Industrial News

What may not be so well known is that all of the joinery and metalwork used on their projects is manufactured by their own skilled craftsmen at their modern, well equipped workshops in Ayr.

Up until now these facilities have only been available to service the demands of William Skinner's own contracts. However, a recent review of capacity means that they can now manufacture individual and limited batch items for direct sale to private customers and businesses at competitive prices.

Examples of joinery products include entrance and field gates, shop counters, bars, display units, external and internal doors, wine racks, garden furniture, gazebos and summer houses.

Metal fabricated items include gates, railings, garden arches and security barriers and grills.

William Skinner concentrate on quality and can assist with design or work to your own design and drawings in the timber that you choose. Metalwork can be mild or stainless and a galvanised or other finish can be provided if this is a requirement. Metal folding facilities have recently been added in the workshop, further extending the range of products which we can produce.

They would welcome enquiries from both private clients and local businesses including the retail, agricultural and construction sectors.

As a commitment to the local community and the environment, as demonstrated by their recent establishment of a renewable energy division with emphasis on the solar heating market, the joiners at William Skinner have produced a limited number of bird nest boxes to an approved design for free distribution to local schools and charities. To request one of these or to discuss your requirements for timber or metal products please telephone Barney Duffy at William Skinner on 01292 671188.

Skinners now employ around 100 people from their head office at Highfield, St Quivox, just on the perimeter of Prestwick Airport.

In the last three years the company has trebled its turnover and quadrupled its profits.

Skinners concentrate predominantly upon refurbishment work rather than the construction of new buildings on green field sites, but also specialise in several other construction disciplines like joinery, tiling and plumbing.

Over the years the company has been successful in winning many large high-value contracts - for instance the refurbishment work it has done on outlets of the giant supermarket chain Tesco.

Looking to the future, renewable energy figures prominently in William Skinner & Son's plans.

The company has obtained planning permission to install a 6kW wind turbine at its St Quivox headquarters near Prestwick Airport, and they have also ordered a photovoltaic system as well as two solar panel heating systems.

The wind turbine will be supplied by Stewarton company Proven Energy.

Both the wind turbine, generating electricity from the wind, and the photovoltaic cells, which generate electricity directly from the sun, will feed into the National Grid any energy that Skinners generate but don’t need at the time, and the solar panels will produce much of the hot water they need.

Company chairman John Quinton commented: "Most people won’t want a wind turbine in their back garden, at least not until the new range of small domestic models becomes available, but everybody, surely, would like some free hot water.

"Within the next couple of months we shall be offering locally, and installing in one day, a solar hot water system which will generate half the hot water a typical household needs.

"It costs nothing to run it, what it produces is free, and there is a 30% grant available towards the very modest cost of installation."

And finally, detailed business targets have now been set by William Skinner & Son for the next five years, and this eminently successful Ayrshire company confidently expects to double its sales turnover again by 2010, whilst still maintaining its current level of profitability.

William Skinner & Son Ltd, Cunningham House, Highfield, St Quivox, AYR, Ayrshire. KA6 5HQ Scotland

Telephone: 01292 671188 Fax: 01292 671133
Website: www.williamskinner.co.uk

Fame Publicity Services, 10 Miller Road, AYR, Ayrshire KA7 2AY Scotland

Telephone: 01292 281498
Web: www.famepublicity.co.uk