Couple expanding on their bright i-dea

Oct 8 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

AN energy assessment company is expanding its team to help meet demand after a recent upturn in demand for its services.

Husband and wife Alun and Angelina Bell are confident their Darlington company i-dea can help further boost their growing client base as the housing market recovers.

They launched the business two years ago to produce energy performance certificates (EPCs) and home information packs (HIPs). Angelina wanted to start her own business after working in a management role at property developers, and Alun had run his own joinery business for years and wanted to try something new.

She said: “I wanted to set up my own business. I had got to the stage where I felt I had a lot of ideas and worked hard and I wanted to reap the benefits.”

Mrs Bell went back to college to get new management qualifications and says the delays in the Government launching HIPs only gave her more time to develop the business plan and make contacts.

And now they are taking on Yvonne Birkbeck as an energy assessor, who will work from a new energy-efficient smart car.

Mrs Bell added: “Since launching in May 2007, i-dea has now issued over 2000 EPCs. We were hit hard at the start of the downturn, but are pleased that the market is starting to pick up again. We strongly believe that our attention to detail, exceptional customer care and fast turnaround times have left us in a very strong position to further expand our client base as the market emerges from the recession. We are looking to take on more staff as the business grows.”

Offering a range of certification, including domestic, construction, commercial and display, i-dea Ltd provides for local authorities, housing associations, solicitors, letting agents, private landlords, estate agents, developers and architects.