North East heating bosses in the running for prestigious awards

Two North East-based heating and plumbing entrepreneurs are in the running for prestigious Institute of Directors (IoD) awards.

John Savage, Managing Director and founder of trade supplies merchant Flame Heating Spares, and Phil Pallister, Managing Director of 0800 Repair Gas, have been shortlisted in two categories at the 2017 IoD Yorkshire and North East Director of the Year Awards.

John, who is the current IoD North East Young Director of the Year, is a finalist in the Director of the Year Award (SME Company) category, while Phil is up for the Young Director of the Year Award.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Principal York Hotel on July 5.

Flame, which is based in Gateshead and was founded in 2011, currently operates seven trade counters across the region, with plans in place to expand into Scotland and extend its branch network.

Houghton le Spring-headquartered 0800 Repair Gas was established by Mr Pallister in 2010 and has since grown to become a leading home services business that specialises in heating, plumbing and insulation. It forms part of Pacifica Group and employs in excess of 60 staff.

0800 Repair Gas has been a longstanding customer of Flame’s as it supplies parts for 0800 Repair Gas’ heating engineers. The two companies also collaborated during the development stage of the Flame Heating Spares App, which identifies required parts for any boiler, with the ability to order the part direct from each of Flame’s outlets, as 0800’s engineers tested it while carrying out routine jobs.

Both entrepreneurs started out as apprentices in the industry, working their way up to management level before starting out in business.

John said: “I am honoured to be shortlisted for another IoD award, which is testament to the hard work of my colleagues, and the support of my family and close friends. It was one of my proudest professional achievements to win the regional IoD Young Director of the Year award last year, and hopefully I will be able to repeat this success come July.”

Phil added: “It is a great feeling to be up for such a prestigious award, and I am delighted to have been shortlisted by the IoD. I’ve known and worked with John for many years and it would be a great achievement if I was to follow him as the IoD’s North East Young Director of the Year. The company is in a promising position and being a finalist is another step forward.”