Focus SB switches to solar power

British premium electrical accessories manufacturer Focus SB installs solar panels at its St Leonards on Sea factory - East Sussex, United Kingdom 2022-06-30

Back in May 2021 before anyone could have predicted the enormous increase in costs of utilities we have witnessed this year, Focus SB MD Gary Stevens engaged with Centreco Limited to look at a proposal for the installation of solar panels at Focus SB's main factory site in St Leonards on Sea.

Following several surveys and a full installation and commissioning complete, the switch over to solar power was completed on the 16th May, almost 12 months on from the initial enquiry and marking another major step to reduce the company's carbon footprint.

Pledging significant ‘green energy’ investment plans, Focus SB is the first business in the local area to install solar power, incentivised by Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Super Tax policy to encourage manufacturers to invest in capital equipment, digital and green technologies.

This latest investment will enable the company to manufacture using electricity generated by the sun, and is another step in leading the way to a greener manufacturing future in its industry.

Mr Stevens says: “Reducing overheads at the same time as improving our environmental credentials is a win/win for any business and at the time we embarked upon this project, we were thinking of the green credentials more than the cost saving, but the unprecedented increase in costs of utilities makes it even more significant. When we are less than a week into utilising solar power and the dashboard shows that we have saved the equivalent of planting 10 trees and have reduced our CO2 emissions by 3.7 tonnes, it really makes it tangible.

He continues: “In addition to the obvious benefits outlined above, it has already got our operations management thinking about production processes and out-of-hours machine time to take full advantage of the electricity we are generating outside of normal working hours.

“This latest initiative goes hand-in-hand with our policy of changing our company car policy to embrace hybrid, or full electric cars and on-site charging stations that are now being fed by the solar panel installation.”

Focus SB's management team recognises to ensure the future of sustainable manufacturing it’s vital to embrace investment opportunities to reduce carbon emissions.

The company's membership of the UK trade association for its industry BEAMA enables the Focus SB to be front of centre of policy-making and decision-making for the future of electrical industry standards, influencing UK and international government decisions, giving the British manufacturer a voice alongside its peers.

Focus SB holds long standing memberships of the Make UK and Made in Britain organisations which provide valuable support and a collective voice for UK companies stepping up to the sustainability challenge and a greener manufacturing future.

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Editors notes

Focus SB® is an award winning innovative British manufacturer renowned for the design, development and specialist hand finishing of premium electrical wiring accessories, blending traditional artisan techniques with the latest technology; specified for world class hospitality and leisure resorts, prime residential developments, heritage buildings, royal residences, superyachts and commercial projects both domestically and internationally.

In 2017 Focus SB made history in its industry when the company became the first and only British and European manufacturer to gain CQC factory accreditation to supply and sell wiring accessories directly from Europe to China, also gaining full CCC licence for all of its products for the Chinese marketplace.

The company’s specialist capabilities include electrical accessory design, development and testing; bespoke metal plate design and manufacture; specialist metal finishing and complex supply chain project management. Focus SB commenced trading in 1979 and exports to Asia, the Middle East, Malta and West Africa.

Projects include Aspen at Consort Place (incl Dorsett Aspen hotel), The Ritz London, Chiltern Firehouse London, Twenty Grosvenor Square, Belmond Cadogan Hotel, Corinthia London, Royal Lancaster London, Chelsea Barracks, No.1 Grosvenor Square, The Glebe, Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, The Londoner Macao including 'Suites by David Beckham' and Pudong Airport Satellite Terminal VIP lounges.

Corporate social responsibility

Focus SB is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by taking all appropriate measures to minimise any impact on the environment throughout the business from operational to manufacturing processes. The company's green energy investment plans have included solar panel, LED lighting and electric car charging points installation. Laser marking technology enables Focus SB to offer a standard alternative to screen printing, for improved fine detail quality and to significantly limit the use of environmentally damaging consumables and reduce waste.

Focus SB is a Disability Confident Employer since 2017 and is committed to creating equal opportunities and a diverse and inclusive workforce, seeing the company work closely with local charity Little Gate Supported Employment for over four years.

UK press contact: Suzi Baker, Balance Web Marketing +PR suzi@balancewebmarketing.co.uk