Case study

Colin Reid Bespoke Furniture Ltd

Colin Reid Bespoke Furniture Ltd were successful in applying for GEP grant funding, which enabled them to purchase and install a 9.88 kw system on their paint workshop building along with a battery storage system. Keen to reduce their carbon footprint further, the company then applied for a second grant for an Eco-Pod to house their office facility.

This family business was established by Colin Reid back in 1984 and was originally called The Glory Hole.  Initially selling pine furniture via a shop to the general public, the business grew into commercial sales to interior designers in the mid-1990s and has continued this to the present day.  In 2021, it became a second generation run limited company which continues to build on the success and reputation initially created by Colin. 

Why engage with the Green Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)?

When Colin Reid Bespoke Furniture Ltd, applied to GEP in April 2023, they had already begun their ‘green’ journey having invested in an electric forklift, an electric vehicle, purchasing sustainable materials wherever possible and transporting finished items in reused blankets rather than plastic or cardboard.

The decision to invest in a roof mounted solar panel array and battery storage would help the company reduce both their CO2 emissions and energy bills. The battery storage would ensure that they could maximise their savings by utilising all the energy created by the system.   

The company were successful in applying for GEP grant funding, which enabled them to purchase and install a 9.88 kw system on their paint workshop building along with a battery storage system. It is expected that this will lead to a 70% reduction to their carbon footprint.

What has been the impact of GEP?

Following the successful delivery of the project, director of Colin Reid Bespoke Furniture Ltd, Alison Barker, commented “Without the support from GEP, we wouldn’t have been able to afford to purchase the solar panels or batteries, and is something we may never have done due to the costs”.

The project has also prompted the company to educate themselves, learning about the electric usage in their manufacturing processes, the savings gained financially, and the power saved not taking from the grid. Alison reported “We wasted a lot of energy with heating and this is an area we wouldn’t have addressed without support from the University of Derby and GEP”.

Following the success of their first application to GEP, with additional funding support from the programme, the company decided to invest in a new office building as the current office space was not fit for purpose. The new ‘Eco-Pod’ has solar panels, is well insulated and holds its temperature resulting in considerable energy savings for the company. It is also a more inviting space for customers to visit, will help the business build positive customer relationships and showcase their green credentials.