BREWSTER Brothers has secured more than £450,000 grant funding from Scottish Enterprise to create 22 new ‘green jobs’.
The Livingston-based company recycles 99% of all construction, demolition and excavation waste it processes for reuse. The company’s expansion plans mean that its services could be available to nearly half of all construction projects in Scotland, described as ‘significantly aiding’ the industry’s move towards sustainable practices and Scotland’s wider net zero goals.
Over the past four years, Brewster Brothers has diverted 810,000 tonnes of waste from landfill and created 660,000 tonnes of recycled aggregates.
Answering Scottish Enterprise’s Green Jobs Call – part of the Scottish Government’s Green Jobs Fund – Brewster Brothers meets the criteria for delivering benefit to the environment, people and economic prosperity.
The new jobs supported by the 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.
Scott Brewster, MD of Brewster Brothers, said, “We are delighted to receive Scottish Enterprise’s support. It is a tremendous endorsement for what we do and a huge boost to our ambitions to play an even greater role in developing circular business models within the construction industry.
“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. 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, added, “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.”
Scotland’s minister for just transition, employment and fair work, Richard Lochhead, commented, “I welcome the news that funding from the Green Jobs Fund will allow Brewster Brothers to create 22 new green jobs as part of its ambitious expansion plans. 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.”
