Highland Heritage Woodworks grows from acorn to oak with Scottish Enterprise support

The business has almost doubled in size in the last 12 months from a team of five to nine, with plans to increase its headcount to 20 employees by 2027 as it looks to expand into new areas with the addition of innovative new timber products and a bespoke cabin business.

After a 25-year career as a geologist and business development manager at BP, Guy Phillips set up Highland Heritage Woodworks with co-founder Armands Balams.

The firm received advice and support from Scottish Enterprise along with a grant of £100,000 towards a project worth £250,000 to adapt its premises and install new equipment and create a customised sawmill.

Managing director of productivity and business growth at Scottish Enterprise Rhona Allison said: “Highland Heritage Woodworks will enable more sustainable supply chains in the construction sector by supplying timber from Scotland across the UK and boost the local Aberdeenshire economy too.

“Our team in Aberdeen supported the company to invest in capital infrastructure around its sawmill that will help increase productivity, expand its range of products, and create jobs as well as having solid net zero principles.

“I’m keen to see more companies such as Highland Heritage Woodworks with this ambition to grow and scale in Scotland with support from Scottish Enterprise.”

By leveraging cutting-edge technology and committing to environmental stewardship, Highland Heritage Woodworks is aiming to set a new standard for what architects, quantity surveyors and builders can expect from locally sourced materials.

The newly repurposed sawmill facility houses a wide-band horizontal sawmill, high tech 60m³ drying kiln with heating provided by a biomass boiler system.

The founders say the new facilities have provided a step-change in the company’s production capability, creating the platform for the sourcing and processing of high-quality Scottish timber at scale and allowing it to build strategic partnerships with several key clients.

The investment in new facilities also lowers the company’s per unit carbon footprint, aligning with customer demands for sustainable building materials, as well as delivering on Highland Heritage Woodworks own net zero journey.

Chief Executive Officer of Highland Heritage Woodworks Guy Phillips said: “Around 80% of the UK’s timber is imported and our aim is to do something about that. The focus is on delivering the best possible outcomes for home-grown Scottish timber, from forest to front door.

“We started the company by combining my business development experience with that of my master carpenter co-founder and we have been very fortunate to receive support from various organisations along the way. This has significantly boosted our productivity, taking the business from humble beginnings to greater success.

“Scottish Enterprise has been hugely supportive throughout our journey and the funding provided was crucial, turbo-charging our new sawmill expansion, enabling us to add new product lines and build an experienced team. We aim to expand further, collaborating with like-minded companies who are changing the narrative around home-grown timber.  We aim to be agile in what we do, work hard at our relationships with people, and ultimately, do the right thing.” 

The expansion of Highland Heritage Woodworks is celebrated during National Productivity Week (27-31 Jan) a campaign is organised by The Productivity Institute that aims to raise awareness of, and offer solutions to, addressing productivity challenges.