A Scottish based offsite manufacturing business - capable of delivering up to 2,000 timber frame structures per year - has made a key appointment, recruiting a Factory Operations Manager.
Alan Little, 50 and from just outside Kintore, Aberdeenshire, replaces the recently retired factory manager, joining growing Kirkwood Timber Frame, as it extends its geographic reach and operations beyond Scotland, south of the border.
As part of this extended role, he will be responsible for overseeing production, logistics, factory operational efficiency, and production development.
His appointment marks a strategic time in the expansion of the Aberdeenshire business, which from its inception has invested significantly in its factory facility. This includes £3m in state-of-the-art machinery and technology, to ensure it has the capability and capacity to support the growing timber frame market and customers’ needs.
Alan has worked for British Steel, where he completed its graduate trainee programme and has considerable experience in the construction industry, having worked for one of the UK’s leading timber frame companies and more recently a refrigerated trailer manufacturer, managing teams of up to 150 people.
His unique set of skills and significant experience – with over 30 years working in manufacturing – means that he can further support lean methods of operations, maximising the innovative technology of Kirkwood’s factory.
Supplied by HOMAG UK Limited the production line machinery has been supported by the addition of ultrafast timber cutting technology all of which contributed to Kirkwood Timber Frame’s creation of its FastBuild® Closed Panel timber frame product.
This product (FastBuild®) benefits from full insulation, windows, service, and cavity pre-fitting - all undertaken offsite, in the factory facility. For the customer it means that upon delivery, the timber frame structure could be erected within one day – significantly accelerating build programmes.
Amongst Alan’s skills is site operation planning, Health and Safety (H&S) improvement initiatives, team leadership and management, cost control and reduction. He is also well versed on a variety of Microsoft and Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.
He said: “I was attracted to the role at Kirkwood Timber Frame due to its vision and the significant investment it has made in its factory. The benefits of investing in the most up to date technology and machinery, have been significant. It has already enhanced production processes, reduced the need for manual handling and lowered health and safety risk (from tasks such as nailing) as most of this work is now automated.
“Kirkwood Timber Frame is a growing business which identified the opportunity - and positioned itself - to tap into the English market. It has the equipment and knowhow to help developers, SMEs, and self-builders in England, become early adopters of this modern method of construction (MMC). The business is also well known for its green efficiencies and cost saving credentials.
“It is exciting to be part of such a skilled, knowledgeable and enthusiastic team that is driving the business forward by investing in its people, technology, products and services, for the benefit of its customers.”
Alan will be responsible for managing a team of 30 and the planning of all factory operations, efficiency, and quality control.
Malcolm Thomson, Managing Director at Kirkwood Timber Frame, added: “Alan is a key appointment to the team. We are committed to recruiting and retaining experienced and skilled staff.
“His appointment marks a pivotal time in the business, as we begin working on new contracts in Scotland and the rest of the UK. We are confident that Alan will maximise our factory capabilities as well as supporting our operatives, who are an integral part of our team.
“We have a highly skilled team, with over 300 years combined experience of the industry and we are confident that Alan’s knowledge, skill set and previous experience of working in Scotland, Wales and England will prove advantageous as we begin working in new geographic areas.”
“According to the Structural Timber Association’s research, there is existing capacity in the established structural timber sector to double timber frame manufacturing output to achieve 100,000 homes per annum – equivalent to 1-in-3 of the 300,000 homes needed each year.
“We want to lead in the delivery of more timber frame properties and buildings, by being a tried and tested partner that can support customers through the entire process - from conception to design and delivery. We understand that this is not a ‘one size fits all approach’ and we continue to collaborate with our customers to create bespoke timber frame solutions within budget, but that exceed expectations.”
Kirkwood Timber Frame has over 40 years’ experience in delivering timber frame structures. Its factory is one of only a handful in the UK to have the machinery and capability to be producing panels of 12 meters in length , 3.2m high and up to 300mm deep.
Recent milestone projects include supplying and installing the timber frames for:
• Accommodation to house 55 students in Dundee
• 64 affordable homes in Earlston, Berwickshire
• 45 homes in the Northeast of England delivering a regional housebuilder’s first timber frame development.
• 38 properties for Cala Homes in Aberdeenshire
• 120 homes for Cruden Group in East Calder
• Partnering Places for People Scotland on delivering its Timber Frame Framework. This includes five live sites, with a sixth due to start in January 2025, combined these total 580 homes.
Kirkwood Timber Frame also has a proven record of successfully delivering self-build projects for customers in city, urban, rural, and isolated locations across the UK.
