Max Jermy, Managing Director of Environair Systems Limited.
Transformational business support by the Growth Hub helped scale and innovate manufacturing firm Environair, which is already securing larger and higher-end contracts.
Since the 80’s, the family-owned business that is based in Catfield has expanded gradually. This changed in the last few years, following rapid growth and rising demand for the firm’s ductwork.
Managing Director Max Jermy contacted the Growth Hub’s team to help manage this significant change.
After doubling its turnover through organic growth in recent years, the business entered a more ambitious phase of investment, automation and operational change. Max’s priorities were to future-proof the business and develop its workforce.
Building foundations for growth
The main goal of the support was to turn Environair’s growth opportunity into a clear, workable project which everyone involved could use as a guiding tool.
Support included an application to Norfolk County Council’s Business Growth Fund for new manufacturing equipment. The Growth Hub’s advisers helped the business set out the case for growth, define measurable results and show the expected effect on production, productivity, turnover and jobs.
“The support has been absolutely brilliant. It has helped us understand the changes we are making, make the best use of the grant, and put a foundation in place to build from,” said Max Jermy, Managing Director of Environair Systems Limited.
What did the business support process entail?
The support has been all encompassing and started with a site visit to understand the business, its growth opportunity, production limits and planned investment. Advisers helped Environair’s team define the growth project, explain its expected benefits and prepare the evidence required for the grant application. One of the advisers supporting Max, was High Growth Business Adviser Orian Mendes who worked in tandem with Senior Adviser James Moore and Adviser Sally Lomax.
“It has been a pleasure seeing the team securing larger projects following the intensive support and investment. We went in deep and provided one-to-one advice, grant application support, project planning and baseline measures.
“When you work with an enthusiastic leader like Max, you can achieve even more together,” said Orian.
Further advice covered cash flow, impact reporting, workflow mapping and the team had regular progress reviews for the Business Growth Fund project.
Having relevant departments and other business programmes hosted at Norfolk County Council, meant that the wider team could provide Environair with recruitment and workforce support through the Skills Team, introductions to New Anglia Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (NAAME)’s networks and a digital roadmap from the Made Smarter project team.
Innovation and automation created new opportunities
Environair is making great headway with modernising its traditionally manual ductwork operation by investing in advanced equipment, including laser-cutting and ductwork production machinery. It is combining this investment with strong customer service, quick turnaround times and close work with contractors, while making greater use of data.
A Made Smarter roadmap identified further opportunities, including radio-frequency tracking of assets from factory to site and AI-assisted tender processing. These steps support the move from manual, people-dependent processes to a more connected and automated manufacturing model.
Following the Growth Hub’s support and the Council’s funding, the business is expected to increase its production, create jobs and help the business handle larger, more complex projects. The innovations have already been fruitful in securing new contracts.
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VIDEO – Enjoy watching a brief interview by High Growth Adviser Orian Mendes with Environair’s Managing Director Max Jermy.
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