More Scottish jobs have been lost following the closure of five additional National Timber Group sites, piling fresh pressure on a sector already hit by the firm’s earlier collapse into administration. The move comes just weeks after the UK’s largest timber distribution and processing business shut six Scottish branches and confirmed widespread redundancies across its network.
Administrators have confirmed that operations have ceased at sites in Baldovie, Coatbridge, Glasgow, Inverness and Inverurie, with dozens of workers made redundant. These latest closures follow earlier shutdowns in Dumbarton, Forfar, Newton Stewart, Stirling, Hawkhill in Edinburgh and Anniesland, taking the number of Scottish depots lost into double figures in under a month.
An estimated 33 roles have been cut at the five newly closed branches, adding to 169 Scottish job losses announced when the company first entered administration. The cumulative impact means that more than 200 posts have now disappeared across Scotland, affecting staff, suppliers and local construction customers who relied on the group’s timber and roofing products.
Advisers from Alvarez & Marsal, appointed after National Timber Group ran into what management described as “difficult trading conditions and liquidity challenges”, said the latest closures were concentrated in branches where no viable buyer had emerged. While some parts of the business remain operational, administrators have warned that further changes are likely as they continue efforts to sell sites and salvage jobs ahead of Christmas.
National Timber Group, which operated well-known brands including Rembrand, Scotia Roofing and Orchard Timber Products, had 25 Scottish locations serving housebuilders, joiners and contractors. The loss of almost half of those sites in a matter of weeks raises concerns about supply chain disruption, longer lead times and reduced local choice for construction firms already dealing with cost pressures and project delays.
