The future of a Blyth based business is looking brighter following a loan from Arch’s, Northumberland Business Growth Programme.
Solar Capture Technologies specialises in the research, development and production of specialist photovoltaic systems, harnessing sunlight to provide sustainable energy for a range of end-uses.
Steve Caseley, Chief Executive of Solar Capture has a background in the energy and renewables sector previously working at Narec and Eaga. In late 2012 he identified the Narec PV centre as a fantastic facility with great commercial potential with an already established market lead in research and development. In 2013 he therefore established a new company Solar Capture Technologies and took over the facility investing significant sums of his own money together with support from Arch.
Solar Capture received a £110,000 loan from Arch, The Northumberland Development Company, which allowed Steve to secure the future of an important Northumberland asset, expand the commercial operations and with the expectation of the business employing 16 Full Time jobs within 2 years. Employment now stands at 14 people at its site in Blyth and the company is planning further recruitment in order to meet the increasing customer demand.
Arch, The Northumberland Development Company, in conjunction with Northumberland County Council was awarded £11.75m from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) to deliver the programme that provides financial support to businesses across Northumberland to encourage the creation of new sustainable jobs and the safeguarding of existing jobs.
Steve Caseley Chief Executive of Solar Capture said: “When I was looking for support the Arch team were extremely helpful and gave me some guidance on how to make an application into the fund. This ensured we were able to save the business keeping all of the staff employed. It has also allowed us time to develop the business into a commercial operation and we are now encouraged by significant orders and interest from large businesses into our capability within PV manufacturing and product development sectors. We have also won additional research projects which should help us build on the three world records for PV cell efficiency we currently own”.
Councillor Dave Ledger, chair of Arch, added: “It is great to see local businesses like Solar Capture being
able to grow thanks to support from the Regional Growth Fund and the team at Arch.”
Peter McIntyre, Arch Group Managing Director said: “The funding available through the growth programme is a great boost to Northumberland’s economy, providing direct financial support for investment by businesses. It offers valuable funds to assist businesses like Solar Capture and is available to help at all stages of company development, from starting up in Northumberland through to growth of already established local businesses. In the specific case of Solar Capture we were pleased to be able support the investment by Steve to maintain, and develop further, significant regional capabilities in the renewables sector.”