On My Desk: Mark Purnell, Director of Polarity Group

Born and Raised: Croydon, South London and Bournemouth

 

 

University of Southampton – BSc (Hons)in Biology

 

15th and 16th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations – Farnborough College of Technology

 

 

Derek Smith & Sons in Bournemouth - Electrical Labourer 

 

 

 

Derek Smith & Sons - Founder  and Director of Farnborough Branch

 

Derek Smith Associates – Founder and Director (subsequently sold to VC investors)

 

Intelligent Property Group – Founder and Director (subsequently sold to VC investors)

 

complyNC - Founder and Director (present)

 

Polarity Group – Founder and Director (present)

 

Unify Group - Founder and Director (present)

 

Future Goals for the Company: “To do as best as I can, financially as well as giving things back into the community.”

 

Future Goals for the Industry: “There are hugely competent people in this industry that are capable of a lot more.  The electrical contracting and FM industry needs to kick out the ‘pretenders’ and take control of their own sector.”

 

Favourite Song:  The Heart of the Matter – Don Henley

 

Favourite Movie:  Wuthering Heights (1939) - William Wyler

 

Morning Rituals:  Lets the dog out, empties the dishwasher, makes a cup of tea and works his way through emails.

 

 

1. Pewter Cup:  Engraved Canberra 1988, this commemorative mug celebrates the work Mark did on this large passenger liner  that was also used in the Falklands.  In 1988, the ship was docked in Southampton where Mark and his team had three days to change the electrical fittings in half of the cabins.  “It was the most exhausting thing we had done, but the sense of achievement afterwards was incredible,” said Mark.  After the project was completed, all of the workers were given these mugs by Derek Smith in appreciation of their hard work.

 

2. Bird Book and Binoculars: Mark is bird watching enthusiast.  He started as a young boy and has enjoyed the hobby ever since.  Mark’s house backs onto woodland, which means he sees a lot of interesting birdlife, including woodpeckers, close to home. 

 

3. Circadian Trust ‘Projects on the Go’ Proposals and Projections: This charitable trust provides sports and leisure facilities to communities in the Bristol area.  Mark is working closely with their team to drive new initiatives, including reducing energy costs through improved procurement, LED lighting schemes, biomass boilers and solar PV.  He is involved with the design, financial modelling, tax issues, RHI, FIT and project management. 

 

4. Polarity Sustain Website:  Part of the Polarity Group, Polarity Sustain was formed to provide fully integrated, client focused solutions for the bespoke design, supply and installation of energy saving lighting, heating and other building engineering systems in a wide range of commercial and industrial environments.  Found at www.polaritysustain.com, here you can find out more about the services as well as case studies and FAQs.

 

5. Photos of Children:  Mark keeps a photo of his two children, Paul and Sophie, on his desk. 

 

6. AFC Bournemouth Mug:  Mark is a big fan of this football club and has supported them since he was a boy.  He attends games regularly.

 

7. Ballet Programme:  Mark and his wife recently attended Northern Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  They are big fans of ballet and attend productions at Woking’s New Victoria Theatre regularly each year.

 

8. SFG20 Brochure:  This document discusses the SFG20 web service, from the Building and Engineering Services Association, which offers bespoke maintenance models for specific building types.  Mark’s company, complyNC, works with the B&ES to help integrate these models into day-to-day FM service operations

 

9. Energy Efficiency in Swimming Pools:  This four year research project, undertaken by Sport England, Loughborough University and the ASA, looks into the energy efficiency of lighting and heating in swimming pools.  Mark is actively involved in this project, helping sports and leisure centers reach energy efficiency targets in pools across the UK.

 

10. Sport England and Unify Community Information Sheet:  This document showcases the work Unify Community is doing with Sport England and the reductions in energy consumption and costs that will be achieved through this partnership.  Unify Community Trust is a charity Mark has set up to fund energy saving projects in sports centers across the UK.  A proportion of the profits from Unity Group is run through into this charity.