Logie Timber Limited secures up to £140k from HIE towards expansion that will increase revenue and create new jobs
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A LOCAL timber business has embarked on a £1.2m expansion that will create jobs and increase turnover while reducing its carbon footprint.
Logie Timber Limited has secured up to £140,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards specific elements of the project - Logie Timber director Alec Laing is excited about the next stage of the company's development.
He said: "We are looking forward to being able to play a bigger role in the timber market while keeping to our quality and environmentally aware values.
"We would not have been able to expand at this scale without the funding from HIE, it will have a positive impact on the local area that we will push forward into the future."
Based on Logie Estate, the firm was established in 2017. As well as felling and extracting, the company carries out milling, finishing and production of products such as cladding, decking posts and beams. It also provides professional advice on the use of various timbers and undertakes hardwood planting with end use in mind.
The new project includes expanding the workspace and installing a new sawmilling line with modern equipment and machinery. Roof-mounted solar PV panels will generate electricity to offset a proportion of that used by the mill.
These developments will enable Logie Timber to continue growing and compete in new markets while reducing emissions.
The expansion is forecast to create up to four new jobs within three years, while increasing annual sales by around £600,000.
HIE funding supports the £700,000 costs associated with equipment purchase and fitting out the new sawmill, including the solar panels.
Steve Richards, business development account manager with HIE, said:
"Timber and forestry are major contributors to our regional economy, and important rural employers. Over the past few years, Logie Timber has emerged as an important part of this bigger picture. The company has remained ambitious since its inception and has shown steady growth.
"This latest expansion will bring a range of benefits, including contributing to Scotland’s transition to a net-zero economy."
Logie Timber's expansion project started in August and is due to complete next summer.
