SCOTT GROUP HISTORY

  

1987 - 1992

The beginnings of the modern day Scott Group started in 1987 when James and Chris Scott bought a house in Gargunnock, Stirlingshire which had a wood mill within the grounds.

 

Although an estate agent, James ran the mill for three years with its activities generating a turnover of £96,000. Following his death James's 18-year-old son John was given the opportunity to run the business, with the initial intention that it would be work experience before deciding on a career path.

 

In his first year of taking over the mill, which mainly produced fencing, John was set his first challenge. Due to a particularly bad winter, fencing sales decreased sharply and there was a need to identify other products in order to keep the business going.

 

Identifying a major locally based business as a potential customer was to prove the first step in establishing one of Scotland's most successful business stories.

 

In 1992, BP's Grangemouth plant was looking for a pallet supplier and John was able to persuade BP to visit Scott Timber and evaluate the company's ability to supply. In what has now become legend within the pallet industry, John staffed it with his friends to make it look busy and BP's subsequent order of £125,000 marked the start of the company's extraordinary growth.

 

BP's satisfaction with the service meant that, after a year of successful service, it gave Scott Timber half of its pallet business.  This development increased the company's turnover by 50 per cent.