Jobs joy at Fort mill
BSW Timber, the largest sawmilling business in the UK, has announced a huge expansion of its Fort William site. It ensures the long term future of the 150 workforce and could create knock-on job opportunities in Lochaber.
Part of a £50 million programme of investment across its sites over the five years to 2015, the move will help the company increase its overall output to 1.3 million cubic metres of sawn timber each year.
Expansion plans at the Fort William mill - which supplies sawn timber products to customers in the construction, DIY, pallet and packaging, fencing and garden products sectors - began three years ago, creating around 45 new jobs for the local workforce.
It is envisaged that the latest investment will have a positive impact on jobs in the tree-planting and forestry management industry throughout Lochaber, as well as creating opportunities in the transport and construction sectors.
Construction work should begin at the site early in 2012, subject to planning consent. Describing news of BSW's investment as "fantastic for the area", Fort William mill manager Andy Rogers said "a significant part" of the new investment would be dedicated to improvements and expansion of the Fort William site.
This will enable the purchase of a log yard and sorter as well as a new state-of-the-art sawline, including an automated horizontal saw, which will enable output at the mill to almost double, while considerably improving the quality of the end product.
There will also be a major investment in modern technology, including computer scanning and computer optimization equipment, bringing the mill - first built in 1974 - bang up to date.
Mr Rogers said members of the local workforce - which has expanded from 85 in 2006 to 150 today - were looking forward to the final stage of development which will see them finally move "across the road" to the new site, which has the added advantage of improved access to sea and rail links.
He said: "There has been a tremendous effort by the Fort William workforce over the past few years to put us in the position to earn this investment. This will ensure jobs are safeguarded for some considerable time to come."
Tony Hackney, CEO of BSW Timber, added: "Going for growth is a theme that has driven the strategy for BSW Timber since the 1990s. These strategic investments are a sign of confidence in the medium-term that we, at BSW, have in the UK market."
Welcoming news of BSW Timber's commitment to a major expansion of its Fort William site, Lochaber MP Charles Kennedy said: "I'm delighted that the mill will be expanding and providing new opportunities for people in Lochaber.
"BSW Timber's results shows that businesses in the Highlands have the potential for strong growth even in the tough economic climate, and that investment here can be rewarded with big returns. I wish the company every success and hope that they and others like them continue to invest in the Highlands."
Scottish Government Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, also welcomed the announcement, saying: "This is a very significant investment in the Scottish sector coming from the biggest sawmilling company in Britain.
"BSW investment in Fort William has already created and sustained 45 jobs and this further investment will have a very positive impact on the local and wider economies.
"Scotland's timber sector is increasingly competitive in the market place and continues to gain market share. Every move to strengthen this position is a welcome investment in the future and we look forward to seeing BSW's investment have a knock-on effect across Scotland's timber industries."
Work on the new sawmills at Fort William and Latvia is planned to be completed by early 2013.
This week's investment announcement coincided with publication of the company's results for the year ending March 31, 2011, which showed a 48 per cent increase in turnover and a 280 per cent increase in profits (after tax).