Dumfries & Galloway businesses welcome UK Government to region
Two innovative and family-run Dumfries & Galloway businesses have welcomed the UK Government to the region.
Kirsty McNeill MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland - visited The Carbon Removers at Crocketford and Dumfries-based Clark Engineering on Thursday 3 April to find out more how both pioneering organisations are leading the way in their industries.
We have supported both companies and helped coordinate the visit by Ms McNeill.
The Carbon Removers
- The Carbon Removers is leading the transitioning from utilising captured CO2 to focusing on its permanent removal.
- Run by brothers Ed and Richard Nimmons, the company aims to store captured CO2 in building aggregates and geological storage, creating a scalable, permanent solution for reducing atmospheric carbon.
- This means The Carbon Removers has become a key player in Scotland’s push to lead in carbon removal innovation, as well as supporting other organisations that have made Net Zero commitments.
- We have supported The Carbon Removers to set up its dry ice production facility at Crocketford.
Clark Engineering and Powerhand
- Clark Engineering, together with its sister company Powerhand, is at the forefront of engineering design and innovation in the forestry, recycling, rail and sawmill industries in the UK and overseas.
- The company is one of the UK’s leading suppliers and manufacturers of forestry equipment and an innovative leader in the design and manufacture of materials handling equipment.
- Having celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, Clark Engineering is still under the ownership of the Clark family, operating from a Dumfries factory on a five-acre site with over 40 employees.
- With our support, the company has purchased capital equipment to move the business forward technically, allowing them to employ and train more skilled engineers and increase their manufacturing capacity.
- In addition, the inclusion of modern energy efficient equipment powered by solar energy has given Clark Engineering the capability to be an innovative test bed for new technologies that will support their journey to Net Zero.
- Exports currently make up 40% of its total sales but is increasing through its new products, with Clark Engineering aiming to export 80% of all its manufactured equipment within the next five years.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said:
"I would like to thank South of Scotland Enterprise, The Carbon Removers and Clark Engineering for the great work underway in the South of Scotland to create jobs, boost the economy and help in the drive to Net Zero.
"It was fascinating to see and hear how they are at the forefront of their respective fields.
“I look forward to seeing their ongoing progress and working with them and organisations across the region as the UK Government secures Britain’s future through the Plan for Change to turbo-charge economic growth and provide a decade of national renewal and opportunity for all.
“This includes investing £1.4billion into important local projects across Scotland over the next ten years, including in Dumfries & Galloway."
Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of SOSE, added:
“As SOSE marks its fifth anniversary, we were very pleased to welcome the UK Government to highlight two of the innovative businesses who are helping to put the South on the map.
“We have so many organisations like The Carbon Removers and Clark Engineering, who are vital to helping drive forward innovation and also helping attract responsible investment to benefit our region, and the rest of Scotland.”
Richard Nimmons, CEO of The Carbon Removers, said:
"We are honoured to welcome Ms McNeill to The Carbon Removers.
"By focusing on permanent carbon removal through mineralisation and geological storage, we are not just addressing today’s climate challenges but creating a sustainable pathway for the future.
"Our work aims to ensure CO2 is permanently removed from the atmosphere, supporting industries and governments in their shared goal of a Net Zero world."
Douglas Clark, Chair and Director of Clark Engineering, added:
“We were delighted to welcome Ms McNeill to our company.
“The visit allowed us the opportunity to demonstrate our latest investments in advanced manufacturing equipment purchased with the assistance of SOSE, as we continue to build our world class manufacturing facility.”