Askews
Askews is a family-run UK HVAC/R contractor in Colne, Lancashire, designing, installing, and maintaining commercial air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, and renewable energy systems for enterprise and mid-market clients across the North of England and nationally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersColne, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Askews does
Askews (legal entity: Askew Refrigeration Services Ltd) is a privately held, family-run HVAC/R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) contractor headquartered in Colne, Lancashire, with approximately 30 employees. Founded around 1996, the firm designs, supplies, installs, commissions, and maintains commercial air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, biomass, and heat pump systems across the UK, with primary operational concentration in Lancashire and the North West. Its technology stack is built around third-party OEM equipment — most prominently Mitsubishi Electric VRF heat recovery, Daikin/Nordair Niche air handling units, Kingspan Thermomax solar thermal, Ariston heat pump water heaters, and Glow-worm heat pumps — integrated via building management systems and complemented by UV-C air sanitising technology (Sterilon range) for indoor air quality.
The business operates a two-stream revenue model: one-time project installation work (commercial AC, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, renewable energy systems) and recurring Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) contracts bundled with regulatory compliance services (F-Gas, TM44, Gas Safe, water testing) and a 24/7 reactive callout department. Pricing is fully bespoke and quote-based, with no published rates. The go-to-market is direct enterprise and mid-market field sales, driven by a 'Get a Free Quote' website CTA, inbound phone enquiries, and dedicated service-area pages for 20+ towns across the North of England and Wales. Customers include national and regional brands such as McDonald's, Mercure Hotels, the Youth Hostel Association, Tim Hortons, Gant, and the Hydro Hotel, alongside a long tail of SMEs, schools, councils, and manufacturing clients. Required certifications (F-Gas, Gas Safe, BESA, TM44 inspection) serve as a regulatory gatekeeper for the services Askews sells.
Askews firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Askews
- Legal name
- Askew Refrigeration Services Ltd
- Website
- https://askewsltd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Askews is a family-run UK HVAC/R contractor in Colne, Lancashire, designing, installing, and maintaining commercial air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, and renewable energy systems for enterprise and mid-market clients across the North of England and nationally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Askews industry classification
Industry- Product category
- HVAC Services
- NAICS
- Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822)
- SIC
- Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- HVAC & Refrigeration Contracting (IMAFALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Commercial HVAC Maintenance Agreements & PM Programs (HSAOAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Askews is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Colne
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Askews business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- HVAC/R Installation: One-time installation of air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, biomass, and heat pump systems for commercial premises. Projects range from single-unit replacements to large multi-month installations (e.g., hotel mechanical services, retail chain rollouts).
- Service & Maintenance Contracts: Recurring Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) packages covering ongoing servicing, compliance inspections (F-Gas, TM44, Gas Safe), and regulatory compliance for commercial HVAC/R systems. Reactive callout services available 24/7. Bespoke packages tailored to each client.
- Refrigerant Recovery & Compliance Services: F-Gas compliant refrigerant recovery services, including removal of R22 and replacement with compliant refrigerants, typically charged as part of compliance projects or reactive callouts.
- 24/7 Reactive Emergency Service: Emergency reactive servicing for breakdowns and urgent HVAC/R issues, available around the clock. Charged as callout/response service, often alongside planned maintenance contract clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Bespoke commercial maintenance packages — no standard tiers disclosed |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Askews product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Askews designs, supplies, installs, commissions and maintains commercial air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, plumbing and renewable energy systems for commercial premises across Lancashire, the North West and nationally. The company operates as a one-stop shop covering the full mechanical services lifecycle — from initial design and quotation through installation, planned preventative maintenance contracts, regulatory compliance (F-Gas, TM44, Gas Safe) and 24/7 reactive emergency callout.
Product overview
Askews is a family-run HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) service company operating across Lancashire and the North West of England. The company offers a 'one-stop shop' experience, designing, quoting, installing, and commissioning all service and maintenance work. Their product portfolio centers on air conditioning (commercial and residential installation and maintenance), refrigeration (commercial cold rooms and systems), and heating solutions (heat pumps, biomass boilers, gas and electrical heating). Supporting services include ventilation systems, air sanitising and odour control using UV-C technology, refrigerant recovery, plumbing, and planned preventative maintenance programs with regulatory compliance support. The company serves diverse sectors including councils, schools, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, food processing, and retail.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Air Conditioning
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced carbon footprint through equipment efficiency gains from Planned Preventative Maintenance
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Askews
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Askews technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Askews partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Mitsubishi ElectriccoreAskews is an authorised installer of Mitsubishi Electric air conditioning units, heat pumps, and air curtains. Mitsubishi equipment is featured extensively across project case studies, including VRF heat recovery systems, air source heat pumps, and electric air heaters. Askews connects Mitsubishi systems to building management systems (BMS).
- Daikin / Nordair NichecoreNordair Niche air handling units (by Daikin) are specified in multiple major project installations, including McDonald's Preston (post-fire restoration) and McDonald's Burnley (R22 replacement). Askews uses these units as part of hybrid HVAC solutions.
- Medlock FRBcoreMedlock FRB is Askews' primary contractor partner on Mercure Hotels projects across the UK. Askews works as a specialist subcontractor providing mechanical services (boilers, air handling, VRF AC) under Medlock FRB's principal contractor role.
- Marcon Fit OutcoreMarcon Fit Out is Askews' principal contractor partner for the Tim Hortons store fit-out project in Milton Keynes. Askews is commissioned as the specialist HVAC/R subcontractor on this project.
- KingspancoreAskews installs Kingspan Thermomax 30 vacuum tube solar collectors as part of renewable energy projects. Featured in the Hollin Top project (Green Deal) and The Sparrowhawk project (hot water heating). Kingspan's solar thermal technology is combined with heat pumps for high-efficiency hot water production.
- AristoncoreAriston 250-litre heat pump water heaters were installed at The Sparrowhawk pub (Formby) to generate domestic hot water using waste heat recovery from the kitchen's cooking process.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Askews competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NG Bailey: One of the UK's largest independent M&E and building services contractors offering HVAC design, install, and maintenance nationwide; comparable service portfolio but with substantially greater headcount and national delivery capability.
- Daikin UK: UK arm of the global HVAC manufacturer and systems integrator; Askews specifies Daikin/Nordair Niche air handling units, so Daikin competes across parts of Askews' value chain while also remaining a key supplier.
- Briggs & Forrester: Large UK mechanical and electrical building services contractor delivering HVAC, plumbing, and renewable energy installations for commercial and public-sector clients; overlaps with Askews across hotel, retail, and large commercial projects but at materially greater scale.
- Mitsubishi Electric UK (Living Systems): UK division of Mitsubishi Electric supplying VRF, heat pumps, and air curtains with a network of approved installers of which Askews is one; comparable capability on the install side and a key technology partner.
Direct peers
- Concept Building Services: UK commercial HVAC/R contractor offering design, installation, service, and maintenance for commercial premises; directly comparable mid-market positioning and full one-stop shop model similar to Askews.
- Dodd Group: Mid-sized UK mechanical, electrical, and HVAC services contractor with regional offices across the Midlands and North; comparable commercial HVAC install-maintain model to Askews across public sector, retail, and hospitality.
Regional players
- J Tomlinson: Mid-sized UK mechanical and electrical services contractor with strong Midlands and Northern presence offering HVAC install, maintenance, and compliance services; directly comparable regional MEP contractor model to Askews.
Emerging players
- Vital Energi Solutions: UK specialist in low-carbon district heating, heat pumps, and energy centres; overlaps with Askews on renewable heat pump, biomass, and Green Deal-style installations but operates at the larger infrastructure scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Askews social profiles
Digital presenceAskews compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Askews financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Askews leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Askews funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Askews M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Askews
What does Askews do?
Askews designs, supplies, installs, commissions and maintains commercial air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, plumbing and renewable energy systems for commercial premises across Lancashire, the North West and nationally. The company operates as a one-stop shop covering the full mechanical services lifecycle — from initial design and quotation through installation, planned preventative maintenance contracts, regulatory compliance (F-Gas, TM44, Gas Safe) and 24/7 reactive emergency callout.
Is Askews a public or private company?
Askews is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Askews founded?
Askews was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Askews based?
Askews is headquartered in Colne, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Askews make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. HVAC/R Installation is the primary driver. The others are service & Maintenance Contracts, refrigerant Recovery & Compliance Services and 24/7 Reactive Emergency Service.
Who are Askews's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NG Bailey, Daikin UK, Briggs & Forrester and Mitsubishi Electric UK (Living Systems). Direct peers are Concept Building Services and Dodd Group. J Tomlinson is listed as a regional player. Vital Energi Solutions is listed as an emerging player.
Does Askews have an API?
No public API is recorded for Askews.
What industry is Askews in?
Askews's product category is HVAC Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFALAB, HVAC & Refrigeration Contracting, with a secondary code of HSAOAHAJ, Commercial HVAC Maintenance Agreements & PM Programs. Its NAICS code is 238220 and its SIC code is 3822.