Merseyside property group Forshaw pledges to be ‘net zero’ by March 2023 as it secures £375,000 for expansion of its HQ and installation of solar panels. Tony McDonough reports

Merseyside property restoration specialist The Forshaw Group has secured £375,000 for the expansion of its headquarters and the installation of solar panels.

A £13m-turnover business based in Knowsley, Forshaw works with insurance companies to repair properties damaged by fire and floods. Managing director Liam Hanlon completed a management buyout in 2013, and since then it has grown rapidly.

In August LBN reported how Liam had secured £33,000 from Lloyds Bank to add five electric vehicles to its fleet. Now he is stepping up his decarbonisation pushing pledging the business will be net zero carbon by 2023.

Forshaw has secured £300,000 from Funding Circle via Bathgate Business Finance and a further £75,000 grant from St Helen’s Chamber of Commerce. It will now move forward with the installation of PV solar panels on the roof of its building on Knowsley Industrial Estate.

And it is looking into services where any excess power can be directed to a community hub to help local people who are maybe struggling to pay for their energy.

Solar electricity panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that can then be used in homes or business.

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They comprise individual cells that are made from layers of semiconducting materials, most commonly silicon. When light shines on panels, a flow of electricity is created that can help to generate power.

Power generated can be used directly for a home or business or surplus energy can be sold back to the grid or to a community hub.

Liam said: “We are proud of our on-going environmental commitment. We were delighted to add electric cars to our fleet. Now we are able to produce our own power for the business and hopefully give back in time to the community, is a great next step.

“We thank St Helen’s Chamber of Commerce for the grant it has awarded us, to help make our solar power dream a reality.

“With the support of a £33,000 loan from Lloyd’s Bank, we have also recently invested in five new electric vehicles. This makes up 20% of our fleet. We hope to build on this as we continue our journey to carbon zero.”