Cliff Arnold

I combine strong technical depth with commercial and operational understanding. I am comfortable moving between engineering detail, product strategy, customers, suppliers and executive decision-making, with particular strengths in solving complex technical problems, developing practical systems and translating engineering into repeatable commercial outcomes. My career spans product redevelopment and European commercialisation at CTC; large-scale heat-pump deployment and demand-response work through the NEDO Smart Communities project with Daikin Industries; smart-energy optimisation and integrated energy systems at PassivUK/PassivSystems; and current executive-level technical leadership integrating low-carbon HVAC technologies in the UK.

Technical Director at UnicoSystem UK / Bell Plumbing Solutions (Present)

• Lead engineering, product management and technical governance across low-carbon HVAC technologies and advanced building-services systems.
• Manage a specialist technical design function delivering HVAC system designs to Building Regulations, MCS requirements and internal quality standards.
• Provide technical direction for product management, system integration, compliance, technical documentation, installer training, technical certification and non-conformance investigations.
• Created and implemented Quality Management Systems, technical standards, installation manuals, user guides, FAQs and technical bulletins.
• Provide executive-level technical leadership across product, sales, service and training functions, translating field experience and market requirements into product and system improvements.

Heating Services & Project Director at PassivUK / PassivSystems (2017-01 – 2020-12)

• Worked on FlexiCell, an integrated energy system combining fuel-cell generation, phase-change thermal storage and heat-pump technology.
• Developed deeper practical understanding of heat-pump operating behaviour, system controls and optimisation, including how operating strategies can improve effective system efficiency.
• Worked on smart-control use cases and system architecture for coordinating distributed energy assets rather than optimising individual components in isolation.
• Explored how heat pumps and thermal storage could provide additional system value through demand response, flexibility and interoperable energy-market frameworks informed by the Universal Smart Energy Framework (USEF).
• Translated technical concepts into system/application requirements, control strategies and commercially relevant use cases.
• Worked on the integration of heat pumps, thermal storage, generation and intelligent controls as a whole energy system rather than optimising individual components in isolation.
• Developed control methodologies using process heat recovery from fuel cells to support thermal-storage charging and domestic hot-water production while optimising heat-pump operation.
• Developed system architecture, operational strategies, smart-control use cases, thermal/electrical integration concepts and energy-optimisation strategies.
• Led engineering development for connected heating systems, smart controls and integrated energy technologies across FlexiCell, Smart Energy Islands and hybrid heat-pump projects.

Project Manager at Daikin UK / NEDO Smart Communities Demonstration Project (2015-01 – 2017-12)

• Technical programme lead for an early large-scale UK residential demand-response demonstration involving approximately 550 domestic heat-pump installations.
• Coordinated DNOs, local authorities, housing stakeholders, installation contractors, Japanese government delegates and international consortium partners.
• Responsible for programme delivery, technical governance, commissioning standards and operational performance across the deployment.
• Developed practical understanding of how aggregated residential heat-pump loads can operate as controllable energy-system assets within a wider energy network.
• Worked at the interface between market requirements, product strategy, engineering development, sales and commercialisation.
• Supported development of multi-modular compressor ground-source heat pumps to increase single-phase capacity for UK and French applications.
• Made direct product-engineering contributions including the owl-shaped fan blade, inverter-driver development and mapped internal circulating-pump modulation to overcome fixed-speed limitations and support soft-start operation with traditional heating controls.
• Co-chaired the working group responsible for the complete redevelopment of the CTC heat-pump range for multi-region sales channels.
• Managed the European sales team across France, Germany, Benelux, UK & Ireland, Finland and Norway, providing direct insight into differing technical, commercial and market requirements.
• Led UK operations with responsibility spanning technical operations, commercial performance, market development, customer support and engineering leadership.

General Manager at CTC Enertech UK

Founder & Director at GRN Tech Group / Energifix (2019-01 – 2021-12)

• Delivered consultancy and technical support across low-carbon heating, heat-pump systems and system optimisation.
• Delivered installation services to Welsh for their hybrid heat pump programme
• Delivered installation services to EDF energy services
• Delivered installation services to Shell New Energies (B-Snug)
• Provided UK wide warranty and repair services to Samsung Climate Solutions UK
• Worked directly with technical and commercial stakeholders to diagnose system issues and develop practical solutions.

Commando at Royal Marines

• Operational leadership, planning, decision-making and delivery in complex environments.