Family-run business scoops two top awards

A family-run business from West Lothian achieved double success at a top awards ceremony.

Brewster Bros, based in Livingston, picked up gongs for the Business Innovation Award and Malcolm Livingstone picked up the first-ever Scottish Family Business Recognition Award at the The Herald Family Business Awards 2019.

Since opening the recycling plant in September 2018, Brewster Bros has led the way in shaping the future of the recycling industry across Scotland and this award demonstrates the impact they’ve made. Their plant, the largest recycling plant of its type in the UK, has provided waste management services and recycled aggregates to the construction industry for over a year now from its new high-tech facility in Scotland’s central belt.

As well as retaining all staff from the previous family owner, Brewster Bros has taken on seven new staff since September 2018 and the plant is on target to double turnover within the first two years of opening. A £3.8m investment in the recycling centre last year included a £2.1m spend on high efficiency CDE equipment, with a capacity to recycle 400,000 tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste per year.

Scott Brewster, director at Brewster Bros, said: “Since opening the recycling plant last year, our number one aim is to treat and recycle construction and demolition waste as a resource, ensuring zero waste to landfill and I believe we are meeting this aim and will continue to do so over the coming years. Winning the Business Innovation Award is a real recognition of what we’ve achieved in our first year of operating and it’s very special as a family business to be part of the prestigious Herald Family Business Awards. We were also shortlisted for several other industry awards this year to further complement our aims to reshape how construction waste is recycled in Scotland and the UK. We were delighted to see Malcolm collect a well-deserved Recognition Award, his dedicated years of service to Brewster Bros has been exceptional and he continues to be a trusted and fantastic part of our family business.”