A Year of Building, Learning, and Perspective
A year ago, we were starting from zero. Today, we've delivered the UK's biggest residential EV project. Here's what went right, what went wrong, and the lessons I'm taking into 2026.
A year ago, we were starting from zero. No clients, no track record, just a clear belief that EV charging for apartment residents and those with shared parking could be done better - more transparently, more reliably, and much more affordably.
Fast forward to today, and we're a young but rapidly growing business, working on large projects, building strong partnerships, and earning the trust of clients who took a chance on us when we were still proving ourselves. That trust is something I'll never take lightly.
The Ups
There have been plenty of moments this year that made the long days worthwhile:
Delivering the UK's biggest residential EV installation and winning our first award at the REA Awards - a real "pause and smile" moment.
Working with clients and organisations who believed in us as a young business and backed our vision.
We've brought on talented full-time staff and specialist contractors who've elevated our capabilities. It's been rewarding to watch the team come together.
When it's been tough, these moments have kept the energy levels high.
The Downs
But it hasn't all been smooth - and pretending otherwise wouldn't be honest.
I've had to learn patience, often the hard way. Things move slower than you want them to. Decisions take longer. Processes stall. That's tough when you're moving fast internally and feel momentum building.
We've also had to navigate:
Policy headwinds: Government shifts that undermine EV uptake just as momentum was building.
A trademark dispute: Right as we launched. It was resolved in our favour, but nothing tests resilience like a legal curveball when you're just getting started.
Personal Milestones
Alongside the business, there have been some personal achievements I'm proud of too.
I travelled to India to visit my wife while she took time away from an incredibly demanding job. I couldn't step away in the same way, but being there reminded me what really matters.
I drove over 25,000 miles in an EV this year and visited more than 100 prospective client locations. A lot of windscreen time, a lot of conversations, and a lot of learning about what people really need - not just what's written in policy documents or sales decks.
The Lessons I'm Taking Forward
If I had to distill the year into a few key lessons, they'd be these:
Patience is a skill, not a personality trait - it can be learned. I've still got a long way to go.
Stay calm through both highs and lows - neither lasts forever.
Friends and family matter, a lot - they lift your mood and pull you out of your own head.
Progress is easier to see when you step back - sometimes you have to drag yourself out of the day-to-day to realise just how far you've come.
I'm incredibly proud of what we've built at Cosmic Charging in such a short time, and grateful to everyone who's been part of the journey - clients, partners, the team, friends, and family.
Here’s to building patiently, staying grounded, and continuing to plod/nudge/push/bump/flop forward in 2026 - one action at a time.
