Commercial heating systems are critical to maintaining safe, efficient, and comfortable environments across factories, warehouses, offices, and education facilities. The right contractor ensures your system is designed, installed, and maintained for long-term performance and energy efficiency.
What to look for in a commercial heating contractor
Key strength |
Why it matters |
|
Site understanding and system design |
Every site has unique requirements. The best contractors assess insulation, occupancy, ceiling height, and ventilation to design efficient systems tailored to real-world conditions. |
|
Accreditation and safety compliance |
Look for NICEIC, Gas Safe, and SafeContractor accreditation. These ensure installations meet the latest UK safety and performance standards. |
|
Energy efficiency expertise |
With carbon targets tightening, contractors should specify modern condensing, hybrid, and renewable systems that reduce emissions and operational costs. |
|
Integration with wider building systems |
Heating rarely works in isolation. Choose contractors who can link heating with ventilation, controls, and renewables like solar PV or heat pumps. |
|
Maintenance and aftercare |
Long-term performance depends on proper servicing. A good contractor offers planned maintenance, responsive repairs, and compliance testing. |

The best commercial heating contractors
Here are ten of the UK’s leading commercial heating contractors, recognised for their technical capability, reliability, and delivery across multiple sectors.
1. Unitary Engineering Services (UES)
Best for: Integrated mechanical, electrical, and renewable solutions
Locations: Bristol, South West, and South Wales focused, with nationwide capabilities
Unitary Engineering Services (UES) delivers end-to-end heating solutions for commercial, industrial, and public sector sites. Their in-house engineers manage every stage of the process from design and installation to testing, upgrades, and maintenance.
UES has delivered multi-million-pound mechanical and electrical projects across transport, manufacturing, education, and commercial estates, designing heating systems that maximise comfort, reduce energy use, and align with net-zero targets.
Their wider expertise in electrical infrastructure, solar PV, and building controls gives clients a single, integrated partner capable of designing whole-building energy solutions.
Key benefits of UES:
- Commercial heating services trusted by Skanska, First Bus, AtkinsRealis, English Heritage
- Fully accredited (NICEIC, Gas Safe, CHAS Elite, SafeContractor)
- B Corp Certified, focused on sustainable and ethical operations
- Full in-house team managing design, installation, testing, and maintenance
Key case studies and results:
- £1.2 million heating and controls upgrade for a water damaged school in Oxfordshire
- Electric warm air heater installation for Wiper & True in Bristol
- Efficient industrial heating and warehouse upgrades for a B Corp manufacturing company
2. JLA Heating
Best for: National commercial heating and maintenance
JLA Heating provides design, installation, and ongoing servicing for boilers and warm air systems across the UK. Their maintenance plans are particularly popular with education and healthcare clients needing 24/7 support.
3. HFL Building Solutions
Best for: Engineering-led mechanical and electrical installations
HFL specialises in full-service building services projects, including heating, ventilation, and controls. They’re known for lifecycle efficiency and technical delivery across commercial estates.
4. NG Bailey
Best for: Large-scale heating and M&E contracting
As one of the UK’s largest independent engineering companies, NG Bailey delivers mechanical and electrical systems for complex facilities, from manufacturing plants to data centres.
5. Vital Energi
Best for: Low-carbon and district heating systems
Vital Energi designs, builds, and operates district heating and energy networks. Their focus on CHP, heat pumps, and renewables supports public sector decarbonisation targets.
6. SPIE UK
Best for: Integrated mechanical and building energy systems
SPIE UK provides M&E contracting with strong expertise in heating plant design, optimisation, and controls integration for energy-efficient buildings.
7. Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick
Best for: Industrial-scale mechanical services
Part of Balfour Beatty, Kilpatrick manages central heating and mechanical installations within industrial, commercial, and infrastructure environments, ensuring quality and compliance on large projects.
8. CBES (City Building Engineering Services)
Best for: National FM and HVAC contracting
CBES delivers commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems nationwide. Their mechanical teams manage installation, commissioning, and planned maintenance for retail and industrial clients.
9. Dalkia UK
Best for: Energy performance and sustainable building services
Part of EDF Group, Dalkia UK combines heating, cooling, and energy management expertise. They design and maintain efficient heating systems with a strong focus on carbon reduction.
10. T Clarke
Best for: Multi-sector mechanical and electrical contracting
With over 130 years of experience, T Clarke delivers mechanical services including heating, boiler plant, and energy systems for commercial, residential, and infrastructure projects.
The top 10 commercial heating contractors at a glance
Below is a quick reference summary of the UK’s leading commercial heating providers, followed by detailed profiles for each.
Company |
Best for |
Region |
Standout feature |
|
UES |
Integrated commercial heating and energy systems; all building services under one roof |
South West & South Wales focused, delivers nationwide |
Multi-service expertise (heating, electrical, solar, controls); B Corp certified; in-house design and maintenance |
|
JLA Heating |
National maintenance |
UK-wide |
27/7 support and service plans |
|
HFL Building Solutions |
Engineering-led M&E |
UK-wide |
Lifecycle efficiency and compliance expertise |
|
NG Bailey |
Large-scale M&E projects | UK-wide | Industry leader in design and prefabrication |
|
Vital Energi |
District and low-carbon systems |
UK-wide |
Renewable integration and heat networks |
|
SPIE UK |
Integrated mechanical systems |
UK-wide |
Plantroom design and energy optimisation |
|
Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick |
Industrial-scale projects |
UK-wide |
Proven large infrastructure delivery |
|
CBES |
National HVAC contracting |
UK-wide |
End-to-end FM and HVAC expertise |
|
Dalkia UK |
Sustainable building energy |
UK-wide |
Carbon and energy performance leadership |
|
T Clarke |
Multi-sector M&E |
UK-wide |
Longstanding national mechanical contractor |
Why Unitary Engineering Services leads the way
Unitary Engineering Services approaches every project with a whole-building perspective, designing heating systems that perform efficiently today and integrate seamlessly with future energy and sustainability plans.
UES provides fully coordinated solutions across all building services, from commercial boiler installations to heat pumps, solar PV, and electrical upgrades.
Their reputation is built on engineering excellence, long-term reliability, and a genuine commitment to sustainability, proven by their B Corp Certification and extensive portfolio of successful projects across the South West and South Wales.
Discover how integrated heating systems can transform your facility. Explore our case studies or learn more about our commercial heating services.
%20(1).webp?width=981&height=736&name=Wiper%20%26%20True%20Heater%201%20(3)%20(1).webp)