Prefect Controls Names New MD

Prefect Controls, the specialist heating control systems company, has recently appointed Will Mills as its Managing Director.

After the retirement of Glen and Sue Golding, the founders of Prefect Controls, a succession plan has been rolling out over the last two years.

Will joined the company in 2018 and quickly became well-versed in all aspects of Prefect. He spent the first 5 years travelling across the UK, managing projects from Aberdeen to Exeter. Prefect’s diverse client base includes accommodation providers such as Unite Students, Host, Curlew Capital, Study Inn, and various universities like UWE, Durham, Cambridge, Greenwich, Oxford Brookes, and Bangor.

Appointed as Commercial Director in Summer 2023, Will has been focused on developing the project management team and taking on greater responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of the company.

Reflecting on Will’s appointment, Glen Golding remarked, “Soon after Will joined the business, I recognised a leadership quality that I was confident could be developed to lead Prefect forward when the time came for me to step back from frontline duties.”

While Glen and Sue will continue to oversee the business as Chair and Vice-Chair, they are looking forward to enjoying their retirement and pursuing activities outside of Prefect.

Founded in 1997, Prefect initially targeted commercial providers of rooms, such as student accommodation and hotels, where excessive use of heating energy by guests posed a significant problem. Prefect’s locally programmed intelligent thermostats were introduced to prevent energy wastage. With the evolution of the internet, this concept has grown into a comprehensive centrally controlled system that monitors environmental conditions, manages temperature control for room and water heating, and collects vital data to help energy managers optimise building efficiency.

Glen reflects on the changes since Prefect’s inception, stating, “Technology and the provision of student accommodation have evolved significantly since I established Prefect, but the importance of efficiency and decarbonisation has only increased. Prefect is well-positioned to benefit all multi-occupancy accommodation by eliminating waste and providing data for performance optimisation.”

Nicole Howard, previously the Office Manager, has also taken on a new role as Prefect’s Financial Controller following Sue’s transition. She expressed, “Sue and I have worked closely to ensure a seamless transition. It’s very much business as usual.”

In conclusion, Will Mills expressed his pride in the company Glen and Sue have built, highlighting its solid reputation, financial stability, and commitment to its ‘family business’ roots. He looks forward to collaborating with the dedicated team at Prefect to elevate the company to new heights. Despite recent growth, Will sees vast potential for further expansion and is enthusiastic about driving Prefect forward into the future.