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Graduate Helen Stimpson originally from London, explained how she took the post via Unlocking Cornish Potential, a Combined Universities in Cornwall project run by Cornwall College.

Graduates are placed with businesses and offered support including an expert mentor had supported her and ambitious plans for company expansion.

Helen has recognised the growing demand in companies and householders for sustainable systems - such as rainwater harvesting, which collects rain and reuses it for non drinking water uses such as toilets, washing machines, vehicle washing and for watering gardens - reducing the need to abstract, treat and pump mains water, which would in turn preserve our natural resources, reduce carbon emissions and saving money on increasingly costly water charges.

She explains: "Quite a few modules in my degree were about sustainable development, sustainable cities, sustainable energy and renewable energy technologies. H2OK has brought me in to assess the commercial scope of sustainable systems across the South West. Because the company already deals with waste water systems it is a natural transition to move towards environmental technology such as rain water harvesting and grey water systems."

"There is the potential for a huge market out there and my research into sales potential has involved talking to architects, developers, council planners, the South West Regional Development Agency and a number of non governmental organisations. This research has already generated enquiries and contracts for site work and assessments."

Ben Leonard, of Unlocking Cornish Potential, said: "The sustainable development and renewable energy market is a real growth area in Cornwall where we have considerable expertise."

"With the renewable energy degree at the Combined Universities in Cornwall, several market leading renewables consultancies and a growing band of entrepreneurs focusing on this in the county it is an exciting demonstration of the skills base emerging in Cornwall."

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