GRREC Community Benefits

The Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre (GRREC) handles approx. 222,000 tonnes of residual waste every year. The plant, working in combination with city wide blue, brown and purple bin recycling, diverts 90% of green bin residual waste away from landfill, saving millions of pounds, releasing recyclable resources from household waste and producing valuable heat and power from one of the most advanced waste management facilities in Europe.

The facility produces enough energy to power the equivalent of 26,496 households and heat the equivalent of some 8,000 homes, delivering a saving to Glasgow of 90,000 tonnes of CO² every year.

At the same time it will deliver a saving to the city of circa £254m during the 25 year contract, creating new jobs, including 20 apprentices, and 254 work experience placements, supporting local social enterprises and small and medium sized businesses throughout the build programme and beyond.

Viridor is committed to developing opportunities for the communities in which we operate.

Online workshops

Viridor GRREC changed all face-to-face workshops to online during the Covid-19 pandemic, and businesses have since indicated a preference to keep them online. Viridor’s operational processes are important to protecting public health and the environment, so we hope you understand the proactive approach we have taken to managing the safety of our workforce and our visitors by arranging this. 

We are launching a series of FREE online workshops for Glasgow-based SMEs and Social Enterprises to help adapt to business challenges. The events below will be updated regularly as we add new workshops for you to enjoy.

Viridor is committed to supporting the communities where it operates and is calling on SMEs and Social Enterprises from around Glasgow to register for these new, FREE online workshops please email transformingwasteinglasgow@viridor.co.uk 

 

Construction and commissioning of the GRREC has created a number of jobs that have enabled a number of enthusiastic, hardworking, innovative people to join Viridor and our partners. Over 250 new jobs were created in construction and development through our supply chain construction partners, to professional, skilled or new entrant opportunities in a range of environmental, managerial, operational or business support areas with Viridor, supporting employment in the local area.

Alongside jobs, there are a range of opportunities for schools, colleges and universities to work with Viridor, partaking in:

• Apprenticeships – Viridor supply opportunities for young people looking for practical experiences in the engineering and waste industry.
• Work Placements – igniting interest or further understanding of engineering and waste management for secondary school, college or university students.
• Year in Industry – providing vital subject based work experience for university students prior to or during University, for related disciplines.
• Graduate Programme – providing graduate employment with Viridor, as part of national recruitment.

Viridor has also attended a number of jobs fairs across Glasgow, aimed at different ages and educational backgrounds. Glasgow Concert Hall played host to a number of construction graduates, whilst Glasgow Science Centre provided secondary school pupils with a perfect opportunity to consider a future career in the green industry.

These schemes have proven very successful in previous years, allowing a number of young people to improve their employment prospects or go on to permanent employment within Viridor or our partner companies. If interested in any of the above mentioned opportunities, please email GRREC at transformingwasteinglasgow@viridor.co.uk 

If you are interested in a professional career in one of Europe's most exciting green industries, please register your interest with Jobs and Business Glasgow on 0300 123 2898 or apply online at www.viridor.co.uk/work-with-us/