Turnover rockets at renewable technology business
Pictured front, from left, operations director Millie Rawson; managing director Vaughn Rawson and wife Joanne, and technical director Gregg White (Image credit: Mandy Jones Photography)
A fast-growing renewable technology business has witnessed its turnover rocket as it helps North Wales and North West businesses go green.
Wrexham-based Rawson EV started three years ago installing electric vehicle charging points for homes and businesses.
Last autumn it moved into solar energy and has experienced a huge surge in business.
In the past 12 months, they have installed 5,000 solar panels, 4,000 at businesses. Turnover has jumped from £300,000 in its first year to a projected figure of more than £4m in the current financial year.
Launched three years ago, Rawson EV and Solar is headed by Millie Rawson. It is an offshoot of Rawson Digital founded by her father, Vaughn Rawson, to supply photocopiers and office equipment.
Now in its third year, the company has secured a recent contract to install 310 solar panels at electrical retailer Richer Sounds in Manchester. This will generate more than 100,000 kWh of electricity a year.
Work is also starting next month on a 1,000 panel installation at an industrial estate in Flintshire.
The business has also reported demand for EV chargers, completing an installation of 16 charging points at Beckers Industrial Coatings at Speke in Liverpool.
Millie Rawson said: “Rawson Digital made the decision to go green with electric vehicle charging points and solar panels but then we found that while for domestic properties the process is quite straightforward, for business premises you have to jump through lots of hoops.
“We stuck at it and were successful and now we can use our expertise in navigating the complicated application process for the benefit of our customers.
“We have grown organically from the parent company, starting as Rawson EV and installing charging points and then adding Rawson Solar and that’s where the real growth has come.”
Rawson said that the business is also looking to expand into ground and air-source power, small wind turbines and infra-red heating systems.
She added: “We have seen huge growth in just three years in business in a very competitive market up against firms who have been established for a considerable number of years.
“We have been able to perform well above expectations with a huge increase in trading profits this year and that has helped us invest further in the business and double our staff numbers.
“That has been driven by solar power installations which have become really cost-effective as energy prices have soared, allowing us to build a brand customers can trust within a very short time.
“As we are committed to helping the community and the environment we have added new renewable sources which can drive more growth for the business.”
Rawson EV and Rawson Solar, along with Rawson IT Systems, are part of the Rawson Group founded by Vaughn Rawson. The group supplies photocopying and printing machines for businesses and its suite of services includes IT and the provision of solar PV and electric vehicle charging.
