Howsafe Powers Ahead with Major Solar Energy Investment working with Peterborough's Nest Group

Peterborough-based workwear and PPE specialist Howsafe is taking another major step towards a more sustainable future, announcing plans to install solar panels at its premises with fellow local business Nest Group.

The investment marks an exciting new chapter in Howsafe's growing environmental programme, building on its transition to electric vehicles, introduction of sustainable workwear, and a series of award-winning achievements in environmental responsibility.

Working with Peterborough-based Nest Group, Howsafe plans to install a solar energy system at its premises, with the aim of completing the project before Christmas 2026.

Once operational, the panels are expected to generate enough electricity to meet the premises' energy requirements over the course of a year, with surplus power available for export back into the National Grid when generation exceeds demand.

For a business that has been part of Peterborough's commercial landscape since 1978, the investment represents more than an improvement to its buildings. It reflects a long-term commitment to reducing environmental impact and making sustainability an integral part of everyday business operations.

Harnessing the Power of the Sun

As a leading independent supplier of workwear, safety footwear and personal protective equipment to businesses across the UK, Howsafe operates a busy Peterborough warehouse and distribution facility, alongside its retail store and fleet of mobile showrooms.

These operations require energy, from lighting and warehouse activities to the systems supporting customer orders and nationwide distribution.

The new solar installation will allow Howsafe to generate renewable electricity directly from its own premises, reducing reliance on externally supplied electricity and helping to lower the carbon footprint of its operations.

The system is also expected to produce surplus electricity at times when generation exceeds demand, allowing Howsafe to contribute renewable energy back to the wider electricity network.

By investing in on-site generation, Howsafe is taking practical steps to improve its long-term energy resilience while demonstrating how established local businesses can embrace cleaner technologies.

The partnership with Nest Group also brings an important local dimension to the project, with two Peterborough businesses working together to deliver a greener future. Supporting local expertise while investing in sustainable infrastructure reflects Howsafe's longstanding commitment to the city it has called home for nearly five decades.

Part of a Bigger Environmental Journey

The solar project is the latest in a series of environmental initiatives that have seen Howsafe steadily transform the way it operates.

Rather than treating sustainability as a standalone exercise, the company has been incorporating environmental improvements across its fleet, product range, waste management and day-to-day business practices.

Driving Towards an Electric Future

Howsafe has already begun replacing its conventional vehicles with electric alternatives, introducing its first electric fleet vehicle as part of a wider programme to modernise its transport operations.

With vehicles playing an important role in customer deliveries and mobile showroom services, the transition to electric transport represents another opportunity to reduce emissions associated with the business.

The planned solar installation complements this investment, bringing renewable energy generation and cleaner transport together as part of a coordinated environmental strategy.

Making Sustainable Workwear More Accessible

Howsafe has also expanded its offering of environmentally conscious workwear, helping customers make more sustainable purchasing decisions without compromising on the quality, durability and protection they expect.

The company's eco-friendly workwear range includes products designed to reduce environmental impact through more responsible materials and manufacturing approaches.

By making these alternatives available alongside established workwear and PPE brands, Howsafe is helping other businesses take meaningful steps towards their own sustainability goals.

Award-Winning Environmental Progress

Howsafe's environmental commitment has already attracted recognition through Investors in the Environment (iiE), a national environmental accreditation programme that supports organisations in measuring, managing and improving their environmental performance.

In 2024, Howsafe received the prestigious Best Newcomer Award at the iiE Awards, recognising the company's early achievements and commitment to embedding environmental responsibility within its operations.

The company subsequently achieved Silver Accreditation with Investors in the Environment, demonstrating continued progress in environmental management and resource efficiency.

Further recognition followed in 2025, when Howsafe was nominated for the Best Waste Reduction Award, highlighting the company's work to reduce waste and improve the way resources are used across its operations.

Together, these achievements reflect a business committed not simply to making environmental promises, but to delivering measurable improvements and building on them year after year.

A Greener Future, Built in Peterborough

For Howsafe, sustainability and business development go hand in hand.

The company has served customers from its Peterborough base for nearly five decades, developing a reputation for reliable service, specialist expertise and long-standing relationships with businesses throughout the region and beyond.

Its latest investment demonstrates how an established independent business can continue to evolve, embracing new technology while retaining the values that have underpinned its success since 1978.

Choosing to work with Peterborough-based Nest Group reinforces that commitment to local enterprise, bringing together expertise from within the city to deliver an investment with long-term environmental and commercial benefits.

The solar project will also strengthen Howsafe's position as a responsible supplier to organisations increasingly looking to reduce the environmental impact of their purchasing and supply chains.

From renewable energy and electric vehicles to more sustainable products and waste reduction, each initiative forms part of a wider ambition to make Howsafe a cleaner, more efficient and more environmentally responsible business.

Looking Ahead to 2027 and Beyond

With the solar installation targeted for completion before Christmas, Howsafe hopes to enter 2027 generating its own renewable electricity and taking another significant step towards a lower-carbon future.

The company will continue working closely with Nest Group as the project progresses and looks forward to sharing updates as the installation takes shape.

Nearly 50 years after opening its doors in Peterborough, Howsafe is demonstrating that a business built on experience and tradition can also be a business looking firmly towards the future.

And with solar energy soon set to power its premises, that future is looking brighter than ever.

Discover more about Howsafe, its products and its commitment to responsible business at www.howsafe.co.uk.