Dan Haley has expanded GW Power-Safe, which now employs about 46 people in the area
Dan Haley of GW Power-Safe pictured with Rebecca Pickering of Mercia.(Image: Shaun Flannery Photography Ltd)
An electrician who launched his own business having been made redundant in his mid-20s has secured £500,000 funding to grow it further and create jobs. Dan Haley was 25 years old in 2014 when he lost his job and went on to set up GW Power-Safe – a provider of electrical and mechanical services.
The business has since grown to employ 46 staff in addition to on-site contractors and is said to have a turnover of more than £12m. The Goulton Street, Hull-based firm has also expanded into the renewables sector which now accounts for around half of its work, and has recently moving into larger premises with plans to create ten new jobs in the next year.
A loan from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II – Mercia Debt Finance is being used by GW to fit-out the building and to provide working capital for tackling larger projects. The funding follows investment into GW from the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
The firm’s new 5,270 sqft building, which overlooks the A63 on the approach to Hull city centre, aims to show how retrofitting existing commercial properties and using renewable energy can significantly reduce their carbon footprint.
Mr Haley, who is now 37 and is managing director of GW Power-Safe, said: “As energy costs rise and the focus on sustainability grows, businesses are looking for practical ways to reduce both emissions and costs. We support clients in their decarbonisation journey, and our new premises reflect our commitment to applying the same principles to our own operations. It’s about leading by example.”
Rebecca Pickering of Mercia Debt added: “Through sheer ambition and determination, Dan has grown GW Power-Safe from a small contractor to a respected firm that works on high-profile projects and has moved into renewables. Its role is also changing from subcontractor to working directly with end users to manage an entire project. We are pleased to support the company once again on the next stage of its growth journey.”
Lizzy Upton, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, said: “GW Power-Safe is a strong example of how the NPIF and NPIF II funds have supported businesses throughout their entire growth journey. This latest investment will enable Dan to build on that success – creating new jobs, supporting public sector clients and demonstrating how greener buildings can play a vital role in decarbonising the region’s economy.”
GW has mainly public sector clients such as schools and colleges, local authorities and NHS trusts. It has worked on prominent projects such as the refurbishment of Hull’s Albert Avenue baths, and is currently working on battery installations for the NHS.
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