Aitken & Nivek seeks state school ties

AITKEN & Niven, the Edinburgh-based outfitter, will target the increasing popularity of uniforms at state schools in a bid to boost turnover by 15 per cent this year.

Sales to state schools already account for about a third of the uniform business at the family-run firm, which is better known for supplying blazers and kit to independent schools such as George Watson’s, Loretto and Stewart’s Melville.

But managing director David Ferguson wants to raise that percentage to half of his uniform sales within five years and grow turnover to £3 million from £2.6m in the next 12 months.

“During the 1970s and 1980s many state schools moved away from having a strict uniform policy for their pupils, but there has recently been a real resurgence in interest here, and that is something we are keen to capitalise on,” he said.

“Whilst the private school market has always been the key focus for us, we are looking to expand our business by supplying uniforms to more state-run primary and secondary schools.”

Aitken & Niven – which has three shops in Edinburgh and stores in Aberdeen and Perth – already supplies uniforms to more than 50 schools in Scotland, including state-funded institutions such as Edinburgh’s Royal High School, Aberdeen Grammar, Bell Baxter High in Cupar and Waid Academy in Anstruther. Ferguson said the firm would be able to compete with supermarket clothing departments because it could offer uniforms all year round rather than just during the “back to school” rush in summer.

Aitken & Niven, which was founded in 1905, has secured a “six-figure” loan and overdraft package from Clydesdale Bank to fund its push further into the state school market.

Simon Kerr, managing partner at Clydesdale Bank’s Edinburgh financial solutions centre, said: “The firm’s increased focus on the state school market will help the company to grow further and Clydesdale Bank is pleased to be supporting the business at this exciting time.”