Bringing Low-Carbon Insulation to the Construction Industry: AGREKA BUILD Grant Case Study
Grantify helped AGREKA BUILD secure a £350,000 Innovate UK Smart Grant to bring low-carbon insulation to the construction industry. Discover more.
Our client, AGREKA BUILD, won a £350,000 Innovate UK Smart Grant with the help of our Funding Experts.
These funds were crucial in helping them develop the world’s first thermal and acoustic insulation board made entirely from waste wheat straw, and in supporting their wider mission of reducing global emissions from the construction industry.
Company
AGREKA BUILD
Industry
Construction
Service
Innovate UK Smart Grant
Quick Summary
£350,000
Secured in non-dilutive funding
Challenge
The construction industry remains one of the largest contributors to global emissions, contibuting to...
- Fuel poverty
- Indoor air pollution
- Carbon emissions
Solution
AGREKA BUILD is a pioneering climate tech company developing circular, regenerative materials for the built environment, including their flagship insulation product WHEATEX™:..
- Low-embodied carbon, and free from harmful chemicals
- High thermal and acoustic performance
- Reduced embodied carbon by over 80%
Impact
AGREKA BUILD was awarded a £350,000 Innovate UK Smart Grant to…
- Develop a pilot manufacturing line for WHEATEX™
- Optimise its bio-based binder system
- Advance certification with the British Board of Agrément
AGREKA BUILD is a pioneering climate tech company developing circular, regenerative materials for the built environment. Their flagship product, WHEATEX™, is the world’s first thermal and acoustic insulation board made entirely from waste wheat straw.
WHEATEX™ boasts low-embodied carbon and is free from harmful chemicals, offering high thermal and acoustic performance while reducing embodied carbon by over 80%.
By replacing mainstream fossil-based insulations like PIR and fibreglass, AGREKA BUILD is tackling fuel poverty, indoor air pollution, and emissions in one scalable solution.
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The construction industry remains one of the largest contributors to global emissions, yet it is notoriously slow to adopt new materials. AGREKA BUILD identified an urgent opportunity to divert millions of tonnes of surplus UK wheat straw — typically incinerated or sent to landfill — into a valuable building product. But to bring WHEATEX™ from prototype to market, the team needed funding to scale up production, develop technical certification, and prove commercial viability in a risk-averse industry.
Grantify: Simplifying the Grant Application Process
Tailored Application Strategy
Identified the best grant opportunities for the project
Developed a structured technical innovation story
Built a compelling business case
Expert support
Provided a dedicated grant specialist
Offered technical writing assistance
Guided detailed budget preparation
Tailored Application Strategy
Established a clear application timeline
Conducted regular progress reviews
Performed quality assurance checks
“We turned to Grantify to support our Innovate UK Smart Grant application. The platform’s intuitive structure enabled our team to present our business case clearly, gather all the necessary documentation, and align our impact narrative with Innovate UK’s evaluation criteria.
“Grantify’s guidance on technical framing, cost breakdowns, and impact metrics made the application process significantly more manageable. Their support allowed AGREKA BUILD to focus on the science and strategy behind our innovation without getting lost in admin.”
In October 2024, AGREKA BUILD was awarded a £350,000 Innovate UK Smart Grant to develop a pilot manufacturing line for WHEATEX™ in collaboration with local farmers in Cheshire East, advance product testing, and implement pilot projects in preparation for commercialisation in 2026.
“AGREKA BUILD credits Grantify with helping us unlock one of our most important funding milestones to date. The grant has accelerated our journey from lab-scale research to real-world impact, helping us redefine what’s possible in sustainable construction.”
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