Exeter’s Ellen Rodger wins major regional business award

Ellen Rodger, director of Exeter-based renewable energy installer SunGift Energy, has won the title of Young Director of the Year in the Institute of Directors (IoD) South West Business Awards.

Ellen, 28, wowed the judges with her exemplary business record, which includes helping SunGift grow from a small renewable energy business into a successful limited company with a turnover of over £8 million, employing more than 30 employees.  She picked up the accolade at a glittering awards ceremony at the IoD South West ‘Entrepreneurs Dinner’ at the Royal Marriott Hotel in Bristol.

“I was astonished when they read out my name, but absolutely thrilled” said Ellen, who initially joined SunGift – which is based at Matford Business Park in Exeter – as an office administrator in July 2009. “This is a huge reward for me – and it’s great to be recognised for my part in helping SunGift develop into a successful company.  I hope this will bring even more attention to the benefits of renewable energy and demonstrate that it is now a firmly established industry.”

Just 12 months after joining SunGift, Ellen had already worked her way up to general manager. Then, in January this year, founder and managing director Gabriel Wondrausch appointed her as a director with a share in the business. 

Ellen added: “It has been difficult to plan effectively as a business recently due to constantly changing government policy. However our flexible nature has enabled us to react quickly and stay abreast of policy. Gabriel and I have taken the decision to diversify while ensuring we don’t spread ourselves too thinly.  In addition to offering a range of new renewable technologies we now cater for a range of new clients including architects, self-builders, contractors, small-scale domestic clients and large-scale commercial companies.  We have also started a trade distribution wing where we sell to other installers nationally.

“Our five-year plan includes growing the company to a 150-strong operation while maintaining a healthy profit margin and moving the business into custom-built offices that use flagship renewable energy technologies and require no reliance on fossil fuels.”

Outside of work, for the past 10 years Ellen she has been a volunteer with the Tall Ships Youth Trust, a charity dedicated to personal development of young people through crewing ocean going sail training vessels.

Ellen now goes on to represent the South West and compete in the national IoD awards in the autumn.