Jane Pearce
Revolutionising phosphate recovery for a sustainable future.
Project
Rookwood Operations Ltd
URL
Location
South West England
Theme
Sustainability & Circular Economy
Revolutionising phosphate recovery for a sustainable future
Jane Pearce is CEO of Rookwood Operations Ltd, a pioneering company that is transforming how we handle phosphate in water treatment. With five years of business leadership experience, she transitioned to environmental innovation, driven by the opportunity to create meaningful change.
Phosphate, a vital but finite macronutrient, presents a critical global challenge: excess in some areas causes environmental harm, while scarcity in others threatens food security. Rookwood’s groundbreaking material addresses this by recovering phosphate from problem areas and enabling its reuse on land, creating a circular solution that supports planetary balance.
“Excellence goes beyond results,” says Jane. “We’re committed to making a positive impact on the world. That means making ethical and environmentally conscious choices and leaving a footprint we’re proud of. Recovery and reuse lie at the heart of our methodology.”
Her achievements include securing a 2023 Innovate UK Smart Grant to develop an innovative container system for water treatment sites. This technology promises to revolutionise how treatment facilities handle phosphate recovery and reuse.
On winning the Women in Innovation Award, Jane shares: “I’m honoured and excited. I’m hoping to extend my network of women innovators whose innovations and exceptional businesses speak for themselves, and together, become part of a movement that puts women innovators at front and centre.”
When asked if she has overcome barriers in her journey, Jane shares: “When raising investment, I’m pretty sure the questions I was asked were different than if one of my male co-founders had pitched. This was quite disheartening at the time but in the long run, I just think it’s their loss.”
This resilience is reflected in her advice for aspiring women innovators: “Keep going. Keep talking about the challenges women face. Most importantly, keep succeeding, so you can help raise positive statistics to show how great women are.”
For more information on Women in Innovation
Find out more about the Women in Innovation Award and other support available across the Innovate UK ecosystem on the Women in Innovation programme page.