Environmental tech firm strikes deal with M&S

AgriSound, the first business to move into the Enterprise Centre at York St John University, has signed a major new deal with high street giant Marks & Spencer.

Located on the university’s main Lord Mayor’s Walk campus, the Enterprise Centre offers businesses direct on-site access to academic expertise including coaching and mentoring workshops from York Business School and support with digital marketing, growth planning, finance skills and bid writing.

The Centre is connected to the business support landscape, as it is run in partnership with the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

Following its launch this spring, AgriSound became the first firm to take advantage of the centre’s free facilities and support networks.

It is a growing environmental tech business which was founded with a mission to protect pollinators by reinventing insect monitoring.

It aim to deploy sensors across the planet to transform how people monitor insect activity and make a positive impact on biodiversity.

Since its establishment, AgriSound has partnered with a number of companies and projects, including Dyson Farming, Innocent Drinks, National Trust Scotland and Royal Horticultural Society to spread their message.

M&S has now confirmed a three-year collaboration with the agri-tech firm, designed to help farmers better manage pollinators and increase crop yields.

The collaboration will see two M&S Select Farms install in-field sensors to track the number of pollinators visiting their farm in real-time and target specific interventions for improving numbers.

Launched in January 2020, AgriSound was one of only ten start-ups in the UK selected to present at COP26.

AgriSound chief executive, Casey Woodward, said being based at the Enterprise Centre gives his business access to expertise, great facilities and the opportunity to work with students.

He added: “A major draw was also how it’s meant we can reduce our carbon footprint as it’s in the city centre with public transport connections and ready access to local networks.

“The university is a great place to foster new business. You can develop and grow, alongside other people doing the same thing in the same space.”