Bristol-based leading lightweight construction manufacturer, Etex, commenced with the expansion of its manufacturing facility this week, after being given the green light by North Somerset Council last year.
The £140m investment into the former brownfield site is expected to double production capacity for Etex’s Siniat brand and will contribute to the local economy by creating more than 50 new jobs at the site, set to open in 2023.
The business will also use the expansion to encourage more young people to enter the manufacturing sector through its tailor-made Operator Apprenticeship scheme, designed to meet future skills requirements.
This week, construction work began and to mark the occasion, Etex partnered with a local school, St Katherine’s in Pill, to gather creative entries to go into time capsules that have been buried at the site and will be uncovered in 2027.
Entries were based around two themes; ‘Life in 2022’ and ‘Buildings of the Future’. The entries consisted of children’s letters to their future selves, artwork, photography and poetry, as well as items that students felt depicted life in 2022.
Six entries were then selected as winners of the competition, and the children were invited to the Breaking Ground event to help bury the time capsules and officially mark the first dig of the project.
Commenting on the event, Neil Shaw, UK Country Manager at Etex said:
“This is a particularly significant investment by Etex, and it is not only important to us but also our local community. The new facility will not only create jobs in the area, but will also provide more opportunities for young people, and encourage them to consider apprenticeships in manufacturing. So, it was brilliant to welcome students from St Katherine’s School, as well as local stakeholders from the area, to celebrate our breaking ground event.”
The plant’s proximity to the Royal Portbury Dock will allow Etex to seamlessly import raw materials for its products via the Bristol channel.
The state-of-the-art expansion will also have a core focus on sustainability, utilising a rainwater harvesting system, installation points for solar PV and electric car charging stations, with the end-ambition of a fully electric forklift fleet.
In addition, the extra space will support post-consumer gypsum recycling, helping Etex’s Siniat brand in achieving 30% post-consumer gypsum in its plasterboard by 2025.
Neil continued:
“An investment of this size is a strong statement of support for Bristol, but also the UK construction market, its growth projections and growth ambitions of Etex’s UK Building Performance Division. Investing in this new facility will strengthen our ability to develop superior building material systems for our UK customers, helping to create high-performing, sustainable buildings that meet the needs of the people who use them, whilst also boosting the local economy.”