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Tech for Good: Heero Technologies

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Tech for Good Spotlight: HEERO TECHNOLOGIES

Heero Technologies is a high-growth cleantech software and data company which was launched with the aim of empowering homeowners to reduce their energy consumption and decarbonise their homes.

To help overcome the multitude of barriers and complex guidance householders often encounter when trying to reduce their energy bills, it has developed an easy-to-use App aimed at guiding people through the entire retrofit journey while streamlining the user experience.

The company is a spinout of IRT Surveys, a 20-year-old venture-funded global software technology company which pioneered the use of thermal imaging to understand and communicate building performance.

Our goal is to remove the complexity around decarbonisation and debunk the myth that home energy improvements and upgrades are too costly or difficult to implement by equipping homeowners with the knowledge and tools to make net zero homes a reality.

Nicola Kennedy, CEO of Heero Technologies

What is the Heero App?

The Heero App provides agnostic and bespoke property guidance that allows for the seamless end-to-end installation of energy efficiency and renewable technologies in privately owned homes. It is essentially a one-stop shop solution for homeowners as it not only delivers personalised home energy efficiency recommendations, but also addresses challenges such as the disruption caused by invasive retrofit measures, confusion over financing and government grants for energy efficiency, the lack of flexibility and choice over technology, installers and manufacturers and more.

The App is designed to guide homeowners through the entire energy retrofit journey, allowing them to seamlessly and conveniently navigate home energy efficiency improvements via their Smartphone.

What problem are you solving?

The UK has some of the most inefficient, energy-hungry, and wasteful properties and one of the most critical challenges for the government to achieve its net zero ambitions is improving the energy efficiency of approximately 19 million homes across the UK.

Additionally, despite ever-rising energy costs and although homeowners are generally aware of the financial, environmental and lifestyle benefits of energy-saving technologies, many are still reluctant to implement such measures.

At Heero, our goal is to remove the complexity around decarbonisation and debunk the myth that home energy improvements and upgrades are too costly or difficult to implement by equipping homeowners with the knowledge and tools to make net zero homes a reality.

We want to ensure all homeowners are empowered with personalised information, support, and guidance to make the most effective choices for their unique home and circumstances by advising and providing all the information and tools they need to make a decision they can act on today.

Where did it all begin?

I have always been passionate about projects aimed at delivering positive environmental impacts and inspired by those who consciously dedicate their professional lives to developing innovations and technologies which can make a meaningful difference.

Before establishing Heero Technologies, I worked as Commercial Director for Home Energy Management Ventures and Head of Ideas Lab for Centrica, where I led the development of future energy businesses, products, and services. Prior to that, I was a Senior Manager at Community Energy Plus, an energy focused social enterprise.

Over the course of my career, I’ve worked on several industry-leading projects, including the Cornwall Local Energy Market, a £19 million project designed to showcase and demonstrate the opportunity of Local Energy in the energy system of the future. 

In addition, I have participated in research advisory boards and advocated to help drive visibility and investment for women in cleantech. I have also been heavily involved in policy work on low carbon skills and smart technology, as well as off-gas grid.

Nicola Kennedy, CEO of Heero Technologies

This is your life’s work. How do you cultivate that passion in others?

I remember being in primary school and feeling a rising panic while learning about the remaining reserves we had of oil, gas, and coal. This momentary panic was relieved considerably when counteracted by the renewable technology options we had at our fingertips. This was 30 years ago, long before we fully understood the impact of climate change, had reached consensus on solutions, or had developed the comprehensive range of technology solutions we see before us today.

The challenge before us is no longer negligible; it is one of the foremost trials facing humanity in the 21st century. People realise the challenge is not only about climate change but also net zero, fuel poverty, affordable housing, cost of living and affordable warmth. Once you frame the scale of the problem in this way, it is remarkable how many people not only understand, but recognise how their own personal goals and passions align with ours.  

What's next for Heero?

At Heero, we are at the very beginning of our journey. We have an opportunity to proactively engage homeowners to take control of their home energy, not just through energy efficiency or renewable technologies, but by using our platform to empower them to participate in the energy system of the future.

We recently secured a six-figure investment and have signed our first customer, which will see our App rolled out to approximately 350,000 users. We believe this is a positive endorsement of the Heero Technologies team and the solution we have created.

Talk to Denholm

One of the best things about my role as Client Relationship Director for Tech and Fintech is getting to know these amazing, innovative, and game-changing technology companies that are coming out of Scotland. It’s so rewarding to promote businesses working toward the greater good and using technology for a positive impact.

For more information about how we help companies build future-fit teams, please contact us on 07432 466 624 or email gareth@denholmassociates.com.

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Andy Brady

HEAD OF HR

Andy Brady is a seasoned HR recruitment specialist, with over two decades of expertise in the field. With a foundation in Human Resource Management from the University of Derby, Andy swiftly transitioned into specialised HR recruitment. His diverse portfolio spans FMCG, Manufacturing & Engineering, Financial Services, the Third Sector, and Supply Chain, working at all levels from entry to executive positions.

Zoe Lumsden

Business Support & Employee Engagement Executive

Zoe joined Denholm in 2022 as Recruitment Administrator, after working in administration roles for nearly a decade. Most recently within the recruitment industry, she joins us with experience of supporting consultants, clients and candidates at all levels. Zoe has a passion for helping people and applies her positive attitude and approachable manner to support our team and deliver the best possible service to our clients and candidates at all times.

Callum Beveridge

SENIOR CONSULTANT - TECHNOLOGY, CHANGE & TRANSFORMATION

Callum has been working in recruitment since 2018 where he has solely focussed on the Technology, Change and Transformation market across the UK and ROI. He works closely with his clients and candidates to build long-lasting relationships across several industries, including Technology, Financial Services, Professional Services, Healthcare, Education, Public Sector and more. He specialises in engineering roles across Software, Infrastructure, Systems, DevOps and Cloud, along with Software Testing.

Michelle Weir

Senior Finance Executive

Michelle is enthusiastic, practical, and adaptable – with 15 years experience across Finance. She is known for being trustworthy, hardworking, and enjoying a challenge. Michelle excels, both independently and as part of a team, bringing a methodical approach to her work. Combining a friendly and professional demeanor, allows her to effectively engage with colleagues and clients at all levels. Client and candidate care is paramount to Michelle and to Denholm.

Alana Sim

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR - CONSUMER

Alana has been working in recruitment since 2012, predominately within the FMCG & Consumer markets. Having recruited in both the UK & Asia Pacific markets, Alana has a sound knowledge of local & international recruitment. Partnering with brands to attract & hire the best sales talent in the market, Alana focuses on mid to senior level Sales appointments within the Consumer space. With a strong commercial & sales background, Alana identifies and engages the best commercially focused talent for our clients.

Scott Caithness

CLIENT RELATIONSHIP PARTNER

Scott started his career working for one of the leading Advertising & Comms agencies in Edinburgh where he spent 7 years before moving in to recruitment in 2011. As such, he is well-networked in the Marketing & Comms space across Scotland. With a friendly and consultative approach, Scott is genuinely passionate about providing a positive journey to both candidates and clients alike and believes communication plays a big part in this.  A “thinking-outside-the-box recruiter”, he is known for helping candidates portray the best version of themselves and helping clients find talent for those hard to fill roles.

Andy MacEwan

HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY, CHANGE & TRANSFORMATION

Andy has been recruiting in Technology, Change & Transformation since 2001. Delivering tailored resource solutions as trusted advisor to clients ranging from start-ups through to global blue-chip organisations across contract, permanent, fixed term, and managed service/statement of work solutions. He has experience providing candidates for Helpdesk through to CIO and takes great pride in providing excellent customer service and ensuring each candidate journey is a positive one. An expert in his market he can provide guidance across current market trends.

Our Community

As well as working in close collaboration with our clients, and the online marketplaces, we are active members of groups that have been established to combat illicit trade. These include the Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group, the European Intellectual Property Office, The Scottish Business Resilience Centre, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, and the China Britain Business Council. Members of our senior management sit on the boards of ACID (Anti-Copying in Design), the Scottish Ministerial Trade Board, and the European Union Intellectual Property Office’s Observatory Panel for SMEs, amongst others.

Each team member nominates good causes or charities that are supported on both an individual and corporate basis. Wherever possible, we support the employee’s involvement whether through time or fundraising events.

Our Environment

We deliver purpose-driven work from an extremely welcoming environment near the City Centre. We actively encourage the responsible use of resources, from using public transport to reuse, recycling, and, of course, a minimal impact office environment. We have benefited from the advice of the Energy Saving Trust and Resource Efficient Scotland. Our waste contractor also provides us with a monthly report on volumes and types of material and the carbon emissions avoided through recycling.

Over 80% of our employees can walk or cycle to The Lair and, pre-pandemic, 10% were using public transport as their normal daily commuting mode. Without doubt, online meetings will replace considerable miles, going forward, saving resources, time and energy. Where possible, when possible, the train remains our preferred option. 

Our People

Our people are our most important asset, and their mental well-being and happiness are core to our success. We love our diverse workforce, actively embrace flexible working (even pre-pandemic!) and encourage a healthy work-life balance. We have been recognised as one of the most diverse SME workplaces in the UK and are holders of the Scottish Business Pledge which exists to promote a fairer Scotland. We have also just been included in the 2021 Culture Leaders Top 25 – an accolade of which we are very proud!

We are a fully inclusive and nurturing employer and, despite being in tech, the majority of our team are women, leading to accolades in the Computing Magazine Women in IT Awards and the Amazon Growing Business Awards. We currently represent 15 nationalities and speak 20 languages. Age is no barrier, and we recruit for attitude, providing and encouraging appropriate learning and training for each and every role.

We are also proud members of IP Inclusive, a network of professionals working to make the intellectual property industry more diverse.

Our Purpose

Our aim is to combat illicit online trade by identifying and removing counterfeits for sale. Counterfeits not only damage brands, their reputations, and revenues, but can cause significant harm to the end customer – whether as a fake toy or a fake medicine – and the consequences can be life threatening.

Counterfeiting is a significant economic and social issue.

The OECD reports that counterfeit and fake goods make up more than 3.3% of the world’s global trade. Those involved in the trade of counterfeits have been linked to people trafficking, prostitution, and drug dealing.

As such, reducing illicit trade is about much more than brand protection but also about human rights, safety, and social equity.

And this is what we do, every day.

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Communication Advisors

We’re a passionate and professional team who thrive in issue-rich environment and we’re looking for Senior Communication Advisors, Communications Advisors and Communications Executives to join their fast-growing team. 

You’ll have previous agency experience at Senior Account Manager or Account Manager level and be passionate about delivering excellent results for clients. You might be a specialist in PR and media relations who produces compelling editorial content across a range of topics and sectors or you might be a public affairs expert who understands the policy landscape and helps clients build influential relationships. Whatever your specialism, you’ll be an excellent writer, full of creative ideas, with proven client management experience and the ability to provide expert advice our clients.

Your key duties will include:

  • Supporting the key account lead with day-to-day client liaison, providing strategic counsel on day-to-day account matters when required
  • Active involvement in planning and delivering global PR, marketing and digital campaigns
  • Managing content programmes, including mapping out content themes, spotting industry trends and story angles, writing copy when required which may include opinion articles, web and social
  • Building strong media relationships, creating pitches based on your story ideas and delivering content in-to suit the client’s target media and securing opportunities
  • Planning and running client’s social media programmes, and management of their channels
  • Continuously identifying opportunities to grow brand awareness and profile our client’s businesses within their target sector through events, webinars, thought leadership
  • Producing comprehensive and timely reports on client activity 
  • Supporting in the development of client proposals to help grow or win parts of the business


In addition, to be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate:

  • Proven background in account handling and direct client liaison – 4 years’ minimum
  • Experience in an agency setting focusing on B2B communication or PR
  • Strong communications skills, verbal and written
  • A background in delivering creative, digitally led B2B communications such as LinkedIn campaigns
  • An innate understanding of earned media, with the ability to create stories and generate coverage across traditional media, digital and social
  • Experience working on content management programmes, with an awareness of the changing way business audiences consume information and an appreciation of search, paid and wider customer marketing activity, and how it all fits together
  • A history of working with clients in a variety of sectors is welcomed but experience in the tech and energy industries is advantageous.

Communication Lead

We’re a passionate and professional team who thrive in issue-rich environment and we’re looking to add a Communication Lead to our fast-growing team. You’ll be a trusted advisor to clients across several sectors in all aspects of communication, external affairs, marketing and issues management. Coming from an agency or consultancy environment, at Account Director level or above, you’ll report directly to the Managing Director and be responsible for a small and busy multi-disciplinary team. You’ll have first-class project management skills, be solutions-driven and excellent commercial acumen too. Alongside the senior team, you’ll work to drive the strategic growth of Aspect.

Your core duties will include:

  • Working with the MD to develop and deliver growth strategies 
  • Attracting and retaining profitable clients across a range of sectors 
  • Leading the creation and execution of strategic communication programmes
  • Inspiring, leading and developing multi-disciplinary teams
  • Developing strong relationships with clients, colleagues and associates
  • Producing high quality pitches and proposals to secure new business 
  • Curating, nurturing and managing a team of talented associates.

You’ll be a skilled communicator, interested and knowledgeable about the key issues shaping the external environment. In addition, to be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate:

  • 7+ years of senior leadership experience within an agency or consultancy
  • Experience in Energy, Renewables, Financial Services or Life Sciences would be very desirable
  • Outstanding writing skills and the ability to engage and excite an audience
  • An impressive track record of client attraction, retention and growth 
  • The ability to thrive fast-paced environment managing multiple projects simultaneously
  • Strong influencing and leadership skills to motivate and inspire those around you
  • Excellent planning, evaluation and project management skills
  • To develop new processes, systems and ways of working to drive performance

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