Historic pan-Highland building firm McGregor Construction to be wound down; Covid has had an impact on firm with 144-year history whose buildings include massive extension in Dingwall

One of the Highlands' longest-established construction companies, with a heritage which dates back 144 years, is to be wound down.

Over the years, the business has carried out construction projects across the Highlands with the more recent examples including building a 19,000 square foot £1.3 million extension at the Edinburgh Salmon Company's Dingwall factory.

McGregor Construction director Alan O'Neill revealed his intention to wind down the company "in an orderly manner" in his strategic report for the year to January 31, 2020, and submitted to Companies House last month.

In his introduction to the report, Mr O'Neill wrote that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on national economic output, which in turn has impacted the group.

"Post year end the director has taken the decision to cease trading at a date yet to be confirmed," he writes.

"It is the intention of the director to wind down the business in an orderly manner, fulfilling all contracts, realising all assets and paying all liabilities."

Mr O'Neill also revealed that turnover for the period to the end of January 2020 had fallen almost a third to £6.3 million from £9.3 million the previous year, with profit dropping from 15.6 per cent in 2019 to 12.6 per cent in 2020.

McGregor Construction (Highland) Ltd, which operates across the Highlands and Islands from its head office at Seafield Road in Inverness and Ben Nevis Industrial Estate depot in Fort William, has a history which dates back to 1877 and works for both public and private sector clients.

Prior to the Covid-19 crisis it employed just over 70 staff.

It currently has nine employees. All other former employees have left or found alternative employment.

McGregor Construction has been approached for comment, but has not responded.

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