Innovative Lincolnshire firms create jobs with support from iNet

Two businesses in Lincolnshire, renewable energy installer Freewatt Ltd and commercial heating, plumbing, irrigation and waste water treatment firm GlenFarrow UK Ltd, have recently announced significant staff investments. Freewatt has quadrupled its workforce from six to 24 people since 2010 and GlenFarrow has employed four new engineers in the past 12 months. 

Both businesses received Innovation Support Funding (ISF) from the Sustainable Construction iNet (iNet), the Daventry-based organisation, which operates throughout the East Midlands, specialising in providing funding, support and an invaluable network of professional bodies – including universities – to SMEs involved in the development of new products and services for the sustainable construction market. 

Barrie Billinghay, innovation advisor, iNet said: “Our aim is to help innovative companies in the East Midlands achieve success with their projects. We are so pleased that these firms have grown and are flourishing and they are testament to the work that we do. iNet has more funding available and is currently seeking SMEs across the East Midlands that require support or funding to assist in the development or research into a new product, system or process for the construction sector.”

As well as bolstering its team, Freewatt has invested in new plant and machinery and extended its premises at its base in Stow, Lincolnshire to accommodate the increase in deliveries and vehicles on site. In late 2010, iNet helped Freewatt develop a teacher training package for primary school children on solar PV in a collaboration project with Bishop Groesseteste University College. 

Julian Patrick, managing director, Freewatt commented: “Freewatt is a family owned and operated company and has an enviable reputation for installing solar PV on churches, colleges, industrial and domestic buildings. The business has grown as a result of the increase in demand for solar PV and we have been able to employ new staff on the back of this. iNet’s help on the teacher training package project was invaluable in giving the company a boost and confidence to pass on our expertise to primary school children.”

Spalding-based GlenFarrow has brought in the new engineers to help support increased demand for the company’s services over the past two years. iNet supported GlenFarrow in 2010 to design, manufacture and test its range of batch-fed biomass boilers for the agricultural and rural domestic market. GlenFarrow was awarded the Best Innovation Award at LAMMA 2011 for its Biomass Boiler. 

Paul Kitchen, managing director, GlenFarrow said: “We're delighted to have been able to take on additional staff. GlenFarrow continues to grow and expand across all our divisions and our range of biomass boilers plays a key part in our plans for the future." 

iNet is based at the iCon Centre in Daventry, a purpose-built business hub featuring best-practice design with sustainability. Interested parties should contact the iNet on info@construction-inet.org.uk