One of the UK’s leading independent sawmillers has appointed a new Forestry Director as it plans for further growth in the coming years. A&J Scott Ltd has announced the appointment of Tom Coates at its site in Northumberland.
Tom, a chartered forester and member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, joins the company from Egger, where he has spent 12 years since graduating with 1st class honours in Forestry at the University of Cumbria. He will take responsibility for the company’s timber buying and harvesting operations as demand from customers across the country continues to increase.
This follows a decade in which the family-owned company has increased the size of its main site by 20 acres and invested over £25 million in new capital equipment, including a major upgrade to the main sawmill, construction of a new fully automated bandmill, installation of a new log sorting and grading line and a state of the art processing and handling line for re-saw operations.
The company is now well positioned for sustained growth in its main markets for fencing products, railway sleepers and other outdoor timbers in the years ahead, building on its record of delivering quality sawn timber products and high standards of customer service to its loyal base of customers across the UK. The company has also extended its product offer, adding NHSS4 highways standard fencing to its existing range.
Tom said, “I’m delighted to be joining A&J Scott. I’ve come to know the company over recent years and have been impressed with the growth and development of the business. With the plans already in place and further opportunities ahead, this is an exciting time for me to develop further alongside the company”.
Managing Director, Robert Scott, said, “It’s a great pleasure for us to have Tom join the business and we’re looking forward to him contributing to the team as we continue to enhance our sawmilling output, product quality and service standards in the years ahead.”
