Industrialised construction specialist VASO Global has raised more than £5m to accelerate the manufacture and roll-out of its recycled-glass structural panels, aiming to deliver rapid, low-carbon modular homes and help tackle the UK's housing shortage.

Based in Dumfries, the company converts waste glass into high-performance structural composite panels. Its approach integrates digital design, factory manufacture and semi-autonomous construction to produce affordable, thermally efficient homes that can be built at speed.

The latest package comprises £1.4m seed investment from PXN Ventures and £621,000 from Scottish Enterprise, alongside a £2m innovation loan approved by Innovate UK Loans Limited, a division of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and £800,000 from Eco Group, which will act as delivery partner for the first VASO Global projects. VASO by Eco previously received £330,000 from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) to advance commercialisation of the technology.

The funding will support new manufacturing processes at a 60,000-square-feet site in Dumfries, adopting industrialised construction methods. VASO Global plans to create up to 70 jobs over the next five years, while also opening strategic routes to market in the next two years and preparing for future investment.

Supporters say the innovation could help address the UK and Scottish housing crisis, following the Scottish Government's 2024 declaration of a national housing emergency. The investment is also expected to strengthen the circular economy in the South of Scotland by turning waste materials into high-value products, while boosting regional innovation, manufacturing capacity and skills in a predominantly rural area.

Eddie Black, VASO Global Co-Founder and Managing Director, said: "We want to thank all those who have seen the potential in our technology. The latest investment from PXN Ventures and Scottish Enterprise, along with all our other funders, accelerates our journey to deliver a product which can genuinely reshape how homes are delivered - cleaner, faster and with far less waste.

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"We would like to also thank Professor Sean Smith at the University of Edinburgh for his reports and expert support, funded by the UKRI Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings, which has helped underpin VASO's plans and products to reach this stage of our development."

Tom Croy, PXN Ventures Investment Director, said: "At PXN we back companies solving real problems, and the UK's housing shortage is about as real as they get, which is why we're proud to back Eddie and the team as they scale a genuinely sustainable way to build not just houses but other essential buildings. On top of supporting local jobs and opportunities, VASO Global's recycled composite panels enable builders to build far faster than traditional methods, with the company expecting to cut construction time from 33 weeks to 10 on an upcoming project in Scotland."

Derek Shaw, Scottish Enterprise Director of Entrepreneurship and Investment, said: "Our investment support is focused on helping Scotland's most innovative and ambitious companies to grow and scale, creating impactful economic change in regions across Scotland. VASO Global is a fantastic example of this, with its manufacturing approach having the potential to transform how low-carbon homes are delivered at pace and scale, while creating job opportunities and strengthening the South of Scotland's manufacturing capability."

Scott O'Brien, Innovate UK Chief Investment Officer, said: "When Innovate UK launched its Prospectus in March 2025, its ambition was to foster future industry giants with the ambition to scale through their cutting-edge technologies.

"VASO delivers advanced materials that support clean energy goals and sustainable housing. Innovate UK's £2m innovation loan will deliver the technical and commercial maturity that will accelerate their growth."

Professor Russel Griggs, SOSE Chair, said: "SOSE is committed to supporting innovation and tackling our foundational challenges, including housing. Supporting the early commercialisation and production of VASO's technology allows us to do both. To unlock the South of Scotland's full economic potential, we need to address these challenges. The region is innovative and a significant untapped source of future growth."

Gary Robertson, Eco Group Opportunity Strategist, said: "Sustainable, affordable housing is not just a social good—it is the foundation of economic resilience. Providing thermally efficient, healthy homes supports a stable workforce, improves productivity, reduces public costs, and unlocks long-term, inclusive growth.

"The South of Scotland isn't always the first area on people's minds when it comes to world-first innovation and manufacturing methods. But we have some brilliant organisations and business minds in this region, and this investment will help provide valuable skills, training and job opportunities to help boost the region's economy."

VASO Global's building solutions are already being explored for community-led housing in the South of Scotland as part of collaborations with universities, architects and housing bodies to scale industrialised construction at speed.

The announcement follows two senior appointments to VASO Global's board: Graham McDonald has joined as chairman, while Douglas Morrison, Deputy CEO of Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), has taken a non-remunerated Strategic Advisor role.