XCEM gets government grant to create Southern Highlands jobs

A Southern Highlands business has been given nearly $4 million to expand its facility and create hundreds of new jobs.

A manufacturing facility in Braemar has secured nearly $4 million in funding from the NSW government to expand its facility and create hundreds of new jobs for locals.

XCEM has been operating in Braemar since 2019 and currently employs 18 staff, but the grant from the NSW Government will allow the company to rapidly expand.

XCEM manufactures lightweight concrete panelling used for both industrial and residential applications, and a company spokeswoman said the product was highly sought-after.

“We’ve got huge market demand for it and this fund is really going to help us with getting the workers we need,” she said.

The company has been given a $3.91 million grant to expand their Braemar facility and increase its production capacity by six times its current rate. In doing so, XCEM will create 235 local jobs over the next three years.

Wollondilly state Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith was taken on a tour of the XCEM facility on Friday by CEO Jesse Rafidi.

The spokeswoman said the company was trying to get the facility expansion underway “as quickly as humanly possible”.

“We have already been in contact with local recruitment agencies to get the ball rolling,” she said.

The newly created jobs will range from plant operators to fully qualified mechanical fitters, with apprenticeships also offered.

Wollondilly state Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith, who wrote the company a letter of support for their grant, said it was a win for the region.

“It’s not every day you get a business that will create 235 new jobs,” he said.

“It will give a lot back to the community.”

The funding comes from the NSW Government’s Regional Job Creation Fund, which is providing $100 million to existing businesses to create 5,000 new direct jobs in regional areas. Deputy Premier and Regional NSW Minister John Barilaro said the funding would help the Southern Highlands recover from the loss caused by natural disasters and the pandemic.

“Regional NSW is the engine room of our state and providing support to help companies like XCEM expand their operations and become more competitive will help get the regional economy into gear and back up to speed,” he said.

Manufacturing facility XCEM is located in Braemar, close to the Bunnings Mittagong.

Mr Barilaro said the creation of new jobs will attract more people to the area who will then spend their hard-earned dollars in local shops.

Southern Highlands Chamber of Commerce chairman, Steve Horton, said the organisation welcomed the creation of local jobs, but warned there were hurdles for business expansion in the region.

“Everyone we speak to who wants to come is saying the same thing – they need to improve the roads and infrastructure,” he said.

Another issue commonly cited is the lack of affordable housing for workers in the Southern Highlands.

However, an XCEM spokeswoman said housing wouldn’t adversely affect the newly created roles.

“From all our conversations with local recruiters they assure us there is a good supply of employable candidates to fulfil our requirements,” she said.