A six-figure Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund (LCMCF) grant, awarded earlier this year by Scottish Enterprise, enabled Recycl8 to create this new role and recruit a graduate engineer.
Daniel will be working closely with Recycl8's Industry Technical Consultant, Jim Young, to progress the firm's critical testing and development programme for its pioneering sustainable low-carbon R8 Mix concrete.
Daniel's appointment follows a significant milestone for Recycl8, which saw them carry out the first industry pour of the R8 Mix concrete made with recycled materials in partnership with Breedon Group.
Comprising Recycl8's pioneering R8 Mix and blended cement and aggregate, the concrete was supplied to civil engineering and construction firm W M Donald for installation on a housing foundation on Barratt and David Wilson Homes' new Huntingtower development in Perth, Scotland.
Following the success of this first pour, several further industry collaborations are in the pipeline, with Daniel playing an important role in the planning, execution and analysis of these.
Recycl8 CEO Mark Gillespie welcomed Daniel's appointment: "We are thrilled to bring Daniel on board at a time when our game-changing R8 Mix concrete is really starting to gain traction across the global construction industry. It's an exciting opportunity for Daniel to put his excellent grounding in construction management into practice, and Recycl8 will benefit hugely from his combination of academic rigour, progressive mindset and sound knowledge of the industry. We are very grateful to Scottish Enterprise for the LCMCF grant, which made this pivotal role possible."
Daniel, who holds a BSc (Hons) Degree in Construction Management from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, added: "As part of my Degree, I carried out a placement at Dandara as Assistant Site Manager, where I helped to deliver a large-scale housing project and was exposed to all technical and commercial aspects of a construction project. My new role with Recycl8 will build on this experience and allow me to apply my academic knowledge and understanding as they make strides towards launching their sustainable low-carbon R8 Mix concrete. It's a fantastic opportunity for me to play an important role in launching a pioneering solution that will help the construction industry to reduce CO2 emissions in line with Net Zero."
The LCMCF, part of the Scottish Government's 'Making Scotland's Future' plan, helps companies develop low-carbon products, processes, or services, supporting projects that accelerate the manufacturing industry's transition to a low-carbon economy.