Family firm has evolved from farming to construction

A contractor with primary clients in the major utilities has expanded to employ at least a dozen workers. For almost 20 years, Donald McLean Contractors (DMC), based at Tangytavil Farm, has offered a range of professional services which this year was bolstered by receiving the coveted accreditation in quality standard ISO9001. Speaking about the accreditation, Donald Jnr said: ‘This achievement will allow us to build a stronger relationship with the three main utility companies, providing them with confidence that we have quality systems in place for dealing with the management aspects of a contract as well as the practical.’ Since Donald Jnr became a partner with his father Donald the firm has expanded, but at a controlled pace, with the aim of being competitive and on a manageable scale. School was not for young Donald, 42, and he said: ‘I have always been interested in construction. ‘I left Campbeltown Grammar School one month before I turned 16 and took a job with one of the many Irish firms that were in Argyll at the time installing new ducting for telephone lines. ‘I learned a lot about road works and tar reinstating while working on this contract and from then I knew that this was the type of work which interested me. ‘I worked on a number of other construction projects before becoming a partner with my father in 1999.’ The fledgling partnership invested in plant which allowed it to supply labour as well to some of the larger firms working in and around Argyll and Bute. Donald added: ‘We have 12 full-time employees, plus me and my father and two part-time in the office. ‘This year we purchased our first tar paver. I always wanted our own machine for laying tar. Laying tarmacadam by hand, on some of the larger jobs, is back-breaking work and slow going. ‘With the paver we are in a position to competitively quote for larger jobs such as farm roads and large driveways.’ In the past 12 months DMC has also invested in its hire division, renewing the fleet of excavators which ranges from 14 tonnes to one tonne. DMC provides a range of hire equipment to private clients, utility and construction companies with or without an operator as well as a busy skip hire service for Kintyre. Services carried out throughout the year include: hard and soft landscaping, drainage installation and repairs, drain jetting and drainage surveys. Donald Jnr said: ‘We have squads which provide 24hr emergency backup service for Scottish Water, SSE and domestic customers that have issues with drainage or private water supplies. ‘We keep a large stock of water pipe repair fittings of all sizes, along with drainage materials.’ Recent works have included jobs in Islay, Oban and Tarbert as well as in South Kintyre. DMC has won contracts from SSE and Scottish Water in the past year giving a good building block for 2019. ‘The secret of our success is hard work and maintaining good customer relations with our clients,’ said Donald Jnr. ‘I like to keep overheads low and production high to enable us to stay competitive.’