Low carbon houses being built in the south of Scotland will use panels manufactured in a pioneering process from recycled glass.
VASO Manufacturing’s HQ in Dumfries and Galloway has been given the green light for an affordable housing project on a brownfield site at Closeburn, north of Dumfries.
Eddie Black, VASO Global’s co-founder and CEO, said: “It’s a real milestone moment for VASO.
“We are really proud that a product made in Scotland starts its journey right here on home soil in a country renowned for its pioneering innovations. It’s a really exciting moment for us all.
“This innovation allows us to design homes for the future which are thermally comfortable in all conditions.
“We engaged early on with those involved with the construction industry and we are pleased that Dumfries and Galloway Council has seen the potential of VASO and has given this scheme the go-ahead.”
The VASO panels will be manufactured and constructed off-site at the company’s new 60,000-square-feet manufacturing site at Irongray Park, Dumfries, flat-packed, and reassembled on site. It is creating up to 70 jobs over five years.
The project has benefitted from support from a range of national and local partners, including PXN Ventures, Scottish Enterprise and outh of Scotland Enterprise through a collaboration with Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), Innovate UK Loans, and Eco Group which will be the delivery partner for the initial VASO Global build projects.
South of Scotland Enterprise commissioned a feasibility report for development of the Closeburn site, as a partnership between Nith Valley Leaf Trust (NVLT), South of Scotland Community Housing and VASO Global.
Jane Morrison-Ross, chief executive at SOSE, said: “SOSE is excited to be on this journey with VASO Global, which is just the sort of innovative company we want to work alongside.
“In doing so, we can unlock solutions which can benefit not just the South (of Scotland), but the UK and rest of the world.”
Construction firm hiring to meet growth
A Glasgow construction firm is targeting £10 million turnover within the next two years as it prepares to grow its workforce and scale its operations across Scotland and the North of England.
VQ Contracts, based in Hillington, expects turnover to reach a record £8.5 million this year, up from £5m in 2024, and is recruiting for roles across project management, joiners, plasterers, roofers, ground workers and general labourers.
The expansion follows a move into larger commercial and critical infrastructure contracts, including work at Viking Wind Farm in Shetland, as well as interior works on commercial spaces for Scottish Gas Networks and hospital projects in Glasgow.
VQ Contracts, which now employs 51 workers and delivers up to 400 projects each year, has secured a £750,000 Invoice Finance facility from Bank of Scotland to support its expansion and provide greater flexibility to manage the upfront costs associated with larger contracts.
Founded by Tommy Easton in 2018, VQ Contracts has grown from a local Glasgow contractor into a business with a growing footprint across Scotland and the North of England, with teams regularly delivering projects in Liverpool, Leeds and Shetland.
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