Company Personnel

Simon M Woodward - Chief Executive

Simon graduated in 1987 with a 2:1 BSc (Hons) degree in Energy Technology and Management from Swansea University and spent four years working with WS Atkins engineering consultants in Epsom on energy management projects. In July 1991 he joined Utilicom as Engineering Manager spending his time in this position designing and managing the construction of extensions to the Southampton District Heating scheme, including the connection of the RSH Hospital and the DeVere Grand Harbour Hotel, together with other capital works for Utilicom Limited. Following a review by the Board and a restructuring of UK operations he was appointed Chief Executive in July 1996.  Simon is still actively involved in the Company’s projects and qualified as a Chartered Engineer in July 1997.

Mike Smith – Commercial Director

Mike joins Utilicom from Southampton City Council, he was formerly Executive Director of Southampton City Council – a position he held for 19 years and previously Director of Finance for the Southampton City Council.

Mike is a Chartered Public Service Accountant, holds a Diploma in Management Studies and is a Chartered Manager.  He is a Vice President of the Combined Heat and Power Association, the Local Government Champion for the Combined Heat and Power Club, and a Director of Southampton Sustainable Energy Limited.

Mike’s role within Utilicom is to provide consulting advice, representation at Local Authority level and facilitate dialogue with the Public Sector.  Mike brings a wealth of experience in terms of meeting Public Sector Sustainability aspirations and the successful delivery of the UK’s largest commercially viable district energy scheme – the Southampton City CHP/District Energy Scheme in partnership with Utilicom.

Vaughan Furniss – Commercial Manager

Vaughan joined Utilicom in 2005 (as Commercial Manager), having spent 8 years working for Windsor Engineering Group Ltd in Australasia, North and South America in the sale, design and commissioning of large industrial heat exchangers and timber drying kilns.  Vaughan also ran Windsor’s Australian Engineering office for 3 years, negotiating contracts, project management and day to day operation of a remote office.  Vaughan has a BE (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering, became chartered professional engineer (CP Eng) in 2004 and also a member of the Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand in 2004.  Vaughan is on secondment in Australia, returning to the UK during February 2008.

David Culver – Senior Engineering

David joined Utilicom in September 1992 having previously worked for Schlumberger and the Building Research Establishment. He has a BSc (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bristol University and an MSc in Energy in Buildings. David joined as the Operations Manager for the Southern region in 1992 and held this position until September 1996 when he was appointed as Utilicom’s Engineering Manager.  In December 1997 David’s team of graduate based design engineers were formed into a Design & Consultancy practice in their own right. 

Stephen Cox – Controls Projects Engineer

Steve joined ICE (UK) Ltd in August 2004 to work on the control elements of new and existing projects throughout the country.  He graduated in 1979 with a BA (Hons) degree in Engineering Science from Oxford University, and went on to gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering whilst working for Haden Young in London.  From there, in 1981, he joined the company that was to become Trend Control Systems, occupying a variety of positions in the contracting, development and support areas, before transferring to one of Trend’s Technology Centres in a project engineering role on a variety of new buildings such as the Bluewater Shopping Centre.  This wealth of experience enables him to apply the latest technology to new installations whilst ensuring that older sites are maintained in efficient working order.

John Hastie – Contract Manager (Southampton Geothermal Heating Company)

John joined Utilicom in September 1998 after serving 23 years in the Royal Navy Submarine Service, finishing as an engineering supervisor onboard the latest nuclear powered hunter-killer class submarines. He is extremely experienced in a wide field of engineering disciplines and is qualified with an HNC in mechanical and production engineering, registered with the Engineering Council & is a member of the Institute of Incorporated Engineers (Mech). He now heads a well motivated and dedicated O&M team based in Southampton, giving excellent client service and care on many prestigious sites throughout the South of England

Michael Watts – Health and Safety, Quality and Training Manager (HSQTM)

Michael has worked for Utilicom since 2000 as Operations Manager for our CHP and steam boiler plant schemes. This practical experience left him well qualified to be appointed as Utilicom’s HSTQM.  Michael is now responsible for all training requirements such as CORGI/ACS and NICEIC qualifications as well as running the Company’s ISO 9002 Quality Assurance and Health & Safety programmes.

Carol J Bostock – Human Resources Manager

Carol joined Utilicom as a Consultant in 2001 and accepted a permanent position in October 2003.  Carol has more than fifteen years experience in HR, training and general management including two years on the prestigious BOC HR Renew project.  Carol works with Michael Watts to ensure our staff receive high quality training, and she is also responsible for implementing the company’s Equal Opportunities policy.