Miner who saw job axed now growing strong as timber company takes root

The 50-year-old from Worsborough, Barnsley, was made redundant as a miner, but in 2004 founded a firm which has now started to fuel a green revolution in South Yorkshire.

Mr Sefton said eight years ago there was an interest in installing biomass heating from public bodies, but there was no fuel supply infrastructure in place.

Silvapower was set up to plug the supply gap with the help of the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership, Sheffield Council, Barnsley Council and the South Yorkshire Investment Fund.

It was recently taken over by another company, and next year it is set to produce 35,000 cubic metres of wood chip to meet rising demand which means processing 25,000 trees!

Mr Sefton said: “I didn’t intend it that way, but my whole career has been supplying fuel of one kind or another, finally ending up with the oldest fuel of the lot, wood.

“More local supplies are needed, but timber is coming on stream. We want to talk to local woodland owners and estates – we always need more timber and want to build long term relationships.

“Wood is a growth industry and unlike coal we can keep on growing the stuff. It’s really exciting to be involved in something like this, which is growing fast and also does good for the world.”

The Forestry Commission said 56 wood fuel installations have been installed in South Yorkshire as the move towards more eco-friendly energy generation gathers pace.

Crispin Thorn, Forestry Commission Area Director for Yorkshire said: “Under-management of our woods has been recognised as a lost opportunity for woodland owners for years.

“It’s great to see businesses developing and expanding in order to take up this growing opportunity.”