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Nortenergy, the Polycrub company, is the designer and only supplier of the award-winning Polycrub, a polytunnel/greenhouse hybrid, designed to cope with harsh environments. The company is based in Northmavine, Shetland and is a successful social enterprise.
The company is a trading arm of Northmavine Communty Development Company (NCDC), a charity that works alongside local people to regenerate and develop Northmavine.
Like traditional businesses the company aims to make a profit, but it’s how the profits are used that sets the Polycrub company apart. Profits are reinvested in Northmavine to create positive social change by supporting community-based projects.
The ‘Polycrub’ concept began as an NCDC community project in 2008. Folk in Northmavine were keen to reduce food miles and grow more fresh produce locally, undercover.
Growing spaces needed to be able to stand up to the harsh Shetland weather so, design ideas were considered before the project began. These were developed to create a structure that would withstand the, often unforgiving, Shetland climate.
NCDC had been approached to find an alternative use for redundant equipment from the aquaculture industry which, at that time, was either being sent to landfill, or littering shorelines. These waste materials were incorporated into the design of the hoops and thick polycarbonate was chosen as the external covering.
Grant aid from the Climate Challenge Fund enabled NCDC to build 12 community polytunnels in Northmavine and each building was split into shared plots. This enabled 50 people in the Northmavine community to grow undercover.
Once the community growing project was complete, it attracted lots of interest from other community groups and individuals who were interesting in buying the product. NCDC set up the social enterprise and branded the structures as the ‘Polycrub’ and Polycrubs are sold in kit form as far away as France and the Falklands.
Polycrubs are very popular with individual growers who need a robust growing space. Many schools and community groups have been able to access grant funding for Polycrub growing projects. Crofters and farmers with plans for crofting diversification could also be eligible for funding support through the agricultural grants system.
The Polycrub company recently scooped a national award in the VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards.
It was one of four companies to receive an outstanding achievement award in recognition of its commitment to tackling environmental impacts and reducing carbon emissions.
https://www.polycrub.co.uk/
*This article contains sponsored content and does not necessarily represent the views of The Scottish Farmer.
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