Council seals £3,000 deal with grant to award-winning business start-up

A start-up business has just been given a £1,500 grant from South Norfolk Council, which will help protect and create new jobs for the award-winning firm.

The grant for corrosion protection company Coatiseal, based at Hethel Engineering Centre, has been matched by the firm, which means vital equipment can be bought saving the process from being outsourced to North America.

Coatiseal's owners have also praised the council for its backing during the critical start-up phase, and urged other firms to seriously consider seeking help from the Council's Innovation Grant Scheme.

The Hethel firm's new coating, which provides protection against corrosion in harsh environments, has been developed specifically for bolted connections such as flanges and valves on pipelines.

Coatiseal is owned by Debbie Reeve and Matthew Carter. Debbie Reeve said:

"Without support for what is highly specialised process equipment, we might have been left with little alternative but to outsource manufacture to the USA. That would have been a huge disappointment. Now we can keep the work in Norfolk and even begin to recruit new staff."

And she encouraged other start-up companies to come to South Norfolk Council for help. She said:

"The grant application process was clearly defined and unambiguous. Completing the application, and seeing it through to success, has been a very positive experience for us. I encourage other small businesses to give it a try."

South Norfolk Councillor and Chairman of the Grant Committee, Keith Weeks, and Council Chairman Margaret Dewsbury visited the firm at Hethel Engineering Centre to present the grant cheque.

Councillor Weeks said:

"The committee felt that this application was a perfect example of the kind of project South Norfolk's Innovation Grant Scheme was hoping to encourage.

“This is an idea initiated in Norfolk to produce a product locally, will employ more local people, but will be sold globally. We would like to see more such excellent applications come forward."

Council Chairman Margaret Dewsbury said:

"The majority of employment in South Norfolk is based on small businesses just like this, so I feel that it is these that we need to help in order to bring prosperity and jobs to our district."

Coatiseal were winners of the Hethel Engineering Centre Launchpad 2007 competition and were runners-up in the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) 2008 Innovation Awards.

Simon Coward, Chief Executive of Hethel Engineering Centre, said the centre fully endorsed the award to Coatiseal, helping it further develop the start-up business. He said:

"This award is great news for Coatiseal, helping Debbie and Matthew grow their business in the UK and yet again testament to the ongoing support South Norfolk Council gives to start-up businesses working in partnership with Hethel Engineering Centre."

For information on how to apply for Innovation Grants, contact Oliver Hill on 01508 533666.

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