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Experience leads to flooding solution success
When the summer floods of 2007 hit the UK, Sarah
Vaughan and her would-be co-directors, Frank and Nicky
Kelly, witnessed first hand the utter devastation caused
by the flooding when the River Avon burst its banks and
ravaged the towns of Droitwich Spa and Upton on Severn.
Frank had a background in house building and was
keen to incorporate flood-defences into his projects,
where there was a danger – the problem was there
were very few products on the market and they didn’t
address all of the issues that needed addressing. The
solution to this group of entrepreneurs was obvious –
they needed to develop their own products and so UK
Flood Barriers Ltd was formed.
Sarah Vaughan, the company’s managing director,
says, “The first year or so, from 2007, was all about
developing our own product range and we’ve been
developing it and adding to it ever since.”
One of the company’s products that will make a huge
difference to properties within flood risk areas is the
Anti-Flood Airbrick, which can be used in new builds
but also retro-fitted as a replacement for traditional
airbricks that offer no flood protection. A little known
fact is that airbricks will let in 5,000 litres of water every
hour and typically houses will have between 12 and 20
airbricks in their outer walls, all of which are set at a
low level, often beneath the level of doors.
The clever design, that has been patented, incorporates
a flap that is triggered into action and closes the holes
whenever water tries to enter the building through the
airbrick and it will stay closed for as long as there’s
water pressure against it. A wire mesh on the outer
face of the brick prevents insects getting in and
interfering with the mechanism.
Sarah is rightly very proud of the fact that the Anti-Flood
Airbrick was not only invented in Droitwich but is also
manufactured in the town. This, she explains, makes
product development easier and also shortens the
supply chain, which enables UK Flood Barriers to be
very proactive and at the same time very reactive to
their customers’ needs. Since 2009 the company has
grown quickly, now employing 26 people and currently
looking to recruit further, as the company begins to
explore and grow new markets at home and abroad.
Sarah says, “It’s very difficult to quantify the size of
the market. Flooding is a global issue and currently
there are very few effective engineered flood defence
systems out there and very few people coming up
with innovative new products, which can be used to
mitigate against flooding.”
The opportunity for UK Flood Barriers is huge and Sarah
is confident that the company’s geographical location
is a big plus in terms of supporting the business plan.
“We don’t just design products and manufacture
them here we also supply and install them ourselves.
So in terms of where we’re situated, we can get to most
areas of the country within a four-hour time period.
Also we have an abundance of brilliant skill sets in the
West Midlands that we’ve been able to draw on and
will continue to draw on, including civil engineers,
structural engineers and CAD designers.” she explains.
Seemingly moving around the Monopoly board, UK
Flood Barriers is centrally involved in installing their
‘Self-Closing Flood Barrier’ at the new Bond
Street underground station and Liverpool Street
mainline railway station. This particular product
works automatically without power or human
intervention and with its unique ability to also
withstand seismic activity, UK Flood Barriers
is also working with EDF in France to
help protect their 19 nuclear sites.
The column
In addition to the book we’ve offered businesses
columns in the local press – highlighting business
success stories. Businesses are offered the opportunity
to tell readers why they chose the area to set up the
business, how trade is going, what new projects they
have underway and get a bit of free promotion – which
is not to be sniffed at these days.
If you have a great story to tell and would like to feature
on our website or in one of our business columns
contact Emma Wild – Communications Manager –
01386 565102 or
