Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ambition Magazine

FEATURE

K eith Stewart was working for PwC when John Irwin first approached him to come work for the company. John packaged an offer that sealed the deal for him and would open a door out of a mainstream career and into “a business with real potential,” he says. That was 2003, when the company had just 35 employees. “Many of those are still here today,” Keith begins. “They’ve watched the company grow and develop into an innovative M&E services business. I don’t take all the praise. We’ve built a strong board of directors, multi-skilled across HR, accounts, operations and other departments. Having that team has been crucial.” The journey has not been without challenges. “I remember the bad times in 2009 during the property bust and the banking crisis. We had only a month’s work left for the guys. To go from that point to moving into our own purpose built headquarters this year, that’s a proud moment.” On marking 30 years in business, Keith says, “This year is a Mighty Oak Day for us,” harking back to the old proverb, ‘From tiny seeds grow mighty oaks’. “With the official opening of our new HQ building and more than 300 employees, that saying really rings true.” Originally an electrical-only business, Irwin added mechanical services in 2016 and building maintenance in 2018. Along the way came milestones such as its first £1 million project in London in 2014. “Today we’ve delivered projects in excess of £10 million in the London market,” Keith says. “Angel Lane Student Accommodation in Stratford was our first £2m project in GB in 2015. Since then we’ve delivered high-rise apartments in

“We currently employ more than 35 apprentices, and our retention rate

100% LED lighting, smart controls and more than 20 EV charging stations. “We used high-performance insulation and sustainable materials throughout. It’s a building we’re proud of. “It’s a fabulous place to work,” he adds. “Part of our vision was to create a good place for everyone – comfortable, modern, energy-efficient, with the best IT infrastructure.” A mezzanine training room has become one of the most used spaces in the HQ. “It allows us to do short, bite-size training without organising external events. We can turn that over quickly and get everyone in for health and safety, technical training and more. It’s bespoke training for our guys.” Three decades on, Keith is clear about the importance the people at Irwin play in its upward trajectory. “They’re absolutely pivotal,” he says. “In a service industry, you’re only as good as your people. From the start we’ve sought to employ people who care and buy into our positive culture of innovation and growth.” That culture has been recognised at the Belfast Telegraph and Irish News Employer Awards. He adds, “We currently employ more than 35 apprentices, and our retention rate is high because we can offer so many opportunities post qualification. We encourage promotion from within, and we’re planning to launch our own Irwin Academy in 2026. We’ve built a management team I see as the company’s future leaders.” Looking ahead, Keith sees energy as the defining opportunity. “Energy has become a precious commodity, and we’ve positioned ourselves as an Energy Service Solutions Specialist. Our Energy & Renewables division has trebled in size in recent years. We’re delivering solar PV, heat pumps, EV charging, combined heat and power, battery storage, energy management systems, the whole spectrum.” The wider industry is also changing. “Technology has transformed M&E, from 3D design and modelling to cloud-based systems, IoT monitoring and even AI. Smart buildings need smart services. We already use AI for certain tasks and see it continuing to spread.” What does he hope for the decade ahead? “I want the Irwin brand to be a mark of quality for M&E innovation. I expect us to grow further on the strong foundations of the last 30 years. I want to see many of our existing management grow into company leaders. And I want Irwin to be the leading energy and renewables installer with new technologies and new partners, an employer of choice in Northern Ireland where our people can truly fulfil their career aspirations.”

is high because we can offer so

Wembley and at Southbank beside the London Eye. Closer to home, we’ve done heritage work at Mount Stewart and Hillsborough Castle Visitor Centre, and we currently deliver the largest facilities maintenance contract in Northern Ireland, including Stormont Estate.” He continues: “People sometimes underestimate what M&E really is. In layman’s terms, we’re plumbing and electrical services. But we see ourselves as the people literally keeping the lights on. Every smart building, every hospital, every hotel; they all need M&E services to function and run efficiently.” Today, Irwin operates across three distinct divisions: M&E Projects, Facilities Maintenance and Energy & Renewables. “Half our business is the large-scale projects – design, installation and delivery. But the other half is the local work, the small maintenance jobs. We have 150 vans on the road, we’re 24/7, local engineers offering a bespoke service.” By 2025, growth meant Irwin had outgrown its base. “We had added over 120 staff in just two and a half years. Our old premises were bursting at the seams. When the vacant supermarket came up in Portadown, it gave us a blank canvas and a vast space to do what we wanted. It also gave us the chance to showcase our own engineering. We left ceilings exposed so clients could see the systems. And we wanted to prove you could retrofit a building like that and achieve an A energy rating.” The former Lidl building is, today, A-rated with high-efficiency air source heat pumps, smart thermostats, heat recovery, integrated 50kW solar PV, We encourage promotion from within, and we’re planning to launch our own Irwin Academy in 2026.” many opportunities post-qualification.

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