Just a Minute with Suzanne Coyle

Suzanne Coyle
Suzanne Coyle, director of Glasgow-based Union Technical, a family-run company delivering an all-encompassing service for energy efficiency renovations, takes part in SCN’s Just A Minute feature.
How did you get started in the industry?
I was inspired by my brother’s ambitions to start his own business in the energy services industry and wanted to get involved. My role has evolved over the years, I began as an office manager and in the early days I was focused on building our team from just myself and the founding directors. I also established a lot of our systems, professionalising a very young business by implementing policies and gaining industry accreditations.
Over the years I worked my way up to a director position and now I’m working with a forward-thinking team, delivering innovative projects that have a positive impact on homeowners and residents, clients and that contribute to the overall net zero targets for the environment.
Biggest professional achievement:
My biggest professional achievement came in 2021 when I was promoted to director after seven years of dedicated work within the company. Throughout those years, I focused on developing my skills and gaining a deep understanding of the business, despite being fully self-taught. I took pride in bringing strong organisational skills to the table, implementing formalised systems that helped streamline operations and improve efficiency. A significant part of my role involves managing and growing our team, and reaching the director level was a testament to the progress we’ve made together.
What do you like most about your job?
I love our team, they are a forward thinking and inspiring group of people that I’m really proud to have played a key role in building. We’re always pushing to improve and be the best in our field, I love the pace and the attitude of the people I work with.
And the least?
I feel lucky to say there is nothing that stands out to me here, I’m really passionate about what I do and there’s no particular part of it I don’t enjoy.
What is your favourite project you have worked on, and why?
I played a leading role in delivering a £2.4million project in the Highlands which was part of the 2023/24 Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme (EES:ABS). This was a huge win for the team and the project will benefit 100 homes in the Highland communities. The most satisfying part of working on projects like this is knowing the difference the work will make to tenants and homeowners by improving their living conditions and cutting their energy bills.
Internally, I also spearheaded the implementation of our CRM system in the early days. This revolutionised our processes, making us much more efficient as a business and played a key role in our growth.
What (or who) tends to be your main inspiration when it comes to your role?
I am most inspired by our founding directors Michael and my brother Owen. I have seen them overcome many challenges over the years and the success of the business is down to their vision and unmatched industry expertise.
What are the biggest challenges your organisation has faced since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic?
Like with many industries, our project work ground to a halt during the pandemic which was a real challenge and quite a worrying time for the business. However, on reflection the pause allowed us to take a breath and anticipate the changes happening in our industry and plan for the direction it was heading in.
Has anything changed for the better?
We have actually seen our most extensive period of growth in the years following the pandemic. Because our project work slowed down, we had the space to consider how we could improve and think about the future of our industry. At the end of 2020 we were awarded various ISO Accreditations which have been helpful for building our credibility for our tender applications.
The Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) was also implemented in 2022 which saw the continuation of government funding for home heating upgrades with the aim of reducing fuel poverty. The timing of this and the temporary lull in project work which allowed us to improve our business resulted in a strong comeback for us following Covid-19.
Hobbies and interests:
Outside of work, I’m a five-time World Champion Irish Dancer and I now run my own school, Coyle School of Irish Dance. My daughter also dances for the school so most of my weekends are spent travelling across the UK for competitions.
Favourite holiday destination:
I love Las Vegas, but Palma will always be a special place for me as it is where I got married so we go as a family every summer.
How do you receive your industry news?
I think LinkedIn is a great platform and very informative. We are also members of various industry associations such as the IAA CS Retrofit Coordinator Service who keep us informed with relevant industry news.
Which social media sites do you use, and which do you find the most useful?
To take part in Just A Minute, contact SCN at newsdesk@scottishnews.com