Growth spurt for Edinburgh-based Scottish Woodlands

Scottish Woodlands, the Edinburgh-based forestry business majority owned by its employees, has banked higher annual sales and profits.

The firm, which employs 174 staff across the UK and is 80 per cent owned by its employees, has increased profits from £3.26m in 2017-18 to £3.6 million in 2018-19. Annual turnover rose from £92.34m to £115.23m.

Managing director Ralland Browne said the Riccarton-based firm had continued to focus on its core operations within a robust forestry market.

He said: “These results are for the year ending 30 September 2019 when the world was blissfully unaware of Covid-19 and the myriad of global economic restrictions that we all face today.

“With predominantly outdoors working, the forest industry has followed government safety guidance very closely and strived to keep some operations going to deliver essential goods such as pallet wood to support the transportation of food and medical supplies.”

“Providing timber for the biomass industry has also been vital for hospitals and care homes with biomass heating systems. This activity has positioned the sector well to lead a green recovery, based on safe working protocols drawn up by the industry.”

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