The Founder and Director of Roadfill reflects on what inspired her to establish the company and the challenges she faced when balancing the demands of being a single mum. Alec Peachey reports.
Falling into a huge pothole when pregnant with her daughter Alfie proved to be the catalyst for Christie Raptaki to form Roadfill – a company which works with local highway authorities and councils to repair damaged roads using recycled plastic waste which is added to a bitumen mix when laying asphalt.
This incident led her to go to accident and emergency to be checked and it was then that she decided to do something about potholes.
She said: “I decided that as a civil engineer I could and should do something about potholes which everyone in my field is trying to avoid.
“Potholes together with plastic pollution are two of the biggest issues in our everyday life currently. I decided to invest everything I had into the business. I haven’t bought a house for instance yet, I chose to literally invest everything in developing the right product. The challenge in front of me was seriously big and became bigger once the product was developed.”
Due to being a single mother Christie faced the challenge of taking her daughter Alfie with her everywhere as she set out to establish Roadfill.
She added: “All meetings with established companies were conducted with Alfie. Many of them with Alfie on the sling in the actual meeting room, or if not within a short walking distance.
“Usually, a friend would help. That friend would travel with me and walk her around the building during meetings.”
On one occasion she was told that kids were not allowed to attend a particular event and had to seek special permission to enter, which thankfully was granted. “There was simply no other way for me,” she remarked.
So what type of reaction does she get when taking her daughter to meetings?
“Many ask me how and why I started working in road construction. This is a very common question. Being the sole woman in a room has now become a regular thing, yet here we are.”
Being part of a male dominated industry is something that Christie has now got used to. She added: “Convincing men that I do know what I am talking about is an everyday treat! I was determined to make it happen and move ahead. I had and still have a great product in my hands. In my mind it is better than anything similar that has been launched in the market to date.
“Recent interest from the University of Greenwich and the collaboration with them together with Anglia Ruskin University is one of the greatest things that proved me right. We are now laying our product in the National Collections Centre in Swindon which belongs to the British Science Museum Group.”
Below, Christie answers some quickfire questions about the industry:
Q. As an SME, what are some of the main challenges you face when it comes to engaging with the wider sector?
A. “Recognition would be the main obstacle and an attitude of “who?” when we approach established companies.”
Q. What cutting edge technologies are you most excited about?
A. “Our industry is slow to adapt to change but as a new and nimble company, Roadfill is at the front in terms of researching and developing new technologies. We are most excited about the opportunity to showcase our products that deal with vehicle emissions and pollutants.”
Q. In what ways does the sector need to evolve?
A. “There is definitely an idea to change but the industry tends to look at mechanical and technical solutions to current methods of road design as an irritant. A much more focused and commercially positive attitude needs to be addressed by the big players.”
Q. Can regulation be a barrier to innovation?
A. “Yes and no. Local government authorities are swamped with bureaucracy and the application process for tendering for public works is simply ridiculous and repetitive.”
Q. In what ways can the industry work better with local authorities and should there be a greater sharing of knowledge?
A. “There needs to be more transparency from both sides and a more even playing field for SMEs to approach LGAs. A shorter timeline between tendering and applications needs to be addressed along with greater diversity for innovative companies.”
Q. Should more designated funding be allocated for local roads and what role can innovation play in ensuring money is spent effectively?
A. “Yes definitely. The Innovation Fund is a great source for funding innovation and design but lacks specifics on road design. Highways England are particularly tricky to engage with on funding innovative technologies and seem to lack focus on backing businesses. An example being the Air Pollution Fund which is a missed opportunity by them.”