It’s arecord-breakingyearfor batteryspecialists

Telfordrenewable energy andbattery specialist AceOn hasenjoyed itsbestyearever with amassive 60 percentincreaseinturnover over thepast12months.

Therecord-breakingyearhas seen thecompany growingonall fronts –including aseven-figure increase in thevalue of itsexports

AceOn GroupmanagingdirectorMarkThompsonsaid2023 wouldbethe Year of theBattery as demandsoaredfor renewable andenergystorage technologyin thefaceofthe growingclimate and energy crisis

AndhesaidAceOn hadits sights setonfurther growth as it remained at thecutting edge of developing newgreen technology.

“Following Russia’s invasion of UkraineinFebruary, whichleft energy marketsinturmoiland gasand electricitypricesreaching all-time highs, interest in renewableenergygenerationand battery storagehas grownmassively,” said Mark.“It presentsa more affordable– andgreen –way forbusinesses to powertheir operations.It’sa greatsolutionfor homeowners and socialhousing too, wherefuelpov- erty is on theincrease.”

Whilethe roll outofthe company’s commercialbattery storage offerand anew partnershipwith RebelEnergytoprovide solarand batterystorage to socialhousing providerscontributed to itssuccess in 2022,Marksaidthe export success wasparticularlypleasing.

He said:“We’vebeentryingto crackthe export market forsome time and2022was theyearitreally took offfor us.The ‘Madein Britain’ labelisstill arecognised sign of qualityand we’vebeen able to leverageour reputation as aBritishmanufacturertosecure some big ordersand aseven-figure increase in thevalue of ourexports business in 2022

“Wewereevenselected as a Regional ExportChampionby theDepartmentfor International Trade(DIT) to shareour experienceswithother Midlands’business,which is ahugecompliment.”

Behind AceOn’s success is a growingteam, basedatthe company’s head office.Overthe last year, theworkforce has increasedby10 percentpluswithhigh profile appointments acrossthe board.

Otherhighlights included £14million of investmentinto sixkey projects to improve town centres, tackle fuel poverty, boostthe environmentand help developanew world-leadingengineeringcampusfor NMITE in Herefordshirethrough theGetting Building Fund.

In addition,morethan15,000 businesses were supported through theMarches Growth Huband anew £4million energy fund launched to help releasecapacity onto theenergygrid, support businesses to reduce their energy useand increase green skills. It included thelaunchof the£1.5million Marches Energy Granttohelpbusinessescut energy costsand emissions.

ThepioneeringTelford Land Deal– apartnership between theLEP,HomesEngland and Telford&WrekinCouncil –continuedtocreatenew opportunitiesand hasnow delivered grosslandsales of £41.9million, supporting thecreationof1,926 newjobsand 1,284 newhomes, over thepastseven years.

TheMileEnd roundabout in Oswestry opened as part of a £17.7million projectsupported by £5.7millionofLEP investment to ease congestion,improve thegatewaytothe town andopenupcommercialland for655 homesand thedevelopment of Oswestry Innovation Park,creating128 newjobs.

Chiefexecutive Rachel Laver said:“These resultsspeak for themselves.Despite thechallenges,the LEPhas delivered real success forShropshireand thewider region over thelast 12 months– andwill continue to do so over thenextyear. We arecommitted to working with –and for– ourentirebusiness community.”

Forfurther details, go to marcheslep.org.uk