ISSUE 42
WINT E R 2022
THE NEWSLETTER FOR CUSTOMERS OF THE SCOTT GROUP
SERVING LOCAL INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE
BSW ACQUIRES SCOTT GROUP We’re delighted to announce that BSW Timber, the largest integrated timber and forestry business in the UK, and a member of binderholz, has acquired Scott Group.
As many of our regular readers will already know, Scott Group was founded in 1987 and operates across 32 sites, from Aberdeen to Devon. We work with customers to promote the circular economy, which is emphasised by our pallet recovery, repair and reuse service and our timber sourcing arm in Latvia. Tony Hackney, CEO of BSW Group, said: “We’re absolutely
thrilled to have acquired Scott Group. It’s a move which further strengthens our product and service offering. “It ties into our vision of not only maximising the value of timber but also of achieving the best uses for timber across the BSW Group whilst fully utilising the logistical firepower of the combined businesses. This strategic acquisition means that we are poised and ready to serve our customers when we see economic recovery and upturn. “Much like us, Scott Group has grown organically and through acquisition during its 35-year history,
and we’re confident that with the expertise and experience of BSW and Scott together, we can continue to build on this both in the UK and further afield.” Norman Scott, owner and Group Operations Director at Scott Group, added: “This is a positive move for both Scott
Group and the wider timber industry, helping us to cement our status as the UK’s most innovative manufacturer and supplier of timber pallets. It also helps us to ensure that we can work even closer with customers to provide solutions that fit their requirements and deliver value.”
With the acquisition of Scott Group, BSW Group now employs 3,000 people across the sector and has an annual turnover of approximately £900m, with binderholz’s turnover reaching almost €2.5bn. BSW CEO Tony Hackney and CFO Alan Milne will join the existing Scott Group Board of Directors, who will continue in their current roles.
Together, we deliver more.
ISSUE 42
SERVING LOCAL INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE
Delivering on operational excellence Earlier this year, we embarked on a journey of cultural transformation to drive improvement in all our processes within the business with the end goal of improving our overall quality and reliability. There are many strands to our three-year operational excellence strategy and we have already recruited four lean practitioners and a process engineer to work across our manufacturing sites throughout the UK, with two further appointments in the pipeline. We’ve also made a huge commitment to investing in our people through lean training (for all 747 people in our pallet business during the next three years) and train the trainer training for 90 people in managerial and supervisory roles. Hassam Hernandez Operations Director, Scott Pallets – Manufacturing, said: “As leaders in our industry, we must continue to show the way through our progressive culture. Customers are at the core of what we do, and we continue to deliver the best solutions, so by continuing to innovate and lead the industry standards, we need to bring our people on the journey with us. This programme of operational excellence means we’re continuing to make a huge commitment to investing in our people’s knowledge and skills base, and we’re looking forward to fostering an even greater sense of teamwork to deliver more for our customers.” Since launching the programme, we have already made significant progress with internal training schemes.
David Fraser, Plant Manager at Scott Pallets – Manufacturing site in Burntisland, recently completed the white belt (first stage) in lean training. He said: “I think I speak for everyone when I say we all really enjoyed the first training session. We learned the basic principles of ‘lean’ along with some great real-life examples as well as practical exercises to tackle the common workplace ‘it’s not my job’ mentality and encourage more pro-active teamwork. I left feeling revitalised and ready to engage fully into our project.
Together, we excel.
New PPE and workwear recycling service The industrial and trade supplier, Scott Direct, has launched a new service for the secure collection and recycling of end-of-life workwear and PPE. Rob Sayles, Managing Director at Scott Direct, said: “Used workwear and PPE can be a problematic and costly waste issue for businesses, but we can help you take responsibility with our secure textile and hard hat recycling services that solve the problem sustainably.” He continued: “Based on a weekly collection using a 1100ltr bin option, a business could save more than 13,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per year – it’s better for the environment, and better for your budget.” The textile recycling service offers a range of bins sizes and uplift frequencies for the collection, recycling and secure end-of-life management of used clothing, uniforms, garments, and other textiles. Hard hats are notoriously problematic and difficult to destroy once they’ve been used but can now be sent to Scott Direct for recycling. The hard hat recycling service ensures all of the plastic from end-of-life hard hats is fully recovered and recycled back into new plastic pellets. This is all done right here in the UK. Scott Direct is also offering a glove laundry service which can provide huge cost savings, without compromising on safety. The quick and reliable laundry service aims to reduce the cost of purchasing new PPE and minimise the environmental impact of sending used PPE to landfill. Rob continued: “Sustainability is integral to our core business values. It shapes the way we work across our operations in the UK and how we engage with our global supply chains. We aim to minimise the environmental impact of our products at each stage of their lifecycle and deliver innovative and sustainable solutions that promote circular economy principles, aiming for zero non-recovered waste.” Find out more at www.scottgroupltd.com/sustainability/workwear-and-ppe-recycling/
2 PLATFORM || SCOTT GROUP
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SERVING LOCAL INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE
Scottish partnership forged to bring garment manufacturing back to UK
ISSUE 42
SEAHAWK SECURES CERTIFICATION FOR UK MADE GARMENT
Seahawk Apparel, our Scottish-based workwear garment manufacturer, has teamed up with SSEAMS, the apparel creative agency, to champion onshore manufacturing opportunities and support our investment plans to produce premium apparel at our specialist garment manufacturing facility in Glenrothes, Fife. Together, we’ll strategically support clothing brands through the product development and production process, providing a complete support system for customers with the principle of working together to create progressive and sustainable apparel solutions – bringing mill, manufacturer, and designer closer. A step on from the traditional CMT (cut, make, trim) service, the facility will offer a full menu of services from materials sourcing to pattern making for the first time in more than a decade. Diane Richardson, co-founder at SSEAMS, said: “Taking brand and production industry expertise from strong manufacturing locations worldwide, we’re confident about putting Scotland back on the map for product creation excellence. Working together to share multi-disciplinary skills is a progressive step forward for Scottish garment manufacturing and together we aim to bring brand, maker, fabric mill and design closer together, back in Scotland, to support all parties’ business and environmental impact goals.” Designed and made in Scotland, the Seahawk premium apparel factory collection aims to attract British brands that currently source overseas to return home for their garment manufacturing. The collection covers market -relevant modern workwear styles and showcases Seahawk’s technical expertise with weatherproofed and performance outerwear. Rob Sayles, Managing Director at Seahawk, said: “The team combined offers years of experience in product creation and supply chain management. If we can take learnings from other countries which have built a strong ecosystem around garment manufacturing and implement those in Scotland, then we have a fantastic opportunity to build a sustainable future for a truly skilled workforce.”
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Our Fife-based premium garment manufacturer, Seahawk Apparel, has launched its own brand, certified flame retardant, anti-static coverall – made in Scotland. Certified to EN11611 Class 1; EN11612 A1, A2, B1, C1, and F1; EN1149-3:2004, and EN13688, the new coverall combines strength with comfort and style, and is suitable for a wide range of industries including oil and gas, welding, engineering and transport. Gordon Reid, Production Manager at Seahawk, said: “This particular garment is a real showcase of our skills at Seahawk, and demonstrates our capabilities to deliver really excellent quality garment manufacturing onshore, right here in the UK, shortening the supply chain and reducing the carbon impact of clothing production. This type of garment is very difficult to source within the UK, so we’re really delighted to have secured the EN certification, following the meticulous certification process, that will enable us to support many different customers with this product. We expect it to be a real hit with our oil and gas and engineering customers.”
Available in a range of colours and full run of sizes, the coverall uses TenCate Protective Fabrics’ Tecapro® satin line BG9035 fabric. This material was selected because of its unique combination of comfort, strength, protection, and colour performance – it really lasts, and offers great value for money. The fabric also has an extremely low shrinkage value at less than 3%. Yvette Ashby, Founder and CEO at Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW), said: “Collaborative partnership working with UK manufacturer and PCIAW member, Seahawk Apparel has delivered an innovative, accredited garment that’s both protective and comfortable for the wearer.”
Buy online at www.scottdirect.com/seahawk-style-234122101-hi-vis-flame-retardant-antistatic-coverall
SCOTT GROUP || PLATFORM 3
ISSUE 42
SERVING LOCAL INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE
Merry Christmas
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Reconditioned team expansion
To locate your nearest Scott Group supplier please visit:
scottgroupltd.com
During the last five years, our reconditioned pallet business has grown 25% and we’re now procuring 10.5m used pallets per year. Reconditioned pallets are a vital part of the mix for many pallet users, and are critical to our offering of a complete, sustainable pallet solution. As environmental priorities continue to climb the agenda, demand for used pallets is stronger than ever, due to the timber market dynamics. To ensure we’re supporting our customer on both ends of the supply chain – buyers and sellers of used pallets, we’ve made some key additions to the team. We’re recruited three new faces to specifically support our buyers of reconditioned pallets: Steven Cleland has joined as Sales Team Leader; Alex Greenwood as Business Development Manager - East; and David Hart as Key Account Manager. Chris Colegate, Sales & Procurement Manager at Scott Pallets – Reconditioned, said: “These new appointments strengthen our existing team and add further senior level experience to ensure our customers benefit from more hands-on account management, improved service levels and better, more regular communication.” We operate a strategic national network of 13 reconditioned pallet sites, and are the UK’s most trusted, consistent buyer of used pallets. As a result, we have a comprehensive range of pallet specifications in stock and for sale at all times.
We’re buying used pallets UK wide now. Contact palletcollection@scott-pallets.com 4 PLATFORM || SCOTT GROUP
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SCOTT GROUP INVESTMENTS LTD, HALBEATH INTERCHANGE BUSINESS PARK, KINGSEAT ROAD, HALBEATH, DUNFERMLINE, FIFE KY11 8RY T: 01383 627 100 F:01383 627 101
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