Brewster Brothers has secured more than £450,000 in grant funding from Scottish Enterprise to create 22 new green jobs as part of its expansion plans.
The sustainable resource management company - which recycles 99% of all construction, demolition and excavation (CDE) waste it processes for reuse - currently serves around 19% of the construction market.
Expansion will mean that its services could be available to nearly half of all construction projects in Scotland.
Over the past four years, Brewster Brothers has diverted 810,000 tonnes of CDE waste from landfill and created 660,000 tonnes of recycled aggregates, with a carbon saving of 17,000 tonnes.
The new jobs supported by the grant funding will range from operations managers to entry level roles for HGV drivers and apprenticeships for mechanics.
The recruitment programme has already seen several roles filled and more vacancies will be advertised later in the year, with on and off-site training provided for the starter positions.
Managing director Scott Brewster, the third generation to be involved in the family business, set up the sustainable resource management side in 2017, with recycling and reuse of aggregates its sole purpose.
“Construction currently generates 50% of Scotland’s waste, while it is responsible for 40% of Scotland’s carbon emissions and 50% of Scotland’s natural resource consumption,” he commented, continuing: “Recycling aggregates for reuse in the broader construction, landscaping and utilities industries can therefore have a major impact on our carbon targets.
“We are ready to invest £7m in the expansion of our business over the next year, to develop the expertise to continually innovate recycling processes and deliver quality products.”
Rhona Allison, interim director of business growth at Scottish Enterprise, said: “Our grant funding has been awarded to support the significant amount of work, resources and money that Brewster Brothers is investing to cut carbon emissions produced by the construction industry.
“The company will create new, good green jobs by turning construction, demolition and excavation waste into usable recycled products in a great example of how the industry can successfully contribute to Scotland’s transition to a net zero economy.”
Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work Richard Lochhead added: “Transitioning to net zero will require a robust, diversified economy where businesses can make investments with confidence to provide sustainable and low carbon products and services to develop, grow and create jobs.
“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting Scotland’s transition to a greener and fairer economy, and to creating good green jobs.”
Brewster Brothers has been a family run business for almost 50 years.
Traditionally involved in farming, since 2017 it has been providing sustainable resource management, primarily to the construction industry, across central Scotland.
Employing 35, the Livingston-based company uses a wash plant to turn CDE waste into recycled aggregates.
In the last financial year, the company recorded a £5.3m turnover.
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