< Previous10 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY PROJEKT RENEWABLE Q&A P rojekt Renewable landed in Grimsby in September 2023. Designed both to be a catalyst for the economic rejuvenation of the region, Projekt Renewable also aims to connect industry and community, and to show people just how many opportunities there are in the renewables industry. Grimsby and the local area has been earmarked to become the heart of the UK’s renewable energy industry for several years now, and there’s a huge demand for skilled labour that isn’t being fulfilled by local supply, and a lot of people simply aren’t aware of how big an opportunity it is for the area. “Everyone knows about renewables in concept but few know about what it really means and what opportunities there are out there,” says Richard Askam, Projekt Director of Projekt Renewable. “There’s been such incredible investment in our area from companies like Siemens, and this has created incredible job opportunities, and yet if I were to ask most people what carbon capture really means, almost no one can give a proper answer. It simply isn’t taught in schools and isn’t given coverage in the mainstream media, who are more focused on talking about negative stories that’ll draw clicks and views.” Projekt Renewable aims to change all that by educating and informing without lecturing. The goal will be to help people, be they in school or outside it, understand what really goes into the renewables sector and to get rid of all the confusion and jargon. Projekt Renewable is situated next door to the Fishing Heritage Centre and are very proud of Grimsby’s fishing heritage and relationship with the ocean - and is spelt with a K as a nod to it’s Danish history (the Danes spell Project with a K). “We want to show people what Renewable Energy is all about, embrace their curiosity and also have it be fun at the same time,” says Richard. “Projekt Renewable will have the ability to beam content into schools up and down the Q&A Projekt Renewable We sit down this month to speak with Richard Askam to find out about Projekt Renewable, an initiative that aims to inspire a generation, and also to open peoples’ eyes as to many opportunities in the region. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 11 PROJEKT RENEWABLE Q&A country, from primary to secondary and beyond, to help demystify the industry. But we’re also hoping to reach out to people and invite them to come down in their own time, be it when we’re hosting one of our events or just to see what we’re all about. We’re already preparing trips out for schoolchildren to see the windfarms with their own eyes and learn about them, and in 2025 we’ll have a fully electric-powered boat to take even more out. Local businesses are supporting this with a “pay-it-forward” scheme, wherein they’re covering the costs of not only themselves but a schoolchild to see the windfarms at no cost.” Richard explains to us that their goals are not to broadcast or convince but to push for greater education and to make more people aware. “There are a lot of people who actively want to do more for the environment and our future, and just as many who feel they don’t have any opportunities in life and are looking for a new career. Our purpose isn’t to force those who disagree to see things our way, but to help those who want to know more to learn more, and to open their eyes to just how big the sector is in our region.” Although the renewables industry is complicated, Richard says they’ve had great success teaching younger audiences about it, with podcasts and immersive displays at the facility itself. Projekt Renewable has also received significant support from businesses in the local area including NELC, RWE, myenergi and even The Crown Estate itself. “We have a number of events going on this summer too, and we encourage families to come down with their children to take part in fun events and learn more To find out more visit www.projektrenewable.com or visit in person at Heritage House, by the Alexandria Docks in Grimsby. about renewable energy and our region. The Festival of the Sea is taking place on the 22nd of June, celebrating Grimsby’s strong relationship and seafaring heritage, and that will also consider the future of our relationship with the sea in terms of renewables." It was just over two years ago that Richard was asked by North East Lincs Council to design a project that would shine a light on Grimsby’s vast future prospects, and Projekt Renewable is the culmination of those efforts and over £500,000 in funding from public and private funds. The future of Grimsby is bright, and there’s a lot of opportunity out there both for individuals but also for the area itself to have life breathed into it. But if no one learns about it and no one is inspired to become renewable leaders of the future, then the opportunity will be wasted. HOMES Exuding curb appeal This month’s featured property is a splendid stone dwelling with a classic essence and quality finish. 12 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Exuding curb appealLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 13 HOMES S et within the popular village of Brattleby, Autumn Lodge exudes curb appeal. Constructed in the 1990s, the detached stone home offers a classic image from the exterior, enveloping an interior boasting high quality fittings and a wealth of character, from oak parquet floors to exposed beamwork. 14 Á14 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Having moved into the property in 2016, the current owners shared their initial impressions: “We were drawn to the fact that it is a stone built house and was finished to a very high standard inside, meaning that there wasn’t much for us to do to make it into what we wanted.” It was also in the perfect location for the owners, fortuitously placed on their preferred road of School Lane in the quiet village. One approaches the abode through double gates which open to a gravelled driveway flanked by greenery. Though this provides plenty of room for off road parking, the property additionally possesses an attached double garage. Stepping through the front door of the house, one is welcomed by an entrance hall with tiled flooring, exposed brickwork, and a sweet feature brick and stone hearth with a log burning stove, emanating warmth instantly. To the left an inner hallway offers access to a WC, a bedroom, and a fully tiled bathroom with a low level toilet, pedestal wash hand basin, and bath with mains shower over. The inner hall here also provides entry to the garage, as well as stairs ascending to a bedroom/study hosting built in office furniture, Velux windows to bathe the room in light, and a built in storage cupboard. Sitting atop the garage, this space would lend itself well for conversion into a self-contained annexe. Crossing back over the house’s entry to explore the right hand side of the home, a further inner hallway, holding stairs rising to the first floor landing, connects LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 15 HOMES you initially to the living room — the owners’ favourite room in the property. This is because of its stunning stone and brick feature fireplace with a wood burning stove. A delightful touch is the brickwork at the hearth and chimney breast, mirroring the room’s parquet flooring. “It’s a great place to be on a winter evening,” the owners noted. Adding to the room’s cosiness is its exposed beamwork, with such characterful attributes around the dwelling seamlessly blending with modern touches, including recessed ceiling lights. Continuing through the home, the dining room is next, followed by the kitchen/breakfast room with its bespoke hand-made maple and ebony kitchen. Presenting a range of wall and base units with granite work surfaces over, a wine rack, Lacanche range cooker, integrated dishwasher, integrated double fridge freezer, and integrated Miele microwave, the space is ideal for enthusiastic cooks. A handy utility room completes the right wing of the property, with a variety of wall and base units, space and plumbing for a dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, and an integrated NEFF oven. The house further benefits from planning permission for a single storey extension, where the owners have considered expanding on their dining and living space. Travelling up to the first floor three bedrooms can be reached. This includes the master with built in wardrobes and an 16 Á16 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES en-suite with a bowl sink, wall mounted toilet, double walk in shower, built in storage cupboard, and under floor heating, fully tiled in a relaxing black. A fully tiled family bathroom can also be found, with a white, blue and black theme, hosting a sink vanity unit, free standing bath with shower attachment, wall mounted toilet, double shower, and wall mounted heated towel rail. Outside of the home, which sits on a good sized corner plot, mature wrap around gardens present a pretty picture throughout the year, principally laid to lawn on three sides, with established shrubs and a patio BRIGG BEDS 01652 651828 Princess Street | Brigg | DN20 8HG www.briggbeds.co.uk Kingsize beds fit for Royality…LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 17 area. There is additionally a purpose built cart shed for alfresco dining which benefits from power and a fresh water supply. This is a feature of the property that the owners find particularly special. “We use the covered outdoor eating area all the time. It’s such a great place to entertain friends and family,” they noted. Whilst the owners have “enjoyed everything” about their home, they are now selling. They explained: “It’s a quality house with quality fixtures, but our family is growing up so we are moving somewhere with more space for them.” Autumn Lodge is on the market with Mount & Minster with a guide price of £795,000. Visit Grimsby’s Premier Fireplace Showroom. Over 75 beautiful displays. Bespoke made to measure & in-house Gas Safe & HETAS installation services available. Burning Sensation Fireplaces Armstrong Street – Grimsby – DN31 1XD www.burningsensation.co.uk Call: 01472 351651 Email: sales@burningsensation.co.uk ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE and stone B orn in Leicestershire in 1989, there was never a distinction between Lucy Cortese’s fascination with fine art and stone craft. No placing of importance on one over the over and so she followed her heart and studied Fine Art at Loughborough University and Architectural Stone Conservation and Carving at Bath College. Having grown up in the countryside of Rutland, Lucy was immersed in natural beauty that gives even Lincolnshire a run for its money. Ever since she was able to grip a pencil, Lucy has drawn, though her love affair with stone came a little later. When she was fourteen, Lucy started work at a memorial masonry in Northamptonshire. It was here she first learnt skills such as sandblasting, painting and gilding lettering, connecting her with a long history of stone craft. Perhaps the oldest and purest form of art and human expression, Lucy integrated herself into this medium with aplomb. Now she predominantly works in British stones including slate, Bath stone and Portland stone and carves with traditional hand tools. As well as working with stone, Lucy also draws and paints Paint It’s not uncommon to find artists working in different mediums, with many of those we’ve profiled over the years moving between oil paints to watercolours or working in mixed-media. But it’s rare for us to come across an artist who works in such wildly different mediums, that was until we were introduced to polymath Lucy Cortese, an accomplished watercolourist and stone carver. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 19 THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE wildlife with a keen attention to detail, inspired perhaps by the precision involved in stonework. As can be seen from her paintings, it’s clear that Lucy loves colour, her pieces are positively resplendent with it. So why stone, exactly? Lucy says that she finds creating pieces in a monotone medium fascinating, adding that the amount of pressure or surface texture applied will translate the suggested three-dimensional shape. It will probably come as no surprise to learn that Lucy has earned a number of plaudits and plenty of acclaim over the years, having been Artist in Resident at Lancaster Castle in 2015 and Clipsham Quarry in 2015. She was also a finalist at the 2009 David Shepherd Wildlife of the Year Competition, RDFAS Young Artist Prize Winner in 2008 and SAA Junior Finalist 2005. Lucy Cortese’s work is so popular that she’s had it featured on television, including on BBC One’s “Home Is Where The Art Is”. Lucy can often be found at her own practice where she is working on her own pieces alongside commissions. If you’d like to see some of her works up close and personal, head on down to The Little Red Gallery in Lincoln. Next >