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Roads fix firm in votes plea

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By Fiona Reid
Annan and Eskdale
Roads fix firm in votes plea

A NEW business based in Annandale has made the final 20 of a UK competition - and is now making a big push to get into the top ten.

MACREBUR MAGIC . . . left to right: Nick Burnett, Toby McCartney and Gordon Reid want your votes for their new roads solution

Macrebur Ltd is appealing for local support for their product Plasmac, which is an eco friendly road surface that finds a use for waste plastics to stop them going to landfill.
They have entered it into this year’s Virgin Voom business contest, run by Richard Branson’s company.
And the trio behind Macrebur are hoping to get all the way to the final and the chance to pitch to the millionaire entrepreneur himself, and win a business support package.
Founders Toby McCartney, 38, of Eaglesfield; Nick Burnett, 39, also from Eaglesfield; and Gordon Reid, 36, of Waterbeck, combined their professional expertise in marketing, recycling and engineering respectively to launch Macrebur earlier this year.
They have been working on the innovative roads idea for the last few months and are in talks with Scottish Enterprise, due to meet with Transport Scotland, and also have the backing of Scottish Secretary David Mundell MP.
Over 7000 companies have so far entered the Virgin Voom and Macrebur was sitting at number 18 earlier this week.
They have until May 23 to secure as many public votes as possible to get through to round two, a pitchathon event in London next month.
Toby said: “We really believe in our product, which could be a gamechanger for the durability of roads not just in Dumfries and Galloway, but across the UK.
“And we think Richard Branson will love it if he gets the chance to hear about it.”
Nick said: “We’re appealing for the people of Dumfriesshire to get behind us and please vote.”
And Gordon added: “Alongside the contest, we are carrying out tests and also working hard to get Plasmac recognised as an accredited highways surface. This is just the beginning.”

To view the pitch and vote for Macrebur, go to www.vmbvoom.com/pitches/innovative-plastic-roads

 

 

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