On Friday, 30th August, we said goodbye to our founder, Alan Donald, as he officially retired and hung up his work boots after an incredible career.

Alan’s journey with IMS Heat Pumps began back when the company was known as Independent Maintenance Services Ltd, and his passion for renewable energy has shaped the business ever since.

Alan first cut his teeth with Scottish Hydro in the mid-1990s, where he was involved in installing some of the UK’s very first heat pumps. His pioneering work laid the groundwork for what would become a lifelong dedication to heat pump technology.

Alan’s expertise quickly became well known and over the years, Alan travelled the length and breadth of the UK, installing Ground Source Heat Pumps from Lands’ End to John O’Groats, establishing himself as one of the industry’s true pioneers.

I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Alan since 2016, and many of our team have been fortunate to work with him for over 20 years. Alan’s no-nonsense approach and unparalleled knowledge meant he could see a problem coming long before it arrived—and probably had the solution worked out too!

His impact on the industry goes beyond IMS. It’s possible that quite a few of our local competitors owe their start to Alan, having trained or worked alongside him at some point. His dedication to ‘bringing folk on’ leaves a lasting impact, with IMS continuing the tradition with yearly cohorts of new Apprentices being brought onboard.

Alan’s wife, Diane, later joined him at IMS, and together they transformed the company into a thriving family business. His son, Arran Donald, and Arran’s friend John joined the team too, working alongside him to install, service, and maintain heat pump systems. With their hard work, they turned a small operation into a company with a big reputation.

In 2019, we rebranded as IMS Heat Pumps, and since then, we’ve continued to grow. Today, IMS has two offices, 39 staff, and a level of expertise that stands out in the market. Alan leaves the company in fantastic shape, and though he’s left some big boots to fill, the solid foundation he built will help us continue growing, bigger and better, for many years to come.

Please join us in thanking Alan for his remarkable contributions and wishing both him and Diane a very happy (and well-earned!) retirement.

Best Wishes

Emma and the team at IMS