BSW Timber Creates 25 New Jobs at Newbridge-on-Wye Sawmill

BSW Timber's ongoing investment in it's sawmill at Newbridge-on-Wye, Powys, has continued with the news that the company is to create 25 new full-time jobs at the mill.

The announcement follows conditional planning consent for the Newbridge Mill to extend its working hours. BSW has already invested £1.8 million in the Newbridge mill this year with the installation of two 3 megawatt biomass boilers to provide process heat for kiln drying timber. This is one of the UK's largest biomass hot water boiler plant and should benefit from the Government's Renewable Heat Incentive. This investment was also supported by the Welsh Assembly via the Wood energy business scheme.

This adds to the £6 million already invested in the mill during the past five years, which now employs 120 staff, making it the largest single site sawmill in Wales.

 Dave Burd, Newbridge Mill Manager, said: "This conditional planning permission will allow us to operate more effectively and efficiently on site, and significantly increase production levels at the mill.  This is good news for the business and good news for the local area as we continue to expand our workforce at the mill."

 Local MP Roger Williams, added: "As a rural employer, BSW Timber has a critical role to play in maintaining local wealth and employment.  They have shown over the past five years that the operation at Newbridge-on-Wye is going from strength to strength, thanks to a rolling programme of continued investment in plant, people and environmental improvements."