EXCEPTIONAL business growth has compelled a Lincoln-based company to reorganise into three new divisions.
Freewatt’s turnover has developed from £44,000 to more than £6.5 million in just five years and now the company has decided to reorganise to enable further expansion.
Three new divisions have been created to allow new markets to be explored as well as growing existing business opportunities.
The divisions will be:
• Freewatt Renewable Heat – set up to develop biomass boiler projects. The company has already secured a contract to provide an £800,000 system to a county school.
• Green Makeover – established to develop new business installing environmental technologies in period homes. The company’s flagship pilot project of turning a Georgian county home into the UK’s “greenest old house”  is nearing completion and is already receiving widespread interest from local authorities, green groups and heritage organisations.
• Freewatt – will continue to focus on solar energy projects for domestic and business properties and developing large scale solar farms. The company has already installed 5MW of solar energy at more than 600 different locations around the region.
The three new companies will sit under the parent company Freewatt Group and will be overseen by a newly appointed MD Amanda Legate – – who was a Partner at Streets Chartered Accountants in Lincoln and had been with the firm for 15 years.
Freewatt’s current owner and MD Julian Patrick will move to a CEO position to allow him to focus on business development.
Since its inception in 2008 the company has installed enough solar energy enough to power 2,000 homes and saved a staggering 5000 tonnes of CO2 in the process.
It was the first company to build a solar farm in Lincolnshire, the first to install solar panels on a Grade 1 listed church, the first to provide education packs for schools, the first to install a solar tracker in the county and recently put the finishing touches to the largest roof top solar project in the East of England.
Freewatt has fitted solar panels to fire stations, homes, the Epic Centre, schools and businesses. It is one of only a handful of companies with English Heritage approved status.
It is also growing Lincolnshire’s reputation for excellence by carrying out landmark work across the UK. Its ventures include Winchester College private school, a 10th century church in Buckinghamshire and the University of Leeds.
The company recently picked up two prestigious accolades at the Lincolnshire Media Business Awards, winning Environment and Renewables Business of the Year and Large Business of the Year.
“It’s a very exciting time for Freewatt,” said Mr Patrick.
“Our growth has exceeded all our expectations and we have really outgrown our current structure. In some ways it is a bold move but Freewatt was built around a bold vision so it’s in our DNA.
“I’m certain this will herald another fantastically successful period for the company and I’m looking forward with enthusiasm and confidence.”
“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Freewatt. The company is a shining example of success without losing sight of the founding principles,” said new MD Amanda Legate.
“The new structure allows great opportunity for further expansion and I it’s my aim to ensure that we meet the forthcoming challenges with drive and conviction.”