Scottish Woodlands profit hike as sales pass £73m

FOREST management company Scottish Woodlands enjoyed record figures last year as turnover increased by almost £10 million and operating profits jumped by a quarter.

Scottish Woodlands: £10m turnover increase. Picture: Jon Savage

The Edinburgh-headquartered business, which is 80 per cent employee-owned, saw sales reach £73.8m for its financial year ending 30 September, an increase of nearly 16 per cent.

Operating profit climbed from £1.23m to £1.56m and net retained profit was up from £560,000 to £1.1m. The company is now harvesting more than one million tonnes of timber per annum on behalf of its clients.

Chairman Tom A Bruce Jones said the increased activity reflected “the strong demand for ­domestically grown timber, as well as the currently rising available harvest from UK forests”.

Managing director Colin Mann said the figures reflected the continuation of a “consistently strong performance” since a management-led buy-out in 2005.

He said Scottish Woodlands’ growth also reflected the success of the forestry sector, which is benefiting from strong supplies of timber.

“The forestry and wood sector in Scotland is delivering a powerful combination of sustainable economic growth and significant environmental benefits,” said Mann.

“It is vital that it continues to thrive to create jobs and economic growth, as well as helping Scotland to hit its world-leading climate change targets.”

Scottish Woodlands has 14 offices across Scotland, as well as bases at Alnwick, Chirk and Ballymena to serve clients in northern England, Wales and Ireland.