Donaldson Group

James Donaldson & Sons Ltd (JDS), has announced today the acquisition of Rowan Manufacturing Ltd (RML) and Smith & Frater Ltd (S&F) from the shareholders of the Rowan Group.

Headquartered in Fife, JDS is a family-owned business specialising in the processing, manufacturing, merchanting and distribution of timber and associated building products. This acquisition opens new product & market opportunities for the Group, in the supply of door sets, bespoke joinery and kitchen manufacturing; and fits with the firm’s desire to expand its capabilities in the UK’s house building, offsite manufacture, local authority, RMI and contracting markets.

Rowan Manufacturing specialises in made to measure staircases, internal and external door sets, windows and screens, as well as bespoke joinery design for all areas of a development or home improvement. While Smith and Frater supplies products such as kitchen manufacturing, Fibo wall panelling, flooring, bathrooms, internal doors and ceiling panels to the building trade and construction industry.

Scott Cairns, Group Managing Director at JDS, comments: “Both Rowan Manufacturing and Smith & Frater have a great reputation for quality, service and product innovation. The suite of products offered by both businesses perfectly complements our portfolio in JDS with a clear synergy of client base’’.

“We see an opportunity initially in the Scottish market to invest in, and substantially grow both businesses; with longer-term plans to expand that offering to the rest of the UK.”

Nick Higgins, Rowan Group Managing Director, explains: “Our primary driver was to hand over the business to an organisation with similar values to us and a clear long-term, sustainable strategy. I can think of no better business than JDS to develop RML and S&F, and to nurture what we have built up. Over the years, our team has established a trusted reputation and a market-leading product offering. Having watched the development of the Donaldson Group over many years, I know that I have chosen the best possible enterprise to grow the businesses and people that I am so proud of.”

Andrew Donaldson, Group Financial Director at JDS, adds: “Our business has doubled in size over the last ten years, and we have done this through sustainable organic growth and by the strategic acquisition of some market-leading specialists. As we enter our 160^th year in business, calculated investments like these ensure that we are continuously putting customers, service and quality at the core of everything we do. We look forward to welcoming the staff of both businesses into our organisation, and will continue to seek out investments that share our core values of Customers, Integrity, People, Sustainability and Family.”

There will be no changes for clients, employees or suppliers of RML and S&F. The brands will continue to be independent and will report directly to and work alongside the Donaldson Group.

The 160-year-old James Donaldson Group is a family of specialist timber and building product businesses, turning over £200m in the current year. The 6th Generation family firm incorporates timber importer and distributor James Donaldson Timber Ltd, engineered wood product manufacturer Donaldson Timber Engineering Ltd, timber merchant MGM Timber (Scotland) Ltd, insulation specialist James Donaldson Insulation Ltd, and Nu-Style Products Ltd, a fabrication specialist. The Group operates throughout the UK from 31 sites employing over 1000 people.

Leading Fife-based timber expert, James Donaldson and Sons Ltd has confirmed their achievement of ISO 50001 certification at all 28 of their sites throughout the UK. ISO 50001 is the international standard for Energy Management Systems which helps organisations to manage and continually improve the efficiency of their energy use.

Energy management has been a focus for the Group since 2016 when we registered for the Energy Saving Opportunities Scheme. Over the last year, the group has implemented ISO 50001 procedures to all sites, creating fluid and efficient processes to ensure all energy sources are measured and accounted for.  Every employee has been involved in identifying or supporting energy-saving ideas and opportunities. Achieving this international standard demonstrates that the JDS Group will work to continuously improve its energy management procedures and where possible, lower its carbon footprint.

Integrated Systems Manager at James Donaldson and Sons, Mark Murphy commented on the certification, “In a business where sustainability is at the heart of our core values, achieving this accreditation builds on our journey towards better energy management. ISO 50001 underpins our commitment to be a responsible and sustainable business.”

James Donaldson and Sons (JDS) announced its ranking in the Sunday Times Top Track 250 Companies in the UK, for the third year running. Published this October, the list announced that the JDS Group had risen to number 147 this year.

Now in its 15^th year, the annual Top Track 250 is a league table that ranks Britain’s private mid-market growth companies with the biggest sales. The list was published in the Sunday Times on Thursday 3^rd October.

The JDS Group made its first appearance on the list in 2017 at number 207, then climbed to 198 in 2018 and now feature at number 147, a huge leap compared to previous years. This achievement reflects continued strong growth and performance for the Group over the last year.

Managing Director of James Donaldson and Sons, Scott Cairns said: “We’re honoured to be recognised as one of Britain’s leading mid-market companies and ranked among the most successful businesses in the UK. This year’s placing is recognition of our hard work and is another milestone in the growth of this unique business. Our success is fuelled by our clients and the principles of great service and trust that we always deliver, which means that we aren’t just a supplier; we are their partner. That partnership is the fuel that is allowing us to continue to grow. I am tremendously proud of all our teams, and their part played in the recognition by the Sunday Times in receiving this honour. Our group has doubled in size in the last 8 years, and we have done so ensuring that the customer remains firmly at the heart of all we do. The James Donaldson Group will continue to develop, and our plans for 2020 and beyond will see us continue to climb the Top Track 250.

The annual awards dinner took place in London on Tuesday, November 19^th attended by the cream of the UK’s mid-cap businesses under £700m in yearly turnover.

Previous winners in this prestigious list have included McLaren, Dyson, Aston Martin, Cala Group and Peter Vardy just to name a few, and we are immensely proud to be recognised alongside these brands.

The Herald Family Business Awards have announced their finalists for the 2019 awards and James Donaldson and Sons has been announced among the list of shortlisted companies in the categories; Rural Family Business of the Year (Large) and Family Business of the Year (Large).

The Herald Family Business Awards in association with Business Gateway, now in its 8^th year celebrates the diverse, innovative and dynamic family business sector. Today, almost two-thirds of businesses in Scotland are family-run enterprises, and the awards recognise these businesses that work tirelessly to ensure they succeed in the Scottish economy. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony held in Glasgow on Wednesday 4^th December.

Scott Cairns, Group Managing Director of James Donaldson and Sons said: “It’s great to be recognised as part of such a wide network of family businesses, who all come together at events like this to celebrate and share their successes.  Best of luck to all the finalists.”

James Donaldson and Sons Group (JDS) were crowned winners in three categories at the seventh annual Courier Business Awards on Saturday 26^th October in Dundee. The categories were Fife Family Business of the Year, Overall Family Business of the Year and the main award of the event, Business of the Year. The business of the Year was chosen from all entries by the judging panel and awarded to JDS for its sound and flexible business model, turnover growth, plans to expand and supportive attitude towards its workforce.

The Courier Business Awards celebrated the successes of local businesses that call Courier Country home. The ceremony held at the Apex Hotel in Dundee City Centre hosted over 820 attendees with 24 awards presented in various categories across a wide range of sectors and industries. JDS was among a record number of businesses to enter the awards this year for the first time, showing that the landscape across Tayside and Fife is stronger than ever.

Scott Cairns, Group Managing Director at James Donaldson and Sons, commented on the victory, “We are honoured to be recognised, not once but three times among the strong and extremely diverse line up of companies at the Courier Awards this year. As a family business, we are here to support the 900 families that work for us, and we all understand the importance of the JDS Group’s vision and values, so to be presented with these awards is a real testament to the hard work of the whole team.”

See the full list of winners here.

James Donaldson and Sons (JDS) announced today Wednesday, 14th August, their recent investment in Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for all 30 of their sites throughout the UK.

An AED is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heart beat and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest, (SCA). The British Heart Foundation and Resuscitation Council, (UK) have stated that the chances of surviving a SCA diminish by 10% every minute and the likelihood of survival after 10 minutes is almost zero.

Mark Murphy, Integrated Systems Manager at James Donaldson & Sons, said

“Most people can only imagine the impact a cardiac arrest can have, but, speaking from personal experience, I understand the devastating impact on the person’s family and work colleagues. We spend a significant time with our work colleagues, we talk to them, we know their families, we socialise with them, and in line with our proud family business ethos, they become our extended family.  The defibrillators mean that we are now able to provide assistance in the event of a first aid emergency, which could ultimately be the difference between life and death. The investment further demonstrates our commitment to putting health and safety first in everything we do.”

This personal experience combined with the fact that statistically SCA’s are most likely to affect middle aged and older men (42% of JDS employees are aged 45 and over), has driven the decision to invest in AEDs at all sites.

JDS have also registered their on-site AEDs on The Scottish Ambulance and Emergency Service website, as well as Heart Safe, the UK’s leading public access defibrillator website. The AEDs are now publicly available for people located close to sites to use during working hours.