Issued: 30 June 2009
Joinery Business Diversifies To Thrive
Kirriemuir Briquette Company, an offshoot of long established local joinery business David Petrie Joiners, has received an award of £3294 from Angus Council's grant scheme for small businesses in the county.
The grant provided 30% of the funding needed for the purchase of new shredding equipment which will increase in the company's production of sawdust briquettes and reduce the amount of wood waste it sends to landfill.
The council's Infrastructure Services convener David May visited the company's premises in North Mains Road, Kirriemuir on Monday (29 June) to see the new machinery in action.
"The new shredder allows the business to shred a much broader range of waste materials as it efficiently shreds all types of timber to the desired shred size for use in the briquettes.
"The resulting briquettes provide an efficient and economic fuel source which is good news for households keen to reduce fuel bills. They are also carbon neutral and sustainable, with the CO2 taken up during the timber growth compensating for the CO2 released during combustion."
Councillor May congratulated the business on its latest investment saying: "The original joinery company has been around for over 30 years in Kirriemuir. The recent diversifications of this family firm have not only broadened their business base but have also cut their running costs by using their waste materials productively instead of paying for them to go to landfill."
The Kirriemuir Briquette Company was established by Mark Petrie in 2007, the year he took over the reins at the business established by his father David in 1977. It operates as a separate business utilising the waste materials from the principle joinery operation which specialises in the mass production of doors and windows and currently employs 17 full time staff.
Sawdust briquettes are an ideal fuel source for boilers, furnaces, domestic fires, wood burning stoves and barbeques. They are an efficient heat source, generating 84% of the heat at around 25% of the cost of black coal.
Angus Grant Scheme has made a considerable contribution to the local economy since it was introduced in 2002 to support the development of small businesses of up to 25 employees. 45 grants totalling £174,321 were previously awarded to Angus companies. This created 31 new jobs, safeguarded a further 287 and led to total investments of £772,000.
The council agreed at the end of last year to inject a further £50,000 into the scheme to further stimulate sustainable economic growth in Angus. Grants are available to companies to cover up to 30% of project costs from a minimum of £1,000 to a maximum of £5,000.
For more information on the Angus Grant Scheme or for general business advice and support call Angus Council's business advice team on 01356 627040.