With age comes wisdom – so where better to find expertise and knowledge in the timber construction sector than Scotts of Thrapston, a company founded 103 years ago and now using more than a century of experience to innovate and push forward in a modern marketplace?
Known for decades predominantly for its equestrian buildings, summer houses and garden rooms, timber garages and outbuildings, the forward-thinking family company has, over the last 30 years, diversified into the world of engineered timber.
While some things will never change, the close ties with some of the leading players in international horseracing, for instance, or the company’s annual appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show, the more focused approach to timber engineering has resulted in Scotts Timber Engineering cementing its position in the business-to-business market.
Scotts Timber Engineering manufactures and supplies engineered wood and roof products to all of the national housebuilders and property developers across the UK. Additionally, its range of timber car barns and car ports is proving increasingly popular as the electric car charge infrastructure gradually extends in line with the popularity of electric vehicles and more charging stations become available. The company is currently going through significant product development in these areas with ground-breaking innovation supporting the upturn in interest.
James Scott, Managing Director of Scotts of Thrapston, said:
“More than a hundred years of expertise in timber has made us one of the best-known names in the sector. What we need to do now is push forward to put all that knowledge and experience to good use in continuing to build the business, which is why we focused on those specific markets.
“Scotts of Thrapston provides a century of experience in delivery high-end products to an end user. Scotts Timber engineering is servicing the B2B requirement. And customers of both can rest assured that we’ll maintain the customer service levels we hold so dear.
“If you’re going to be successful, whatever you are doing, you have to be on the front foot. We’ve always put the customer first and foremost and that means continuing to evolve, and understanding the marketplace.
“Thinking progressively but having a very well-established name is something we can capitalise on – excellent products for the construction sector, from a reliable and resilient supplier, and backed up by the reputation for excellence that we have gained over many years. Timber is resilient, there are timber framed houses that have stood for a thousand years, and the products we supply are something the leading housebuilders can trust to give the quality their customers are looking for.”
ESG and sustainability are increasingly high on the agenda for Scotts, especially as timber is one of the most environmentally sound products on the planet. The company is on a journey to carbon neutral, currently achieving around 38% better results than the industry standard. Although wood is, in itself, a renewable and sustainable material, all Scotts’ products meet PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) regulations across the board.
“Achieving such accreditations is not something we have to do, but something we choose to do, because it’s important to us,” said James. “I’m the fourth generation of my family to be in this position and I am keen that this is the legacy I leave. Each leader has had their own goals, driving the company forward, and I want to see this company grow and develop and have a successful future.
“The environment is an important consideration and so is the futures of the people who work for us. We have 130 people working for us now and they rely on us. There are fathers and sons who work for us, brothers, cousins, etc. Families rely on this company remaining strong to continue to provide them with a livelihood and we are proud to do that.
“Since the Covid pandemic we have made significant changes to how we employ people. Huge steps have been taking in the support of our employees promoting significant benefit schemes, thus ensuring we maintain the continuity and what has made us who we are today and attract the very best in this challenging world.
“We put roofs over people’s heads, literally and figuratively and if we’re going to carry on doing that we need to be forward thinking and progressive in everything we do.”
Find out more about Scotts of Thrapston at www.scottsofthrapston.co.uk and Find out more about Scotts Timber Engineering at www.scottste.co.uk
