Based at Dunecht Estate, Highland Heritage Woodworks has developed TreePly, a sustainable plywood that is made from Scottish timber, reports The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire).

Owner Guy Phillips has secured investment of £100,000 which will go towards ensuring the product adheres to industry standards.

Phillips is anticipating to see his firm reach £4 million turnover by the end of 2026. 

Established four years ago by Phillips and Armands Balams, the firm now employ 12 people from its base, at the estate. 

The firm delivers sustainable timber to the construction industry alongside bespoke master carpentry.

Phillips said: “TreePly is the only homegrown plywood board manufactured in the UK.

“There are around 20 million sheets of boards brought into the UK every year. Not one of them is made here.”

Phillips added: “Half of the Scottish Edge money will be spent on testing and accreditation for the product.

“We want fire testing, acoustic testing, structural and thermal performance which will allow the TreePly board to be specified by architects, house designers and housebuilders.

“The rest of the money will be spent on a part-time sales person and research and development.”

The firm’s repurposed sawmill facility runs on a biomass boiler system.

In 2025, Highland Heritage Woodworks spent £250,000 to adapt its facilities, installing equipment and creating a customised sawmill.

The firm has been creating wooden bus shelters, using Douglas fir timber, which have been distributed in Basildon by Essex County Council.

Phillips said: “The next bit of our scale-up is around technology and additional headcount.

“The way for us to scale solar panels, the way to scale bus shelters, is around investing in technology, whether that’s CNC (computer numerical control) or robots, as well as the additional staff required to operate that machinery.”