Eskimo Products turns up heat on new sustainable solutions with Innovate UK support

Eskimo Products’ ambition to create zero-carbon heating solutions comes at a pivotal moment, as the UK seeks to ramp up its decarbonisation agenda and deliver on its climate change targets. The company embarked on developing its CLive (Carbon-conscious living) product – an innovative hybrid radiator system designed to combine latent heat energy storage with electric heating. This system aims to decarbonise energy use in homes and businesses by providing efficient, cost-effective, zero-carbon heating solutions.

Phil Ward, Managing Director at Eskimo Products, says: “Our innovations directly address the pressing need for sustainable energy solutions, both in the UK and globally. With Innovate UK’s support, we’ve been able to design products that solve real-world decarbonisation challenges for homes and businesses.”

Eskimo began working with Innovate UK Business Growth in 2022, with Innovation and Growth Specialist, Howard Nead, developing a bespoke action plan that enabled the company to access strategic advisory support and critical innovation resources, helping it accelerate its growth trajectory.

Tailored strategic support

The first area addressed by the action plan was strategic funding and finance. Eskimo went on to take part in Innovate UK Business Growth’s Invest-Ability Intensive Training Programme, receiving critical support in articulating its investment requirements. This initiative, which includes workshops, pitching sessions and one-to-one training, helped Eskimo’s leadership team refine its business plan to integrate its innovative products and develop more efficient manufacturing processes. Eskimo successfully raised £470,000 following Invest-Ability training with an additional £180,000 coming from director loans.

Eskimo has also benefitted from Innovate UK Business Growth’s Research & Technology Organisation (RTO) and Catapult grant. It opened a collaboration with the University of Warwick, which provided the company with recommendations to upgrade its Birmingham manufacturing facility into a world-class operation, enabling it to scale production of its Thermal Energy Storage systems to meet the growing demand for zero-carbon heating. Additionally, through connections made with Denis Pelych at Innovate UK Business Connect’s Made Smarter Innovation Network, Eskimo has upgraded its systems and processes, laying the foundations for future growth.

Phil notes: “The Invest-Ability Intensive Training Programme was instrumental in helping us devise a sensible schedule for investment that we could plug into our business plan. This allowed us to present a clear, concise case to potential investors, which was key to securing funding.”

To further advance its product portfolio and effectively communicate its value to both B2B and B2C audiences, Eskimo also participated in Innovate UK Business Growth’s ‘Design for Growth’. This initiative provided one-on-one coaching and support in areas such as branding, product design, customer insight and collaboration with designers. It helped facilitate a strategic evolution of its brand narrative, enabling the company to articulate its story more compellingly.

An IP (intellectual property) Audit conducted by the IPO and part-funded by Innovate UK provided essential insights, ensuring that Eskimo’s innovations are adequately protected and aligned with market needs.

All of these Innovate UK Business Growth support initiatives (IP Audits, Design for Growth, RTO & Catapults grant, Invest-Ability) are complementary to the strategic advisory support provided to clients by our innovation and growth specialists, depending on business need.

Growth in revenue and jobs while gaining brand recognition

The success of Eskimo’s innovations has translated into tangible business outcomes. Over the last two years, the company has seen a 50% revenue increase and created two new full-time positions. Eskimo’s products have also captured the public’s attention, with prime-time exposure on Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations, further raising the brand’s profile.

A major milestone came when Eskimo’s latest product, developed through Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the University of Birmingham, was selected for the Homes for Net Zero monitoring programme by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This marks a significant step in assessing the role that zero-carbon heating solutions can play in decarbonising homes across the UK.

Leading the charge for zero-carbon heating

Eskimo’s innovations not only bolster its own business growth but also make a significant contribution to the UK’s sustainability agenda. By delivering efficient zero-carbon heating solutions, Eskimo is helping reduce the nation’s carbon footprint while also supporting economic growth through increased revenue and job creation.

Phil adds: “The support from Innovate UK regarding investment, attracting investment, and safeguarding your intellectual property is part of an extraordinarily well thought out programme. I’ve been enormously impressed.”

With Innovate UK’s ongoing support, Eskimo is primed to lead the way in sustainable heating, positioning itself at the forefront of the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.

The support from Innovate UK regarding investment, attracting investment, and safeguarding your intellectual property is part of an extraordinarily well thought out programme. I’ve been enormously impressed.

– Phil Ward, Managing Director at Eskimo Products