Greener ways drive growth
ACCELERATING demand for small-scale renewable energy installations has driven a five-fold increase in turnover and doubled staff in only 12 months at Billingham-based AAG Swepco, which said it would see sales of almost £7m this year.
The company, which has its headquarters on Teesside and specialises in renewable power installations in public buildings, put the spectacular growth down to tougher green regulations governing construction in the public sector, but said householders needed bigger financial incentives to switch to low-carbon systems, which can cost up to £11,000.
Marketing manager Sean Collier said: “Domestic customers get grants which are less than 20% of the cost of a system, whereas the public sector receives 50%.”
But the firm expected a spike in its domestic order book in 2012 when new rules on sustainable housebuilding take effect. The firm is already involved in a pilot zero-carbon homes development in London with builder Barratt.
AAG, which grew out of AAG Electrical, a specialist in water and waste water treatments, was started by colleagues Mohamed Akhmed and Stephen Gilpin in 2004. Just three years later turnover broke through the £1m mark, boosted by high-profile projects, including the new Redcar and Cleveland College, which will be powered partly by solar energy.
The company, which has a national network of installers doubled staff to almost 80 last year and plans to increase the workforce to more than 100 by the end of 2008. Twenty are based on Teesside.
Mr Collier said the North-east region was a soft sell compared to other areas of the country.
“This is a recognised centre for renewables in the UK. Elsewhere we struggle.”
The company recently became one of the first in the country to win accreditation for installing three of the five most popular green energy systems. Customers must use accredited suppliers if they wish to offset the cost, which ranges from just over £1,000 for a mini wind turbine to more than £11,000 for gound source heating.
