Three of the Yorkshire-based team are at the forefront of Ideal Heating’s drive to reduce the traditional environmental impacts of their industry as focus continues to sharpen on protecting our planet and keeping the temperature of our homes and business regulated through this period of change.

Ideal is rolling out air source heat pump technology which offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional central heating, developing research around products and scaling-up production in its new, £16m manufacturing, research and development, and warehouse space at its Hull site.

With the firm continuing to expand, it is now celebrating the achievements of three team members who were all crowned winners at Hull and East Yorkshire’s Women in Business: Women of Achievement Awards.

Helen Villamuera, engineering director, beat tough competition to win the Woman Breaking Boundaries Award in recognition of achievements including her role leading on the firm’s three-year major infrastructure plan to treble the size of its Hull distribution centre and extend its heat pump manufacturing facility.

Maria Gillum, senior design engineer, was named the top Woman in STEM across Hull and the East Riding. She was described as “inspirational” for the drive she instils in colleagues and students, encouraging others to follow her into STEM careers.

Nina Weldrick, a fourth-year apprentice technician in Ideal’s engineering services team, claimed the Apprentice/Trainee prize in recognition of her dedication to expanding her knowledge. She has also begun supporting Ideal’s recruitment programme for the next wave of trainees to follow in her footsteps.

Shaun Edwards, chief executive of Ideal Heating, said: “Encouraging women into engineering is important to us; having a diverse team across the organisation represents our values of inclusivity and equality of opportunity.

“All three of our winners champion this approach, inspiring and helping women understand the opportunities available in manufacturing and engineering. We are delighted this has been recognised through these awards.”

It comes after Ideal recorded a 15 per cent sales increase in the year ending 31 December 2021, with turnover hitting £351.9m.