Member Article

Energy and environment firm secures £1m investment funding

A North West engineering, project management and knowledge transfer company has been awarded £1m of investment.

Stopford Projects, which has bases at Lancaster University and Ellesmere Port, will use the funding to create jobs and expand, both in the UK and overseas.

The money comes from The North West Fund for Energy and Environmental, which provides funding to small and medium sized businesses.

Stopford managing director, Prith Rajendran, said the £1m will go towards supporting research and development both in the UK and overseas.

He said: “The funding will also allow us to expand our business internationally and further develop our export consultancy services in the Middle East and China.”

Since it was founded 32 years ago, Stopford has grown a multi-national client base including major corporates such as Shell, BP, Unilever and Tata.

The company, which employs around 100 people, works on a range of research and development, engineering and knowledge transfer projects across the process, energy and environment sectors.

Commercial manager at Stopford, Angela Yin, said around ten jobs would be created following the investment and that a development review was currently under way to determine exactly how many positions would be available.

Stopford says it is on the verge of signing a joint venture deal in Abu Dhabi to create a Centre of Excellence in the United Arab Emirates which would offer services across a range of green technology, training and consultancy sectors.

Meanwhile, Stopford Asia Pacific, a Hong Kong-based subsidiary, will be used for project development in China.

Michael Bakewell, investment director at 350 Investment Partners, which manages The North West Fund for Energy and Environmental and has bases in London and Warrington, said: “This is a fantastic new investment for us and we are excited to be joining Stopford at such a pivotal time in the growth of the business.

“As a multi-disciplinary consultancy, it is leading the sector in terms of environmental innovation and excellence.

“We are certain that this investment will help push the business further along its impressive trajectory and are very much looking forward to being a part of its global success.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .