Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Four-man outfit, Nick Ferguson Associates of Bures, has joined up with Invicta West of Ilkley, West Yorkshire to set up two joint ventures in Africa to manufacture their ‘HIPPO’ waterless toilet systems, thanks to direct advice and funding from UK Trade & Investment.

Director Nick Ferguson developed the system with Tim West of Invicta West.

The waste from the systems comes out at 12 per cent moisture and can either be burnt or used as fertiliser.

The process destroys most harmful bacteria, which protects wells and helps reduce the spread of infections.

Nick Ferguson signed up to UK Trade & Investment’s Passport to Export programme last year and, through funding from the programme, visited Angola, and Nairobi in Kenya to develop his contacts.

He met Tim West while on a trip to South Africa, resulting in the two joint ventures. The Angolan venture is worth £800,000 per year with 3,000 toilets to be manufactured annually, the deal in Kenya is worth £550,000 per year with 2,500 toilets to be produced annually.

Ferguson said: “Sanitation in Africa is very poor. The need for utilities such as our waterless toilet system is great.

“Kenya is the capital of Non-Government Organisat-ions, who work directly with disadvantaged people. The ‘HIPPO’ system is the cheapest means for them to improve the sanitation standards and reduce the risk of disease. Each toilet costs $150 and caters for 10 people.”

Nick Ferguson Associates also specialises in advising UK companies on international expansion, and accesses EU grants to explore joint ventures and investment opportunities in Africa, as well as highlighting to African companies that they, too, are eligible for EU funding.