August Talk with Liza van Zyl

August is upon us, and the weather has been hot! It’s the month of holidays, summer fun and time off for many people. So how are small business owners coping with the month often known as ‘silly season’?
Today we’re talking to Liza van Zyl, Director and heating engineer of Priory Heating Ltd which is a plumbing and heating business based in Swindon.

How has August been for your business?
With the cost of living rising we’ll continued to deliver the best customer service that we could and supported our customers on how to make their properties environmentally friendly, within their budget and with what’s available on the market.

What were your personal plans for this month? Can you give us a ‘tip’ for places to visit during this summer month?
I was able to have some holiday this month. Like with most people, Covid meant that I haven’t taken a decent break since 2019. I spent some time with my nieces, nephews, and other members of my family without my work phone ringing.

August 20 was World Photo Day – can you share a photo which means something to you this year so far?
I want to share our Priory Heating Ltd team photo. This team is everything to me, your workforce is of the upmost importance, keeping your business at the top of its game, day by day, job by job.

Did you know August 21 was World Entrepreneurs Day? What does this word mean to you, and do you apply it to yourself?
I’ve always made stuff and then sold it on, my first memory was when I was 9 and everyone at school was buying these straws that I filled with jelly powder. The pricing was equivalent to 1p per straw. How things have changed since then! My parents never gave me pocket money and I’m grateful for that, as it made me use my initiative to make my own. Nowadays, you have an entrepreneur in everyone, so believe in yourself and try it, who knows you might be the next Lord Sugar. It all starts with a small idea, and sometimes not a lot of money.

Can you name one business you’d like to give a summer shout out too? Who has gone the extra mile for you recently?
I’d love to shout out to Melanie Peck at Do My Stuff. She always helps out even at short notice. Melanie was and always will be one of the reasons why Priory Heating Ltd is now a well-established business in Swindon and surrounding area.

We are in a cost of living crisis at the moment. Is that impacting you at all in life or business? Do you have any money-saving tips you can share?
There is no magic solution from the heating side of things, just get your system serviced as it will help to prevent breakdowns. We are currently working hard behind the scenes to set up a payment plan, which will ONLY cover the boiler being serviced annually for a small monthly cost starting from around £10 per month. But it will not include any maintenance work and to avoid any confusion, we need to be sure its bullet proof, but please follow us on social media for future updates.

For more information visit www.prioryheating.co.uk