Entrepreneurs power up with bio-diesel plan
Three industrial consultants have invested more than £80,000 in a new business venture to create a bio-diesel plant on the outskirts of Stourport.
The entrepreneurs behind Organic Drive are now aiming to turn over £2m in their first year, Insider can reveal.
Engineers Geoff Cunningham, Tom James and Duncan Morrison said they spotted a gap in the market where they could use cooking oil to create biodiesel.
Once the biodiesel has been produced, having been processed, it will then be sold on directly to major fuel providers.
The trio secured start-up support from Business Link West Midlands (BLWM) and invested £80,000 in launching Organic Drive, developing the company brand and building a 4,500 sq ft facility.
"There has to be a minimum of 5 per cent biodiesel blended into all main fuels so the market is exponential and, in the UK, there are currently very few producers," said Morrison.
"When we are up to full capacity we should be producing 100 tonnes per week and the long-term strategy is to target the big fuel wholesalers like BP, Shell and the supermarket retailers."
The trio said their next step would be to secure an expansion grant from Wyre Forest District Council.
Morrison added: "The potential is there for us to hit £2m sales in our first year and, thanks to the solid platform we have in place, we would anticipate this being the first step in our expansion into a UK leader."
