Mike Barber-Starkey

Professional Summary

With over 45 years of experience in the heating and biomass industry, I have developed extensive expertise in system design, installation, sales, and distribution. My career began as a stove installer and system designer, progressing to UK Sales Manager in the late 1980s. During this time, I worked closely with British Coal and played a role in the early development of HETAS, receiving specialized training in hydraulic and heating installation.

In 1992, I founded a UK distribution company specializing in wood-burning cookers, stoves, and boilers. Under my leadership, the company grew into a leading specialist in wood heating, offering products ranging from 5kW stoves to 1MW biomass heating systems. As early as the 1980s, my company and I championed the importance of using properly dried wood for burning. We introduced the first flat-pack wood store and were instrumental in establishing several dry wood suppliers, including Certainly Wood.

Recognizing the industry's need for high-quality training, I launched a dedicated training division in the early 1990s to support installers and elevate standards. This initiative led to the creation of the first independent HETAS training center.

In 2017, after achieving a turnover equivalent to over £20 million in today’s market, I stepped back from frontline operations. I now lead a specialized company focusing on biomass consultancy and installation, working in partnership with HDG Bavaria of Germany to deliver high-quality solutions. Our team includes several key members from the original Euroheat team, collectively bringing over a century of experience in the wood heating sector.

Today, our primary focus is on resolving issues related to poorly installed biomass boilers and heating systems—often a result of insufficient regulation during the RHI scheme rollout. While we continue to install new biomass systems, we do so only when they meet stringent energy efficiency and emissions standards. Properly integrated, modern biomass boilers can perform as cleanly and efficiently as other heating alternatives, if not better.

Looking ahead, we are embracing hybrid energy solutions that integrate biomass with air source heat pumps and photovoltaic systems. This approach enables dynamic energy management—for example, using solar-powered heat pumps during the day while biomass boilers automatically activate in colder conditions.

This integrated, multi-source energy strategy represents the future of our industry, offering sustainable, efficient, and flexible heating solutions.