The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Deanestor sees growth and ‘solid’ order book
Scottish arm equates to £38m of furniture fit-out firm’s record figure
The owners of a Fife-based furniture and fit-out specialist has seen turnover grow to more than £18 million, and points to the role of its Scottish arm for a quote book running at record levels.
Deanestor, whose Scottish headquarters are in Dunfermline, manufactures, distributes and installs specialist furniture for a range of sectors including healthcare, education, laboratories and accommodation.
The firm saw turnover increase by 12.5% to £18.3m for the year ending December 31 2019, up from £16.3m in 2018.
Pre-tax profits increased from £566,928 in 2018, to £629,424 last year, a rise of 11%.
In the newly filed accounts, managing director William Tomkinson said the firm’s growth was due to the continued success in a number of markets including student and kitchen sectors.
He said: “Deanestor currently has a quote book of £138.6m, which is a historical record for the business.
“This figure includes Deanestor Scotland, which equates to £38.2m.”
He added the firm has a “solid order book”, standing at more than £8m, as well as increased levels of inquiries over past quarters.
“There appears to be significant government spending planned for schools and hospitals in the coming months and years, which Deanestor is in a very strong position to benefit from.”
In July, the Dunfermline arm was appointed to fit out 324 rooms across the new Barony Campus in Cumnock, the largest new school project in Scotland.
The deal is worth more than £1m to the firm, who have been contracted to manufacture and install bespoke fitted furniture, including 117 learning walls, 1,200 metres of shelving, 1,500 metres of worktops, kitchens and food technology laboratories on the site.
The average monthly headcount across the company last year was 142, with 82 employed in production and 60 in administration roles, bringing a wage and associated costs bill of £4.8m.
As well as the Dunfermiline base, Deanestor has manufacturing and distribution facilities in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
In 2019, Deanestor acquired the Havelock brands, including ESA McIntosh, out of administration.
Mr Tomkinson concluded: “In summary, the mid-term prospects for Deanestor are excellent and due to increased government spending in two of our largest and most successful sectors, we would expect to return to the successful levels of 2019 in the near future.”