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TJ COMPOSTING GROUP
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About INDEX

INDEX (Innovation Delivers Expansion) is a unique demand-led innovation voucher scheme led that invites Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to apply for a voucher to purchase academic support from one of the 13 Higher Education Institutions in the West Midlands.  The project is funded by Advantage West Midlands (AWM), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Innovation Vouchers allow SMEs to purchase academic expertise knowledge to develop their innovation and enhance their business.

The Innovation Voucher scheme aims to build links between Universities and SMEs to create a demand led approach to innovation.

ABOUT THE BUSINESS: TJ Composting Group Ltd

TJ Composting Group Ltd
Church Farm House
Sherbourne
Warwick
CV35 8AN

Telephone: 01926 624677
Email: petra@tjcomposting.co.uk
Website: www.tjcomposting.co.uk
Main Contact: Petra Johnston


TJ Composting provides sustainable solutions for managing the growing burden of organic waste in the UK.

The garden wastefeedstock is from local authority CA sites, doorstep collections, trade material from landscapers and commercial vegetable waste from factories.

They have a network of composting sites across Sussex, Hampshire, Essex, Kent and Warwickshire, and produce 40,000 tonnes of soil conditioning compost products per annum for the bulk and bag markets.

INNOVATION

Innovation (6) Construction, Water and Environment

THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE

TJ Composting LTD wish to introduce and market new products for the bagged market, the specification of which will be based on their existing compost which is certified BSI PAS 100:2005

Based upon initial discussions held with Petra Johnston of TJ Composting on the 23rd October 2007 and subsequent telephone conversations with Charlie Trousdell, Warwick HRI proposed the following

  • To undertake market research to identify the producers and products currently operating and available within the sector the TJ Composting wish to enter
  • To estimate the size of the potential market
Based on TJ Composting’s Chemical and physical analysis of their composts and in consultation with Dr’s Clive Rahn, Ralph Noble and Debbie Fuller (Warwick HRI) suggest a recipe of plant nutrients and compost screening that might be further tested to meet the requirements of their products

WORK UNDERTAKEN

The academic carried out six and a half days of work at Warwick University in order to complete this project.

QUOTE

“TJ Composting have greatly benefitted from being an Index Voucher winner.  The Index application process is simple and fair.  TJ Composting approached Warwick HRI,  a department within the University of Warwick, who provided us with excellent value for money.  Our company has been able to access scientific and market sector expertise.

The Index scheme has opened doors for our company with the various local universities and further education colleges and it has shown us how much more they have to offer a company like TJ Composting.”, Petra Johnston, TJ Composting Group Ltd.

ABOUT THE HEI: Warwick University

University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL


ABOUT THE ACADEMIC

Robert Lillywhite – Nitrogen and Environment Group
Research interests
Main area of interest is the interaction between agriculture, horticulture and the environment.

  • Specific research includes:
    Environmental accounting (carbon and environmental foot printing, mass and energy balances)
  • Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
  • Composting, anaerobic digestion and the application of organic materials to agricultural land
  • Nitrogen balances in agriculture
  • The nitrogen nutrition of crops and the release of nitrogen from crop residues