Meet Nigel

For more than 20 years, the team at TNEI has been enabling and empowering the renewable energy ambitions of developers large and small across the UK and beyond. We chatted to Nigel about his decades-long partnership with HURST, the culture across TNEI, and the company’s recent transition to employee ownership.

Although we haven’t always been so exclusively focused on renewables within the energy world, our specialism was inspired by some sage words of an old chairman of mine. He used to say that “a rising tide would float many ships”. Well, in 2002 it was already evident that renewable energy was very much a ‘rising tide’, so we’ve focused exclusively – and successfully – on that area for the last twenty years. 

As I sit here today, the team at TNEI is one of the largest, independent, specialist power systems consultancies in the UK, with an established presence in Africa and Ireland and ambitions to grow into the US and beyond. HURST have been part of that journey for at least the last two decades.

The relationship started with audit and accounts, but quickly expanded to include tax, company valuations, secretarial and payroll. And all of that comes with all manner of ongoing support and advice that’s always in the best interests of our business. I’ve worked with a number of the UK’s biggest firms during my career, and I can tell you that HURST really punch beyond their weight. They’re an excellent outfit.

Over the years they’ve been by my side to help me juggle a few roles with TNEI… owner, CEO, FD. But I’m reaching the point in my career where I need to think about the future of the company - and my future retirement, which is where our recent transition to employee ownership comes in. 

"I know HURST are looking out for our business, and I know they’ll give me the refreshing, honest, insightful advice that I need."

We’ve always prided ourselves on having a strong and close-knit culture here, with an environment that feels like family. It’s that culture and spirit that has led us to feel an EOT - Employee Ownership Trust - is the right path for the future of TNEI. After all, we hadn’t had a great experience with a past third-party trade sale, and an MBO didn’t feel right either.

But the spirit of shared ownership already felt appropriate in TNEI. And the more Nigel and Liz from HURST chatted through all the pros and cons with me, the more certain I was that it was the best direction for TNEI. The transition was completed just a few months ago, but the early feedback from across the business has been incredibly positive. Long may it continue.

As usual, everything was handled by HURST in the same straightforward way. I like to work with people I trust and who I get on with well, and when I think of HURST, I think of a trusted friend. I know they’re looking out for our business, and I know they’ll give me the refreshing, honest, insightful advice that I need - whether it’s something I want to hear or not! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

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HURST in three words: Excellence. Knowledgeable. Trustworthy.

To find out more about TNEI Group, and their pioneering work to support renewable and sustainable energy across the world, visit www.tneigroup.com