Awel Co-Op won the Green Start-Up of the Year Award, kindly sponsored by Clearly PR and the Swansea Bay Award. We caught up with them after their win to find out a bit more:
1.) How did it feel to win a Wales Start-Up-Award?
We were so pleased to win the Green Start Up Award – it’s great recognition for the community energy sector in Wales that a co-op wins in this category, as all our profits go back into further climate change projects. We are especially delighted to also win the Swansea Bay Start Up Award as we’d like to work more closely with the Swansea Bay City Region, and this Award gives us great recognition that Awel Co-op is a good partner for them.
2.) How did you find the experience of the Awards night?
Three of us attended the Awards and we all really enjoyed – it felt very fresh and dynamic. Not all sat down around a table just talking to the person next to you. But you created the space to meet a range of people at the different food and drink locations. The venue itself was great and we loved all the arty decorations and exhibits!
3.) How do you strive to make a difference in the Welsh business market?
We want to develop more community energy in Wales and will be launching a solar coop share offer in the next 6 months www.egni.coop
4.) What are your goals for the next 12 months?
We’d like to raise £500k in community shares to invest in solar in the South Wales valleys via www.egni.coop
5.) What is the biggest lesson you have learned in the first year of your start-up business?
Keep momentum and seize any opportunity to publicise our share offers!
6.) What one piece of advice would you give to any aspiring entrepreneurs?
Believe in what you do and stick at it. It took us 20 years to get an award winning Start-Up!
