The Open University

Co-Founder & MD at PowerTek Utilities - Electric Vehicle Charging - HV & LV cable jointing & installation - Renewables

Powertek Utilities is the one of the UK's fastest growing companies. This exponential growth is testament to our ability to deliver major projects in a way that exceeds our customers expectations.

Focused on the power utilities sector Powertek Utilities offer a comprehensive cable jointing and cable installation service at voltages from LV, to HV and including EHV direct to Energy Companies, DNO’s, IDNOs, ICPs and private network customers.

Powertek EV is our electric vehicle charging brand. PowertekEV.com has ambitions to become the UKs No 1 EV charging installation company. Powertek EV installs AC & DC chargers right across the UK. 

The Powertek Utilities group of companies comprises:

E&S Utilities Limited - Cable jointing, civil engineering and cable laying company focused on the power utility and renewables sector. E&S works with major blue chip and partner clients on wind and power projects across the UK. E&S is authorised to work on every DNO power network in the UK.

DCT Powertek Limited - Focuses on 'on street' projects. The company is currently working with BT on a major telephone kiosk rationalisation project that includes the removal of 20,000+ telephone kiosks. DCT Powertek also installs and commissions on street assets including digital advertising and 5G cellular communication systems.

Powertek Utilities

Co-Founder & Managing Director

SJH International is based in UK and Qatar where it helps organisations dramatically improve their sales performance.

SJH International is expert in assisting businesses to fast track their growth in Qatar and the MENA region through its outstanding network of high level contacts.

Our sister company - Qatar SJH International - is a joint venture company established in partnership with HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Qatari Royal family. 

Qatar has the fastest growing economy in the world and despite the global financial crisis, Qatar has maintained its rapid economic growth of the last several years. In 2009 when most economies were in recession, GDP growth still registered an incredible 9% for the year and will likely be 16% in 2010. Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the world's highest per-capita income country and the world's fastest growing economy with the world's lowest inflation rate -3.9%. Proved oil reserves of 15 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 37 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, about 14% of the world total and third largest in the world.

Qatar and the MENA region offers businesses outstanding long term sustainable growth potential. SJH International helps international businesses realise this potential.

Specific areas of expertise include:

Investment
IT &amp; Telecommunications
Media
Culture &amp; Heritage
Construction
CleanTech, Sustainability &amp; Green Technology
Energy
Medical
Education

SJH International

Miller Gold Ltd. is a global investment bank offering a broad range of services including private capital fundraising, mergers & acquisitions and financial consulting services. We offer our clients a truly global reach with deep access to markets in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Each of the partners at Miller Gold has twenty plus years’ experience starting, running and bringing businesses to successful exits. Our experience includes a wide range of functions with a focus on capital acquisition and delivering high-returns to stakeholders in the consumer products, food beverage & hospitality, fashion & retail, manufacturing, high-tech, energy, Cleantech, environmental and entertainment industries.

Miller Gold was established by successful venture capital investors and entrepreneurs. The firm has since grown and added senior financial executives with significant investment banking experience and a successful track record in executing some of the most complex financial transactions. Our focus is on creating value to fast growing small and middle market companies with disruptive products and exceptional management teams that are changing their respective markets.

Miller Gold

General Partner

Instalec are a leading IT & Telecoms Group with an impressive 28 year history. The Group has an incredible blue chip client base and a market leading position.

Client relations are at the heart of our ethos. The NEW Instalec doesn't just listen to your IT issues; we bridge the gap between business and technology. Each of our divisions are staffed by highly experienced business and technology experts who are focussed on providing you with a positive outcome whatever your business or technology challenge may be.

Instalec Business Transformation
Instalec Managed Services
Instalec Building Support Services
Instalec Software Services
Instalec Professional Services
Instalec Knowledge Management

Contact Instalec today to discuss how we can help give your business a better outcome. www.instalec.co.uk

Instalec Technology Group

Group Chairman

EWI is a market leader in the management, provisioning of wireless, data, M2M, fixed and mobile communication business solutions for corporate customers. The company offers flexible opportunities around bundling and billing and is a key service provider to the global aviation industry. EWI offers a single point for telecom contracts worldwide, reducing costs, ongoing account management, improved levels of service, the latest in telecommunications infrastructure. The Company can supply corporate customers throughout North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia  Pacific with expert advice for all their B2B communication needs. We have a business support network that stretches across 3 continents.

EWI Global Limited

Chairman

EfW Management Ltd and EfW (Scotland) Ltd design, build and operate advanced energy from waste facilities that are environmentally sustainable and economically viable.

The Right Assets:
•	Industry-leading plasma gasification technology
•	Industry-leading partnerships with waste management companies

The Right People
•	Globally experienced management and technical team
•	Large scale plasma gasification experience
•	Experienced industry pioneers

The Right Time
•	Environmental concerns
•	Increasing long-term global demand for energy
•	Special financing and tax incentives for clean energy projects

EfW Management Limited

Chairman & Co-Founder

A boutique accountancy firm offering a range of regulatory compliance, corporate finance, business strategy and consultancy services.

We help our clients determine the right strategic priorities for profitable growth and offer support and practical solutions into achieving these growth objectives. We combine strategic insight, rigorous analysis and in-depth industry expertise with access to the firm’s market leading global network of industry and technical specialists, local knowledge and resources.

Donn Sheldon

Director

SJH Ventures works with growth-stage companies around the globe to help them develop their business, acquire capital, gain marketshare and expand internationally. SJH Ventures partners have over 100 years of hands-on experience of building successful global businesses. What differentiates SJH Ventures is our relationship with our sister business SJH International Ltd with its track record of initiating rapid growth within the companies that it has worked with in the UK, US, Europe and the Middle East.

SJH Ventures focuses on growing businesses in the environmental, energy and technology sectors. SJH Ventures also facilitates investment for Middle East based 'green' construction projects especially in the Healthcare and Education sectors.

•	SJH Ventures is currently raising investment for its new Environmental Fund. The focus for this fund is three related Environmental sectors in which our team has deep domain expertise: Sustainable Energy Generation, Alternative fuels and Energy Saving Technologies. Each of these sectors display market growth opportunities through emergence or convergence

SJH Ventures

Managing Partner

Founder and CEO of UK's leading public wireless hotspot company and the first company in the world to develop an end-to-end technology solution for public wireless. 

Principal Achievements:

Established Purple Patch as the UK’s leading independent hotspot technology company through ‘Unrivalled Business Proposition, Unsurpassed Technology’ strategy.

Created award winning technology architecture.

Increased sales and market share through indirect sales strategy.

Expanded Internationally. First wireless company in Dubai and the Middle East.

Sold hotspot business to The Cloud in 2005.

Continued to drive innovation from Dubai office working across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Purple Patch Wireless

Executive Network (Scotland) Ltd

Managing Director

This is where it all began. This is where I envisioned wireless internet. People thought I was crazy; no-one believed it would ever happen. I don't know how many investors said that I was wasting their time. "Steve this wireless internet 'thing' you are talking about will never take off?" They didn't invest, no-one did and as crazy as it seems now, Investors just didn't get it.

Despite this we were the first people in the world to develop an end-to-end solution for public wireless. It was an unbelievably tough struggle and a tremendous achievement. We were so far ahead of the curve that there was no road map, no standards, only a vision! We didn't all get to the end of my crazy journey but my special thanks go to Dr David Hall who took a leap of faith with me when all I had was an idea and to Barclay Milne who 'got it' when most others didn't and to John Zurowski and Dr John Hynes. Others who believed and contributed in the pre-Purple Patch days were Prof John Dunlop, Angela Mathis, Vivian Kyles, Tom Ogilvie, Andy McNab, Campbell Murray, Nick Felisiak, Brian Hickey and Iain Woolward. We created a number of world firsts and helped to spawn an industry. The UK Patent Office described what we were doing as 'truly innovative in world terms' 

A special thanks to my long time friend - Nick Price - without whose help Purple Patch might not have been born and to Peter Black, James McGregor, Tom McCallum and Barry West who were brave enough to write a cheque when no-one else would.

Finally, thanks to Robert Crook who also 'got it' and allowed us to put wireless into the Holiday Inn and Express by Holiday Inn, Glasgow making them the first wireless hotspots. Robert took a huge leap of faith as no-one had wireless laptops at that time So we gave guests wireless PC cards at check-in!

In the early days my vision of a wireless world was as clear to me as today's reality but at the time few saw it. The people listed above are the true pioneers of public wireless internet.

Steve Higgins