An innovative Northamptonshire-based company which specialises in sewage treatment systems has secured support worth £7,000 from the Sustainable Construction Innovation Network (iNet). Marsh Industries Ltd has used the support to develop a cost effective sewage treatment system for use in the social housing, public and commercial property sectors.
Although the project is still undergoing testing, Marsh Industries Ltd has praised the iNet for its assistance in getting the idea to the next stage and is planning to appoint a new project manager in the Spring. The sewage treatment system will comply with new EU legislation EN12566 for the effective treatment of sewage for both domestic and light commercial waste, where mains drainage will not be available. The product has received great interest from the Environment Agency, British Board of Agrément, (UK authority for approval of construction products, systems and installers) and Pedrollo, (the water pump specialists) and will be commercially available from April/May this year.
Steve Boyer, Marsh Industries' managing Didector commented: "The support received from the iNet has really helped Marsh Industries to start the ball rolling on this project. The process that the iNet has in place to assist companies like ours is excellent and the enthusiasm of the innovation advisors has inspired us to extend the original brief for further development and testing."
iNet Innovation Advisor, Gillian Ward-Stokes added: "The iNet's support is much more than just funding. We help put businesses in contact with the right people at the right time to progress an idea. On the project with Marsh Industries, we were able to put them in contact with industry experts who helped to develop the product."
The Sustainable Construction iNet is funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).To date the iNet has helped more than 35 businesses in the East Midlands region with targeted funding support. As well as securing finance for East Midlands SMEs, the iNet also has a network of business advisors and educational institutions which offers advice and guidance on projects for the sustainable construction sector.