UK Enterprise Awards 2026/ 78 Best Standby Power Installation Company 2026 Richard Pullan originally founded Critical Backup Solutions Ltd as R Pullan Electrical in 2025, firstly as a sole trader setup, and it has since grown into a thriving limited company. Today, the business has a threeperson team dedicated to delivering specialist services in designing, installing, and maintaining systems that keep critical infrastructure running when there’s a power issue or disruption, such as UPS systems, DC backup systems, and emergency lighting. To begin with, this venture got off to a challenging start but the sacrifice, resilience, and hard work is proving to be worth it. We speak to Richard to learn more. Richard has worked in the electrical industry for 13 years, but this isn’t where he has always been, having started his career in the Army, where he worked in communications for 10 years. When he came to establish R Pullan Electrical a year ago, he was initially funding it with his credit card, while spending a lot of time on the road, staying in very basic accommodation for £15 a night, and working out of an old transit van that had certainly seen better days. “Even now, I’m still away from home a fair bit, probably more than I’d like, but that’s just part of what the job demands at this stage,” Richard reflects. “It’s not always easy, especially with a family, but I’ve been very fortunate to have the support of my wife and children throughout, and I’m genuinely grateful for that because without it, the business wouldn’t be where it is now.” He continues, “Looking back, the whole period has built a lot of resilience and taught me quickly what matters and what doesn’t. Fast forward to today, the business is turning over around £96,000 a month, with a small but growing team and more structure in place, but the mindset hasn’t really changed: just keep moving forward, do things properly, and don’t cut corners.” Making it all happen at Critical Backup Solutions now is a team of three, plus a couple of regular contractors when needed. When bringing people in, Richard tells us that it’s not just about technical ability, but reliability, attitude, and approach toward work. He believes that the real development happens on the job through hands-on project experience, rather than formal training environments. Indeed, at the core of the business’ offering, it’s about being reliable and doing a solid day’s job. Most of the environments it works in can’t afford any downtime, so it’s always about making sure things are done property and not in a rush or by taking shortcuts. If something is installed or maintained, it must work when needed. Also important within its service is keeping things straightforward. If it says something is going to be done, it will get done. Richard highlights that it isn’t just about how product works, but it’s about how it performs over time, how it’s maintained, and how it fits into the wider system. Businesses are planning a lot more upfront than they used to, which means a stronger emphasis on lifecycle rather than just installation. Indeed, within the industry, things are changing constantly, whether it’s standards, expectations, or how systems are used, thus, it is essential that Critical Backup Solutions stays on top of it and adapts as needed. “A lot of it is problem-solving onsite, working out what makes sense rather than trying to force a standard solution everywhere,” explains Richard. “The focus is quite tight, which helps. Working specifically within UPS, DC backup, and emergency lighting means we go much deeper in those areas instead of spreading too wide.” Now, the future is looking bright for Critical Backup Solutions, as Richard reveals plans for steady growth. “There’s more demand coming in, so it’s about scaling gradually without losing quality or consistency,” he says. “The aim is to grow properly rather than quickly and keep standards where they need to be. It’s also about building longer-term relationships and keeping delivery consistent as things expand.” If you would like to learn more about Critical Backup Solutions, please visit the company website or email Info@criticalbackup.co.uk. Company name: Critical Backup Solutions Ltd Contact name: Richard Pullan Website: https://www.criticalbackup.co.uk/ Email: Info@criticalbackup.co.uk
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