With nearly two decades of hands-on experience in the heating industry, Chris Armitage has joined Ideal Heating Commercial as Specification Manager for the M62 Corridor, covering an area from Liverpool in the North West to Hull in the North East of England.
Following a nine year stint in the Royal Navy as a chef, Chris made the bold decision to retrain as a gas engineer, setting him on a path that’s taken him from a service & repair technician through to sales and now specification support in the commercial heating sector. “It may sound strange, but getting that first role as a gas engineer was the highlight of my career,” says Chris. “It marked the beginning of everything I do now.”
The role of Specification Manager offered him the perfect opportunity to expand his skills with a company he respects. “I’ve always been impressed by Ideal and the way they operate in the market,” he explains. “This position felt like a natural next step for me — a chance to put my knowledge to use in a business that is shaping the future of commercial heating.”
In his role, Chris supports specifiers, consultants, and end users to select the most appropriate heating appliances for their projects - whether it's a straightforward boiler replacement, a hybrid system, or full decarbonisation using air source heat pumps. A big part of Chris’s focus is also on educating the industry, delivering CIBSE-approved CPD sessions and offering valuable technical insights
Chris is already working on several exciting commercial heating projects and enjoys helping clients navigate the increasingly complex transition to low-carbon solutions. “Decarbonisation is the industry’s biggest challenge,” he says. “With the end of Salix funding, a lot of public sector buildings just can’t afford to 100% decarbonise. Thankfully, we can support them from our vast range of appliances to full or partly decarbonise their systems and projects using hybrid systems to help make this transition easier.”
Richard Brown, Head of Specification at Ideal Heating Commercial, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Chris to the team. His deep technical knowledge, hands-on experience and commitment to educating others make him a perfect fit for this role. As the industry continues its journey toward decarbonisation, Chris will be instrumental in supporting our clients and reinforcing Ideal’s position as a trusted specification partner.”
Chris brings not only technical expertise but a passion for supporting others — whether it's customers selecting the right product or colleagues sharing knowledge. With the heating landscape evolving rapidly, he’s ideally placed to help guide Ideal Heating Commercial’s customers through the challenges — and opportunities — of the future.
Contact our specification managers
To get the very best heating solution for your specific project, contact the Ideal Heating Commercial Specification Team who can provide valuable design assistance to building services consultants and specifiers:
Contact our Specification Team
M62 corridor:
Chris Armitage, 07852 201181, chris.armitage@idealheating.com
North East, Cumbria and Scotland:
Julie Wade, 07570 377267, julie.wade@idealheating.com
London and within the M25:
Richard Brown, 07718 192161, richard.brown@idealheating.com
East & West Midlands:
Michael Fraser, 07384 546488, michael.fraser@idealheating.com
South West & South Wales, M4 corridor:
Bryan Marland, 07976 121132, bryan.marland@idealheating.com
