Scottish Enterprise Awards 2020

27 | Scottish Enterprise Awards 2020 Nov20698 Most Sustainable Home Insulation Provider 2020 Ecocel supplies insulation services to homes throughout Scotland using its innovative and eco-friendly product made from recycled newspapers, which compares favourably with all imported alternatives. Sustainable manufacturing plays a huge role in what Ecocel does and so it has developed an Integrated Management System (IMS) which is UKAS ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management, UKAS ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management, and UKAS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health & Safety certified. The company is committed to a code of best practice in all aspects of its business, including its relationship with and effect on the environment and the communities that it helps save energy. “We believe it is our responsibility to be constantly monitoring our business methods to make sure that our environmental impact is as low as possible,” explains the company’s co-founder and Managing Director, Tony McConnell. Tony comes from an Armed Forces background as well as being a graduate in Engineering Management from the University of Lincoln and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology. His interest and passion in new and emerging technology was one of the reasons Ecocel was formed. His strong belief that the company can make a difference to the carbon footprint of each and every client is the driving force that makes Ecocel the number one company in its specialist field. “The bulk of our business is generated from landlords with multiple properties who require our product to fall in line with government legislation,” Tony continues, speaking of the proposed changes in legislation which will require individual landlords to ensure their properties meet a certain specification. “Being located in Scotland is perfect for us due to the type of buildings we specialise in, predominantly Granite and Sandstone. This type of construction is not widely used in England therefore we have a market in which we fit into from the outset.” With home heat emissions being one of the primary environmental issues, Tony continues to explain how 95% of all homes have inadequate insulation in their walls and roofs and, with most of the heat in a house being lost through the roof, it is imperative that this is addressed in order for people to save energy and money, and reduce their carbon footprint. “Our aim is to offer the service to households on any level of income, offering a chance to keep their homes warm throughout the winter months,” he says. “However, our main ethos is our belief in using recycled products to make us carbon neutral, which in turn makes our product and overall service more affordable.” Despite home insulation being a ‘hot’ issue right now (excuse the pun!) Tony and the Ecocel team do not believe that they have many competitors in the field as most use an insulation product which is manufactured using chemical ingredients. “We feel this is outdated and not in line with the possibility of using a greener alternative,” he states. “We use 100% recycled material; we are 100% carbon neutral and the product is 100% fire retardant, and these are our unique selling points (USPs). We also carry out Energy Performance Certification (EPC) with fully accredited assessors which means we can offer a good all-round service”. As a small firm that is rapidly expanding, Ecocel prides itself on the dedicated team of committed employees. From the varied range of tradesmen carrying out the installation work, to the administration staff that keep everything ticking over, Tony is quick to sing their praises. “We are a tight knit team who travel, work and live together on-site and that makes for a relaxed yet professional working atmosphere.” The Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic hit Ecocel hard, like many firms, but being able to work predominantly in empty buildings has helped sustain workload levels and allow the company to operation throughout the many lockdowns. A common trend that Tony has noticed since the pandemic, however, are small “pop up” companies evolving due to the Chancellor’s endeavours to get the economy moving and offering funds to homeowners to insulate their homes. “I think a lot of these companies will not offer a top end service and are only in this for the quick hit money wise. We are committed to offering the best quality service in our field. To show this commitment we have undergone the arduous process of attaining UKAS ISO 9001;2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certifications. This is our way of showing current and potential clients that Ecocel are a company they can trust”. And what lies ahead for Tony and the Ecocel family? There are plans on the horizon for developments with the Ministry of Defence and Local Authorities, which will see the company insulating homes on a mass scale. But for now, it is very much business as usual. Company: Ecocel Scotland Contact: Tony McConnell Email: [email protected] Call: 01561 365135 or 07757 679648 Website: www.ecocelscotland.com Tony McConnell of Ecocel (Scotland) Ltd tells us more about the company’s carbon-neutral ethos in the wake of winning the title of Most Sustainable Home Insulation Provider 2020. Ecocel are also approved and accredited EPC assessors