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Novatech CEO: The UK needs more government policy on sustainability

David Furby filled CRN in on Novatech’s recent sustainability efforts

Portsmouth-based Novatech's chief exec wants to see more from the UK government around environmental sustainability after driving more green initiatives at the group.

Novatech started upping its sustainability gamea few years ago with minor improvements such as implementing LED lights in offices.

The group then levelled up one more with electric-only company car policies.

In 2021, company CEO David Furby wanted to make its HQ a net positive building, generating more electricity than it consumes by 2023.

"In terms of scope one and two emissions, we will be neutral fairly quickly now that we've done all the work on the building," Furby told CRN.

"I think that's through doing real things where we're actually seeing tangible changes. It's not carbon offsetting, it is actual things that we are doing physically and we're investing in.

"The investment we've put in is over half million pounds so far. And so we're actually putting our money where our mouth is to deliver."

Barriers to sustainability achievements

Furby highlighted an issue he has seen around sustainability in the UK, and that is the government's lack of investment in more minor areas that could have the potential to have a larger impact.

"One of the big challenges that we have in this country is that we need a lot more government policy on some of the simple things," he said.

"Things such as electricity infrastructure, it's quite good at taking it from power stations and down to people. But when it gets to the ends of the network it is not that good at allowing people to push power back into it.

"So in terms of infrastructure and things like that, the government really should be investing an awful lot more in the electricity network.

"We're asking an awful lot more in terms of electric cars. We're asking for an awful lot more of the network. And if we don't invest at the rate where we should be doing then it will slow down the UK's drive towards net zero."

Novatech's business focus for 2023

Furby claimed 2023 has been promising so far following a rockier 2022 when the war in Ukraine, and the inflationary pressures the conflict caused led to a softening in Novatech's retail business.

"We took the decision to focus really hard on the b2b side of the business. We've restructured the business accordingly and that's now paying handsome dividends in 2023."

Looking ahead to what he wants to achieve for the business by the end of this year, Furby remained firmly on sustainability.

"We'd like our net positive building status - that'd be quite nice," he chuckled.

"But we keep pushing the business forward. The business is doing quite well at the moment and we are quite pleased with the results we're getting."

How will Novatech drive growth this year?

Focusing on recruiting new customers is a top priority for Furby this year.

"One of the key things is to recruit more customers.

"We can either find new customers or we can sell more to existing customers. We're working very hard on all of it.

"We've got some new services that we're developing for our existing customers where we've identified they've got demand.

"We don't just have a big supply side to our business but we have a big technology side to our business.

"Customers want a lot more automated things so look at what processes in the supply side can we automate to make their lives easier, more sustainable and more efficient."

Challenges

Outlining the challenges currently facing him and his company, Furby said Novatech needs to overcome stiff competition.

"We operate in a very crowded, very competitive market. And I think it's very difficult to get your message out there and get people to understand what your unique value is.

"In terms of supply it's certainly been a lot better than last year, which was better than the year before. So we're not seeing too many challenges on that front.

"It's just making yourself heard explaining what is possible for customers and what they can do."