Green energy firm sees fresh shoots of growth

Renewable energy business Future Energy Solutions has doubled turnover and seen a threefold increase in its workforce after taking part in Boost’s Growth Mentoring programme.

The Hyndburn-based business has also expanded into new premises incorporating spacious offices and an impressive new showroom that is attracting extra customers.

Future Energy Solutions was established in 2015 by Joel Tetlow, with business development manager Antoni Squires joining the team the following year. Both Joel and Antoni have backgrounds in the renewable energy sector.

They identified a gap in the market to raise awareness and enable businesses to make the most of opportunities presented by investing in renewable energy sources.

Antoni met a member of business support organisation Orvia at a networking event in 2016 and was introduced to the Boost Growth Mentoring programme as a platform for driving the company’s growth aspirations.

Boost is Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub and is led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Lancashire County Council, and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Mentoring support was identified to help Joel and Antoni put structures and processes in place to help drive their ambitious growth plans.

Their mentor, David Grant, reviewed the business and its vision to become a market leader in enabling home and business owners to adopt renewable energy technologies. David then set about helping the company to develop a strategic expansion plan, encompassing marketing, leadership, role-designation and communication.

Antoni said: “Following the Boost support, we expanded into new premises that were officially opened in April this year, and incorporate offices and a showroom where customers can see working demonstrations of energy solutions to help them decide on the best option for them. As well as doubling turnover, our workforce has increased by six to a total of nine, with further recruitment activity ongoing. We now have structures in place providing a stable base to facilitate further development.”

Antoni continued: “David, our business mentor, helped us see things more clearly and put plans in place to better prioritise tasks that will enable us to grow sustainably. Due to the mentoring, we are at least six months ahead of our targets. In a nutshell, David ‘cleared the fog’. We are now nearing completion of our ISO 9001 accreditation and will embark on ISO 14001 next year. We have been collaborating with the environmental programmes at Lancaster University, UCLan and the Chambers of Commerce.” David commented: “It has been a pleasure working with Joel and Antoni as I can see that they are determined to grow this business even further. They now have an understanding of the management structures and communication channels needed to take the business to the next level and have made a good start in streamlining lines of communication to ensure the business plan is being delivered.”