Lancashire energy startup Envirofuel to double workforce with £250k investment

A Lancashire startup that minimises landfill by turning household waste into fuel is set to create new jobs after securing six-figure funding.

Envirofuel (SRF) Limited received a £250k loan from Lancashire Rosebud Finance and now expects to double its workforce by taking on more than 30 new staff over the next two years.

The firm plans to produce solid recovered fuel (SRF) from its newly established facility at the former colliery in Hapton Valley, near Burnley.

Managing director Paul Mellor co-founded Envirofuel alongside operations director Jim Entwisle.

Paul said: “We are looking to become the fuel of the future by recycling household waste into solid refined fuel which reduces landfill and creates an alternative fuel for heavy industry which currently rely on coal.

“With the help of Rosebud and our own personal investment, we will be able to grow faster as a business.”

He added: “We have opened the site in Burnley which has already created stable jobs with more to come as the business continues to grow.”

Rosebud is managed by Enterprise Ventures, part of technology investor Mercia Technologies, for Lancashire County Developments Limited.

Enterprise Ventures investment manager Peter Rooney commented: “We are looking forward to seeing Envirofuel grow its operations in Lancashire and we are pleased that Rosebud is able to continue supporting such a diverse range of businesses, particularly in the area of sustainable environment.

“In East Lancashire alone, approximately 60k tonnes per annum of waste is going to landfill every year, so it is vitally important that this amount is reduced.”

Lancashire County Council’s head of business growth, Andy Walker, said: “Envirofuel is a fairly new company, but both Paul and Jim have years of experience which they’re using to develop their innovative product and look for new opportunities.

“They’re already supplying Hanson at Clitheroe, but have set themselves strong ambitions to bring in business from across the world in the coming years. Through Rosebud’s support, we’re proud to be helping them to make this happen.”