Ignition has assisted Newport Manor Farms near Taunton with finance for the refurbishment of its biomass boiler.

The specialist poultry farm houses 23,000 Oakham Gold broiler chickens, which are supplied to Marks and Spencer via Hood 2 Sisters, and adheres to the Better Chicken Commitment: a leading set of standards for broiler welfare. Under the terms of the commitment, the chickens are fed a multigrain diet and have more space, pecking aids and perches to encourage natural behaviour.  The birds at Newport Manor Farms also benefit from the drier heat provided by a wood chip biomass boiler, which was installed 10 years ago.

Ignition provides support to SMEs by financing a wide range of assets from vehicles and machinery to business equipment and renewable energy.  This can include solar panels, wind turbines, biomass and heating systems and LED lighting. It was able to assist Newport Manor Farms with a hire purchase agreement to spread the cost of updating and refurbishing the boiler’s pipe works and pumps.

Rebecca Horsington runs Newport Manor Farms with her husband, Simon.  She comments:

“It was definitely the right decision to install a biomass boiler, as the birds prefer the drier heat, and as a business it reduces our impact on the environment. We also continue to benefit from payments via the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. However, after 10 years, the system needed updating and Ignition offered to help us finance it.

“This is the second time we’ve used Ignition’s services, and follows the installation of solar panels on the broiler house last summer. Once again, we’ve been really impressed with the service. The team are pleasant and approachable, and the whole process has been very straightforward.”

Eleanor Smith, Ignition’s business development manager and renewable energy specialist comments:

“It was a pleasure to assist Rebecca and Simon with finance for the solar energy system last year, and again with the biomass boiler refurbishment this year. These measures highlight Newport Manor Farms’ exemplary, long-term commitment to promoting animal welfare and reducing its environmental impact.”

Ignition has recently supported Revolution-ZERO, a pioneering company that develops, cleans and delivers reusable medical textiles, with finance for a specialist cleaning facility worth £250,000.

Established in 2020, off the back of the Covid pandemic, the Revolution-ZERO concept was founded in response to the supply chain issues exposed during this time and the huge amounts of waste generated from single use PPE.  Revolution-ZERO has developed a range of reusable medical textiles such as face masks and aprons as well as surgical gowns and operating theatre drapes that are safer, lower cost and more sustainable than single use PPE.

In order to reuse the textiles, the company has also developed a unique all electric hi-tech cleaning process that it delivers close to healthcare facilities utilising a modular controlled environment building that is built offsite and can be installed in a matter of days. Having worked closely with Royal Cornwall Hospital from the outset in developing its products, the next step for Revolution-ZERO was to deliver a clean room and barrier laundry that would service the surgical gowns and drapes for 75 reuse cycles and that was local to the site. Ignition has funded the company’s first Zero-Decon sterilisation room based at Newham in Truro along with the associated autoclave equipment. Combined with the existing barrier laundry this creates the world’s first fully electric, renewable energy healthcare clean room for the processing of reusable sterilised textiles for the operating room.

Ignition has particular expertise in providing asset finance for renewable energy solutions and so were a natural fit with Revolution-ZERO’s Net Zero ambitions.

Tom Dawson, a registered doctor and founder of Revolution-ZERO, comments:

“Our vision is to replace single use PPE with reusable medical textile alternatives that are safer, better, lower cost and more sustainable. Working with Ignition has been fantastic, securing the funding was really smooth and there was good communication and quick decision making throughout the process. We consider Ignition to be a key scale up partner and look forward to continuing to work together as we roll out our products and services across the UK, Europe and beyond.”

Eleanor Smith at Ignition comments:

“Revolution-ZERO are revolutionising the medical textiles and healthcare sector and we’re proud to be on the journey with them. It’s fantastic to be supporting them to achieve their sustainable ambitions and for Cornwall to be at the forefront of this exciting venture.”

If you’re considering any type of green energy for your business, contact us to discuss your financing options.