In an exemplary strategic business initiative, North West Mull Community Woodland Company Ltd, has purchased island based woodchip supplier, Crannich Woodfuel, to continue the expansion of their woodfuel business.
Trading under the new name, Island Woodfuels, the company will sell woodchip as well as logs and kindling. This makes the business large enough for the company to hire a new employee.
In a second strategically intelligent move, Robin Sedgwick, who set up and developed Crannich Woodfuel, is to stay on with the new company to encourage and provide guidance to people considering the switch to woodfuel.
Robin will continue deliveries for the company while they train up the new employee and also help maintain good quality woodchip, ensuring a seamless transition for existing customers.
The primary benefit of the purchase will be the ability of the company – which owns and manage over 1500 acres of woodland at Langamull and West Ardhu woodlands in the north west of the Isle of Mull – to ensure the long term security of supply for customers.
Colin Morrison, Chair of NWMCWC Ltd, says: ‘When the opportunity arose to consider expanding our existing woodfuel business by the purchase and development of Crannich Woodfuel the Board was understandably very excited.
‘It seems a logical progression for NWMCWC Ltd to add value to our timber resource while creating local employment and ensuring security of supply for island woodfuel users’.
Robin Sedgwick says: ‘I am delighted the woodfuel business that we have built up over the last 8years will be carried on by Island Woodfuels, a community-led company with their own forests, providing secure future timber supplies.
‘The business can now really expand and provide local job creation, ensuring a sustainable local fuel supply for existing customers and those contemplating investing in a biomass boiler in the future. This is driven by the community for the community.
‘With the government’s renewable heat incentive to help with business and domestic installations, now is the time for anyone thinking of switching to woodfuel to come on board. This initiative is the beginning of a completely local, sustainable renewable energy future for Mull, Iona and beyond, and I am very pleased to be involved in moving it onto the next phase’.
Anyone interested in finding out more should either:
- phone Island Woodfuels on 01688 400559 (line due to be installed this Thursday, 21st November)
- or – from 1st December – visit the Island Woodfuels website which will then be active here.
North West Mull Community Woodland Company Ltd, which has charitable status, purchased Langamull and West Ardhu woodlands in 2006, through the Scotland’s seriously enabling National Forest Land Scheme. They did so with the assistance of the Scottish Land Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Robertson Trust, Hugh Fraser Foundation, significant local fundraising and an interest free loan.