Looking forward to Christmas!

By Debbie Williams, co-founder of John Williams Heating Services, based in Chippenham yet working all across Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. Debbie runs the business with her husband John and their committed team offering support with all aspects of heating and plumbing.

What does Christmas 2020 mean for you in your business? 

A nice break!

Are you a business owner who thinks more of ‘autumn/winter’ rather than Christmas? 

In the heating industry autumn and winter is a very busy time, so we do tend to work in seasons! Christmas in the middle of winter is a very welcome break, and we try and take a few days off.

In your business when do you start talking or planning Christmas? 

We start planning for our busy autumn/winter season in August/September, to ensure we are fully prepared in case we have a particularly cold winter. Don't forget to check your heating system now - if you've not turned it on already. It could save a lot of time later if you find now that it's not working or there's an issue. 

Will your business be operating differently during Quarter 4 2020? 

Currently we are running quite differently because of Covid19, our engineers are wearing more PPE, calling customers on their way to check they are symptom free, so there are a few more necessary steps. We have been doing this since our full return to work in June, so to be honest it feels more normal now. 

Are you planning any events in Quarter 4, virtual or real world? 

We usually have a Christmas party, but at the moment this is looking very unlikely, so we will probably wait. However we do meet regularly on Zoom, and I’m sure there are bound to be some virtual Christmas antics!

Have you got any milestones to share? 

We are still here serving our community and running our business which employs people in our community. Like many business owners, we're proud of what we offer and we are proud of our business. That is in itself success in 2020. 

Have you employed any new staff recently? 

We have recently employed a new apprentice and are currently recruiting engineers due to high demand.

Have you faced some challenges which have changed things for you? 

It feels like we face new challenges every day, Covid19 is certainly keeping us all on our toes. Our priority is keeping our employees and customers as safe as possible, whilst carrying on with our usual daily works. We believe everyone wants to get back to work and life as safely and securely as possible. 

How are you feeling generally about business in your community at this time? 

Very positive about business in our community, we are all trying our very best to stay positive and look forward, it is more important than ever for people to shop local. 

Any special offers you’d like to mention? 

We are continuing to offer 10% discount for all NHS, Blue light and Armed Forces' customers to say 'thank you'.  

And finally....

2020 has certainly presented us with challenges, both personally and professionally. No one has been immune to that. Remember to be kind, stay safe, and appreciate the small stuff!

 For more information visit https://jwheating.co.uk