions, you are effectively making your product greener. Green credentials are a great way to give your business an edge on your competitors.
• Last but not least, peace of mind. By installing commercial solar, you can be rest assured that you are providing your business with a clean, green future 💚

Solar PV is a great addition to any home or business. By installing solar, you are harvesting the power of the sun and producing your own green electricity. Solar installation will not only reduce your carbon footprint but also reduce your energy costs.

We’ve put together a quick guide of the solar installation process from start to finish to provide you with everything you need to know.
Design
During the design stage, your property is assessed to check suitability and establish an appropriate array size. This process includes assessment of your property, power consumption, electricity supply and budget. From a desk-based assessment, we can establish how many panels can be installed, provide an estimate of the yield and an indicative cost for installation.

When assessing a property, some of the main things we will consider are roof orientation and slope, roof type, shading and electrical connection. These are all factors that will impact the installation and ultimately the predicted yield.

Grid Connection

Where a system exceeds 3.68kW single phase or 11.04kW three phase, a G99 application must be made to the distribution network operator (DNO) to gain permission to connect. The DNO will assess your current connection and the wider network to establish if any re-enforcement works would be required to allow the solar connection.

Planning Permission

Whilst most roof mounted systems fall under permitted development, you should always check with your local planning authority if a planning application is required. Where planning isn’t required, you may wish to obtain a permitted development certificate. For ground mount solar over 9m2, planning permission will be required. More information about solar planning permission can be found on the planning portal.

Solar Installation Process

Once all design and consents are completed, the solar installation process can begin:

Access – Suitable scaffolding and netting (where required) is installed, checked and ticketed prior to installation.

Mounting – The relevant mounting system is installed to the manufactures specification.

Panels – Once the mounting frame is complete, panels are secured using solar clamps. The panels are connected into strings on the reverse of the panels as they’re installed.

Electrical – Inverters are installed and cable strings from the panels connected.

Commission & Testing – Once all hardware is installed, the system is tested and commissioned to ensure it is working correctly.

Certification – An electrical certificate is produced along with an MCS Certificate (<50kW). The DNO is then post-notified of the installation and registered as a Small Scale Embedded Generator (SSEG).

Selling your power

Once the system is operational, excess power may be eligible for smart export guarantee (SEG) payments. The array can be registered with your energy provider or the highest bidding competitor. To register, all commissioning documents and certification will be required. These payments are often made monthly and so provide you with a revenue from your installation.

If storage is installed on site, you may be able to register for a smart tariff meaning you can sell power back to the grid during peak demand and charge your battery when rates are lower.

Monitoring

Following installation, the solar array can be monitored remotely through the inverter. These online platforms vary by manufacturer however will all provide live-data on the performance of the system.

Aftercare

Solar PV requires minimal maintenance following installation however periodic inspections are recommended. Considerations should be made for any future building works and pruning of any large foliage that may cause shading upon the roof.

Where the array is located in a particularly dusty area or close to trees, they should also be cleaned regularly to ensure they continue to generate at peak performance.

Conclusion

Solar has numerous benefits from the obvious saving on your electricity bill through to the green credentials you can boast to your friends and clients about. We understand that solar is an investment and that it’s important to know the full details before taking the leap.

A well designed, planned and installed system will provide you with a revenue stream for your home or business for years to come.

Our team are on hand to help you through this, step by step. Contact Us | Contractors | Thompsons Limited Blackpool

Thompsons Contracts are proud to support Brian House Children’s hospice.

This inspirational charity provides care and support for local children with complex needs and life-limiting conditions. They have an amazing facility here in Blackpool as well as an outreach team working in the community.

Earlier this year, our team donned their trainers and ran the Blackpool Beaverbrooks 10K, raising over £3,400.

More recently, we were excited and extremely proud to sponsor Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool 2024.

The parade started on the 13^th April this year and ran for 8 week with over 70 Elmer sculptures being installed throughout Blackpool. Visitors were able to download an app to help them find all the herd and track which ones they’d seen.

Marking the end of the parade, a farewell event was held in Blackpool Tower where all the herd gathered for people to come and say their farewells. Following this, all the Elmer sculptures were auctioned and whisked off to their new forever homes.

Whilst the final amount raised hasn’t yet been released, the auction alone raised a whopping £143,550 for this amazing charity! We’re extremely proud to have been part of this event and support this local project.

Thompsons Solar are excited to be exhibiting at the 2024 Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference. The event will take place at Ribby Hall on the 26th June, hosted by Lancashire Business View.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Lancashire businesses to learn more about carbon reduction and net zero targets.

In addition to exhibiting, our Solar Manager Lucy Boulton will be speaking on an expert panel about renewables and their importance within the race to net zero. The panel will aim to highlight potential hurdles and how to overcome them on the road to solar installation. Our team will be on hand throughout the morning to answer any questions and provide advice on how to achieve your targets.

What is Net Zero?

Net zero is the point where greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are equally balanced by the removal from the atmosphere. The UK government has committed to achieving Net Zero by 2050, have you set your target?

Whilst the idea seems quite daunting, there are many steps you can take towards net zero from simple things such as recycling waste to installation of solar PV or other on-site renewables. We hope that this conference will provide insight into how your business can work towards a greener future.

If you are interested in attending the event, tickets are available through Lancashire Business View: Net Zero Carbon Conference 2024 Tickets, Ribby Hall Village, Preston | TryBooking United Kingdom

With a design brief that included a canoe suspended from the ceiling, 6,000 books cladding two columns and 850 bowler hats hung on a fascia, it’s fair to say our first Timothy Oulton store gave the Thompsons team a great opportunity to demonstrate their creative expertise.

We were commissioned by Halo Creative Design, owner of British furniture brand Timothy Oulton, to fit out its Broadgate store in central London, but this was no ordinary commission.

Timothy Oulton – which is famed for its upmarket stores around the world – entices its affluent customers with an eclectic mix of furniture, lighting, home décor and accessories.

These antique products with a modern twist are showcased in distinctive bespoke stores that create a unique shopping experience. This is where we came in.

Working collaboratively with the client’s appointed project manager and cost consultant Monaghans, our task was to turn the 250sq m unit on Broadgate Circle above Liverpool Street Underground station into a standout store ready for opening on 19 November 2021.

In the seven weeks we were on site, we turned the unusual design brief into reality. Besides the hats, books and canoe, our team also hung 65 chandeliers and a motorbike from a structural grid, built and installed a two-tonne Apollo space pod and hung everything from swords and golf clubs to vintage helmets and clothing around the store.

Add in a curved glass shop front, 320sq m of cut-down parka flooring, bronze hands on the main entrance door and some final adjustments to the motorbike and the project was completed, with everyone happy with the end result.

We’re pleased to report that this project was just the start of our relationship with Halo Creative Design. Hot on Broadgate’s heels, we delivered three further units for the company – two Timothy Oulton stores in Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool, and a Sofa Workshop in Thurrock in Essex.

See full case study here.