Leading building products manufacturer Ibstock, who have multiple site locations across the UK, have recently made the decision to invest £64 million into the redevelopment of its Atlas site.
The new factory has the potential to produce 115 million bricks annually – a net increase of 75 million bricks.
The range produced at Atlas will benefit from a c.50% reduction in embodied carbon compared to the previous factory, along with a new beautiful Pathfinder Range, a collection of the UKs first CarbonNeutral (R) certified bricks. The brick range collections have been developed with house building customers to meet their need for lower-carbon bricks without compromising on quality, performance or aesthetics.
The Atlas site investment includes several energy efficiencies, heat optimisation technologies, and on-site renewable electricity. It will also significantly benefit the local economy in terms of employment, with the renovated factory supporting 60 highly skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs, including new apprenticeship opportunities.
The Pathfinder Range are Ibstock’s first CarbonNeutral(R) certified bricks. This means the carbon produced during manufacture as well at the carbon emissions across the whole product lifecycle are considered. Ibstock is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and its ambition is to reduce carbon by 40% by 2030 and be Net Zero operationally by 2040.
The company is also passionate about the development of its people, so it can continue to offer a diverse range of building products & solutions for customers. The Ibstock apprenticeship programme, which is available nationwide, offers the chance to train for a highly skilled role, gain a nationally recognised qualification and get paid while you learn. On completion of the programme, Ibstock apprentices are ideally placed to develop their career at the company.
Apprenticeships range from 15 months to 4 years, each providing a competitive salary and an opportunity to build skills for the future. Each apprentice benefits from on-the-job learning alongside and experienced mentor.
In January 2025, Ibstock were recognised with the Next Gen Makers Engineering Apprenticeships: Employer Accreditation – back by national manufacturing organisation Make UK. This validates them as on of the best employers in the UK for engineering apprenticeships.
Toby Ashcroft, Manufacturing Management Trainee commented, “I’m proud to be an Ibstock apprentice because I am not just an apprentice but part of a team. Being part of the team means I get to work on exciting projects that make a difference not just for the business but also for the environment. Contributing to initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and enhance Ibstock’s sustainability efforts is both rewarding and inspiring.” adding “Ibstock is great at creating opportunities for its apprentices to gain valuable exposure across the business. The chance to connect with people from all areas of the group is brilliant. These opportunities broaden our understanding and help build strong relationships that will help us progress with in the business. I highly recommend to anyone looking to learn from industry experts and develop practical skills and understanding of a specific career or trade.”
Joe Hudson, Ibstock CEO commented “I am incredibly proud of our long standing, award-winning Apprenticeship programme here at Ibstock Plc. With a proud heritage that dates back over 200 years, we have exciting times ahead in our industry, as we help people to live and work better for generations to come.”