Press Releases

Press Release 21-11-2011 - Dragons’ Deborah and Theo commit to solar industry

Dragons’ Den investors Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis have today shown their commitment to the distressed British solar sector by signing a deal with Yorkshire-based Ploughcroft Solar, one of the UK’s leading solar PV panel installers.

With a solar rally and lobby of Parliament planned for Tuesday 22 November, the solar industry and green organisations are up in arms over the government’s plans to halve the all important Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) which has encouraged tens of thousands of British homeowners to turn to solar.

Demonstrating that they believe there is still a bright future for solar in this country, Deborah and Theo have invested in Ploughcroft Solar as a result of MD Chris Hopkins’ pitch on the Dragons’ Den programme this summer.

Said Deborah: “In our lifetime, a switch towards renewable energy is not an option – it has to happen. Consumers need help to make the right choices as there are many conflicting messages being issued to the public. A review of the FIT is the right thing to do, although the scope, timing and conflicting messages have not been helpful.

“Although the government’s proposals to reduce the FIT from 43p/KWh to 21p/KWh are drastic, we believe that even if this new tariff is introduced solar is still an attractive option to homeowners. As energy bills continue to rise consumers will be looking for ways of lowering their energy costs and going green. With the 21p/KWh FIT solar photovoltaic (PV) panel homeowners will get a sensible return on their investment, as well as seeing lower electricity bills and helping the environment.

“Theo and I are both 100% committed to the growth and stability of Ploughcroft, which is leading by example within the solar industry. The government’s proposals haven’t scared us off and should not discourage the British public from investing in solar and other renewable energies. Our job is to make sure people still understand there is a good reason to commit to renewable energy, both financially and ethically. Once the government’s final decision on the new FIT has been made the solid, forward thinking renewable industry can continue to grow.”

Chris Hopkins, who has been at the forefront of the solar industry for six years and is also a member of the newly formed Green Construction Board for the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills added: “Since the government made its FIT reduction announcement on 31 October we have seen a 50% increase in enquiries compared with the previous month. We have already secured sales on systems that we will be installing in January and February 2012 on the new tariff. This indicates that homeowners remain keen to reduce their electricity bills whilst doing their bit to help the environment.”

The expertise of Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis will help Ploughcroft Solar expand into new areas of renewable energy throughout 2012, and support the company’s mission to become the name for renewable energy for homeowners across Britain.

YORKSHIRE solar company Ploughcroft is on course to double sales this year after demand for its technology and training courses soared.

The firm, which sold a 25 per cent to Dragons’ Den stars Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis in an episode shown on Sunday, added 10 staff this year, taking it to 37.

Turnover is expected to reach £5m for the 12 months to September, up from £2.6m for the same period last year.

Chris Hopkins, the managing director, said: “Apart from their excellent reputation in the world of business, Deborah and Theo are trusted household names. This was very important to me, as I want Ploughcroft to grow to become the household name of choice for solar and renewable energy installations.”

The firm’s NVQ is used in 11 construction colleges in the UK and has been accredited by City and Guilds, the awarding body.

Ploughcroft create a competition for schools - Design a logo and Win £2,500!

A new competition run by the Halifax Evening Courier and Ploughcroft Solar, wants one young artist to design a new company logo. We want young artists to design a new logo to be used on our marketing products. Any year 5 and 6 Calderdale pupil enter to win the prize for their school.
The winning school will receive £2,500 and the artist will get a £50 shopping voucher

Ploughcroft named best in Britain by Microgeneration Certification Scheme

A ROOFING company has been named as the best in Britain for its work fitting photovoltaic solar panels and helping energy-conscious homeowners and businesses make the most of a Government reward scheme.
Ploughcroft took the industry lead two years ago in developing a national training course for solar panel installation in a link-up with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors.
Now its foresight in setting the highest possible standards for fitting clean energy solutions has won it a host of industry accolades and unrivalled consumer confidence.

The company has won the award for Best Business Initiative for Microgeneration Technologies in the Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Awards 2010 and has become the first UK roofing company to be accredited for installing and commissioning PV solar panels under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme

Ploughcroft is leading light on solar panel incentives scheme...

A Yorkshire company has officially become the best qualified roofing firm in the country to fit photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and help energy conscious homeowners and businesses make the most of the government's new Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) reward scheme. Two years ago Brighouse-based Ploughcroft took the industry lead in developing a national training course for solar panel installation in collaboration with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC).

Now its foresight in setting the highest possible standards for fitting clean energy solutions, is winning a host of industry accolades and unrivalled consumer confidence. Last week the company not only took the award for Best Business Initiative for Microgeneration Technologies in the Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Awards 2010, it also became the first UK roofing company to win accreditation for installing and commissioning PV solar panels under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). All of which means that Ploughcroft is the singularly most qualified roofing firm in the country to provide and fit MSC approved products for customers who want to take advantage of the FITs incentive scheme just announced by energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband.

Ploughcroft managing director Chris Hopkins explained how it works. "The FITs deal essentially means that homeowners and businesses who install PV solar panels on a sunny south-facing roof, will be paid by the government for the electricity they generate for the next 25 years, even if they use all of it themselves. So someone fitting, for example, a typical £12,500, 2.5kW PV system to their home will initially be paid up to 41.3p per kilowatt hour (kWh) generated, which is enough to reward them with up to £900 in the first year, on top of a £140-a-year saving on their bills. "Importantly, the payments are tax free, guaranteed for the next 25 years and have been linked to inflation. It's a real incentive for people to reduce their own electricity consumption and ultimately to export excess electricity generated back to the national grid. "We are expecting to be very busy fitting PV solar systems especially as energy regulator Ofgem has just warned that electricity prices will go up by a fifth by 2020 and that future supplies are in jeopardy."

The training course developed by Ploughcroft with the NFRC includes training roofers on the installation and integration of several different makes of solar panels into different roof coverings including slate, concrete and plain tiles. It was adopted by Leading Sector Skills Council ConstructionSkills in 2009 and mapped on to the Roofing NVQ units (VR298).