Date: 01/03/2017

Fortem have supported the growth of the SME Paint360 over the last 4 years, allowing their revenues to increase by 400% and employ more vulnerable, long-term unemployed as their core workforce.

Paint360 specialises in re-using waste paint taken from waste-management companies and turning it into a hard-wearing, quality paint product. Their products are unique as they are all re-engineered from waste water based products that would otherwise be destined for disposal through landfill or incineration.

The new paint is made from a minimum of 80% recycled content. The subsequent carbon savings have been independently verified by the Carbon Footprint Company Ltd, each litre of paint saves enough embedded carbon to run an average van for 5 miles carbon free.

Paint360 is also committed to providing employment for the long term unemployed and have so far provided permanent jobs for over 14 young people.

Fortem look for innovative ways to support and create sustainable enterprises where they can transfer their skills and utilise an excellent network of contacts within the construction and housing industries.

In 2013 Fortem started using Paint360’s innovative anti-graffiti and insulated recycled paint in void properties at their contracts with Paragon and Phoenix. Fortem were so impressed that they established a national partnership with them, helping them pitch their product to Travis Perkins who now stock their product online and in stores.

Paint360 have recently been awarded with the Impact Award at Virgin Media Business VOOM 2016, the UK and Ireland's biggest and most valuable pitch competition.

Lee Cole, Managing Director at Paint360 said "Fortem decorators contributed hugely in establishing the bench mark to the quality of void contract emulsion, along with Dean Ryan, Asset Manager at Fortem, and his team who made properties available to test the products which was the spring board for launching the Paint360 brand. So naturally, we approached Fortem to trial our waste paint take-back scheme piloted in Stratford Upon Avon, which was a great success. This service is now being rolled out nationally, thanks to their continued support."