Sean Sowden’s fond farewell to Go Geothermal
UK – Leading domestic and commercial heat pump distributor Go Geothermal is marking a significant milestone as co-founder Sean Sowden prepares to retire after 20 years at the business he helped build.
The Newton Aycliffe-based firm, which also has offices in Retford, Nottinghamshire, was founded in 2006 by Sean and his long-time friend and fellow director Tim Williams, who first met when they were just 12 years old. What began as a conversation between two old school friends has grown into one of the UK’s most respected names in renewable heating.
After graduating from Nottingham Trent University, Sean embarked on a career in investment banking, joining Barclays de Zoete Wedd, the investment arm of Barclays, and later at UBS, before going on to build a successful consultancy practice of his own.
It was a conversation with Tim Williams, who had been working in the pipe industry and could see how the market was changing, that changed everything. Tim had spotted the opportunities emerging in renewable energy and, with the commercial acumen to match, knew exactly how to turn that vision into a thriving business. Sean brought the financial expertise and consultancy experience to help get it off the ground.
Sean said: “I’m originally from Retford, moving up to the North-East with my wife, and the company came about after a conversation I had with Tim. I’ve known him since we were 12 and he could see how the market was changing and where the opportunities were arising for renewable work. We got it going and it got to the point where I couldn’t do my consultancy work anymore because there just weren’t the hours in the day!”
Twenty years of growth: a business built on expertise and ambition
Go Geothermal originally advised customers on the installation of ground source heat pumps, a service that naturally progressed into the supply of heat pumps, and later air source heat pumps, as the market evolved and demand for renewable heating solutions grew.
Today, the company specialises in selling heat pumps, both domestic and commercial, and an extensive range of associated kit sold predominantly to the professional trade installer. It also provides accredited training for engineers and expert guidance to help customers make informed decisions about their move to greener heating. Go Geothermal is also the exclusive UK distributor of heat pumps from Swedish brand CTC.
In September 2023, the company expanded its head office and warehouse in Newton Aycliffe, increasing stock holding by 3.5 times, with the capacity to grow to £5 million. Less than a year later, in July 2024, Go Geothermal moved into a brand-new 2,600 sq ft premises on St John Street, Retford, double the size of its previous Midlands base. The new facility houses the company’s UK sales, procurement and technical teams alongside a retail showroom featuring domestic and commercial heat pumps.
Sean retires with the satisfaction of knowing that Go Geothermal is not only thriving but is playing a meaningful role in the UK’s transition to cleaner, greener heating. Tim Williams continues to lead the business forward, carrying the same values and ambition that have defined the company since its first days.
For more information, visit https://gogeothermal.co.uk/
