Inverurie's Kirkwood Timber Frame branching out with £12m of new business in first year

Aberdeenshire-based Kirkwood Timber Frame has cheered its securing of £12 million of new business prior to its first anniversary todaynote-0 – while it has also more than doubled headcount to meet demand.

The firm, which is located in Inverurie, and is focused on designing and delivering timber frame kits across Scotland, said it has already netted projects ranging from social and private housing developments to one-off self-build homes and commercial projects.

It added that it started out with 14 employees, but now has 35, which includes a mix of factory operatives, estimators, technical managers, designers, and business-development roles.

The business got off the ground after a £2m investment from its sister company Kirkwood Homes – the pair have more than 30 years’ experience collectively – to meet growing demand for timber kits in the region.

It has doubled the size of its factory in Sauchen to more than 52,000 square feet , including “state-of-the-art” production machinery for the manufacture of timber frame wall panels, cassette floors, staircases and doorsets.

The firm’s business-development director Malcolm Thomson said: “The new business we have secured is incredible and emphasises the demand for high-quality timber frame products. Thanks to the £2m invested into the business, which allowed us to revamp and extend our factory, we have transformed the process of manufacturing our timber frame kits.

“This improves the safety of our growing team, increases quality for our customers, and ultimately drives down lead times to increase the volume of projects we can support across the North-east and throughout the country.”

Kirkwood Timber Frame staff outside its factory that has been doubled in size to reach more than 52,000 square feet. Picture: contributed.

The firm adds that it partners with builders, developers, self-builders and architects across Scotland, and aims to improve the timber frame industry, as well as help Scotland become net zero by 2045.

It also says it has so far enabled 270 energy-efficient homes to be built north of the Border with sustainably sourced timber, helping reduce waste and carbon emissions.

Mr Thomson added: “We are continuing to look at how we can digitalise the way we work to help reach net-zero goals. By incorporating more technology into our daily activity, especially our factory operations, we are reducing the amount of paper and energy we use as an organisation. Collectively, we aim to work towards an environmentally friendly future.”