SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

Wull Technologies has secured £75,000 in project funding after co-founder Ruth-Marie Mackrodt won a Women in Innovation Award. She was one of 61 female founders selected by Innovate UK from more than 1,500 applications.

The funding will support the Manchester-based business as it moves its sheep wool insulation panels into the next stage of commercial development, including manufacturing scale-up, independent testing and product demonstration.

Wull Technologies is a joint venture between Vector Labs and Wool Insulation Wales. It is developing rigid insulation panels made from British sheep wool under the patent-pending LAMDA brand.

The panels are designed for internal and external solid-wall applications. They are aimed at buildings where insulation upgrades must improve thermal performance without trapping moisture, including heritage and traditional properties, as well as private retrofit and social housing projects.

Millions of solid-wall homes across the UK remain uninsulated, creating a large potential market for products tailored to older building types. During the 12-month project, Wull Technologies plans to demonstrate the panels in live building projects to support the evidence and certification needed for wider use in the construction sector.

The award also includes a 12-month package of business support, training and networking opportunities. Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation programme is marking its 10th anniversary and attracted a record 1,590 applications.

Since its launch in 2016, the programme has backed 260 female founders with more than £15 million in investment. According to Innovate UK, previous winners have gone on to secure a further £358 million in funding.

For Wull Technologies, the latest funding adds to earlier public and institutional backing. Last year, the University of Manchester Innovation Factory and Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s GM Advance Fund invested a combined £300,000 in the company, contributing £150,000 each.

Before that, the business received an Innovate UK grant of £214,000 for its initial research project. That support helped the company develop the basis of its current insulation panel work.

Mackrodt co-founded Wool Insulation Wales in 2022 and leads the Wull Technologies team alongside Technical Director Liam Britnell. The award gives the company additional support as it seeks to move from development to broader market adoption.

Commenting on the award, Mackrodt highlighted both the company’s progress and the wider case for wool-based building materials.

“I am extremely proud to have received this award, but I see it primarily as recognition of the work being undertaken by the whole Wull Technologies team and of the wider potential of British wool as an advanced material.

“Britain has a vast number of older solid-wall buildings that urgently need to become warmer and more energy efficient. That work must be carried out in a way that respects how those buildings manage moisture, rather than creating new problems that may only become visible years later.

“This award will help us move LAMDA through the next critical stage – strengthening our manufacturing process, building the independent evidence required by the construction industry and demonstrating the material in real buildings.

“It also gives us an opportunity to show that an overlooked British agricultural resource can become part of a modern, technically credible and circular manufacturing industry,” said Ruth-Marie Mackrodt, Commercial Director, Wull Technologies.

National programme

Innovate UK’s Executive Chair highlighted the scale of this year’s cohort. The programme is intended to support women building early-stage businesses across a range of sectors.

“This year’s Women in Innovation cohort represents some of the UK’s most exciting entrepreneurial talent. These founders are developing the ideas, technologies and businesses that will drive economic growth, attract investment and tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.

“Many of today’s most successful companies started with bold ideas and the right support at the right time. Through Women in Innovation, we are backing founders with the ambition, talent and determination to develop the UK’s most promising companies. Many congratulations to every member of this exceptional cohort,” said Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair, Innovate UK.

Bicester Leisure Centre has confirmed it will reopen fully on Monday, August 10, following several weeks of partial and complete closures.

However, the centre will remain fully closed tomorrow (Friday, August 7) with scheduled swimming lessons moved to Kidlington Leisure Centre.

While the changing rooms have been closed and the toilets moved to the car park, the gym, sports hall and outdoor pitches have remained in use during most of the works.

The main pool is due to welcome users again from Tuesday, August 11, marking a significant step towards normal service.

However, the Play ’n’ Teach pool will remain closed for a further three weeks while structural repairs to the roof are carried out.

Play ’n’ Teach sessions will be transferred to the main pool to minimise disruption with the majority of lesson times and days remaining unchanged, while a small number of Friday classes will operate on adjusted schedules.

The leisure centre said minor temporary changes would also be made to the main pool timetable over the coming weeks to ensure both lessons and public sessions can operate safely within the reduced space.

Operators added that they were working to provide additional public and lane swimming opportunities wherever possible during the period.

Councillors Sam Holland and Nick Mawer continue to press for fee fairness (Image: Sam Holland)

The reopening update follows growing concern among residents over the impact of the closure and ongoing restrictions.

Earlier this summer, councillors Sam Holland and Nick Mawer called for what they described as a fairer approach for members who have paid for facilities that have been unavailable during the works.

The pair say they are continuing to press Cherwell District Council over the support on offer to users.

In a joint update, they acknowledged that concessions remain available on request but argued residents should not be expected to chase compensation or fee reductions themselves when the disruption is long-running.

They said: “The current approach places too much of the burden on residents.”

The councillors have formally requested a meeting with relevant representatives at Cherwell District Council to discuss support for affected members and seek clearer communication on what assistance is available.

They added: “Residents deserve transparency, consistency and fairness while these works continue. We will continue to raise concerns on your behalf and will provide a further update once we have received a response regarding the meeting request.”

SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

Woojer has launched a site-wide 15% discount on its haptic gaming and wellness products across several international markets.

The promotion covers the Woojer Vest 4, Woojer STRAP 4 and Woojer MAT, aimed at users of games, films, music and relaxation products. It applies across the full range rather than a single device category.

At the lower end of the price range, the STRAP 4 costs USD $143 and GBP £137 after the discount, down from USD $169 and GBP £162. The wearable device converts audio into physical vibration and can be worn around the hips, across the chest or in a cross-body position.

Woojer has also added a styling element, offering a range of colours, patterns and themed editions linked to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Fortnite. A dedicated app for the Series 4 range lets users manage appearance settings, core functions, audio controls and firmware updates.

Higher-priced products

The Vest 4 sits in the middle of the range at USD $407 and GBP £390 after the discount, compared with USD $479 and GBP £459 previously. It uses six Osci TRX2 transducers to deliver haptic feedback across the torso while users play games, watch films, listen to music or use virtual reality applications.

According to the product details, the vest includes an integrated control panel, digital signal processing, multi-band equaliser settings, Bluetooth headset compatibility and up to eight hours of battery life. It is designed for use while seated, standing or moving.

The most expensive item in the promotion is the Woojer MAT, now priced at USD $849 and GBP £813, down from USD $999 and GBP £957. The foldable mattress topper is positioned as a home wellness product that turns sound into vibrations across the body.

Wellness push

Woojer links the MAT to vibroacoustic therapy, which combines sound and vibration in relaxation and recovery settings. The product is intended to support sleep, stress reduction, recovery, mindfulness and relief from muscular tension.

That places the MAT in a broader wellness market where consumer technology companies are trying to move beyond entertainment hardware into products associated with rest, recovery and mental wellbeing. By including the MAT in the same summer offer as its gaming wearables, Woojer presents entertainment and wellness as part of a single commercial strategy.

The promotion also highlights the company’s pricing structure. Even after the discount, the MAT remains a premium purchase at close to USD $850, while the Vest 4 still costs more than many mainstream audio accessories, suggesting Woojer is targeting consumers willing to pay more for a specialised sensory product.

At the same time, the STRAP 4 gives the company a lower entry point for buyers interested in haptic audio without spending several hundred pounds or dollars on a vest or mattress topper. That may help broaden its reach among gamers, music listeners and virtual reality users who want a wearable format rather than a larger home setup.

Beyond direct sales, Woojer also offers an affiliate programme that pays 10% commission on generated sales. This suggests the company is using partner-led marketing to widen distribution and attract attention in a crowded consumer electronics market.

Haptic technology has drawn increasing interest from gaming and immersive media companies seeking to add touch-based feedback to sound and visuals. Woojer’s product range reflects that trend, focusing on devices that translate audio signals into vibrations users can feel through a strap, vest or mattress topper.

The sale gives prospective buyers a temporary price cut across all three product categories, with discounted prices ranging from USD $143 for the STRAP 4 to USD $849 for the MAT.