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Highland-based glazing company Cairngorm makes a flying start to 2022 with increase in income as Covid-19 house trend fuels growth


By Neil MacPhail

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Joint managing director of Cairngorm Group, Chris Dowling.
Joint managing director of Cairngorm Group, Chris Dowling.

Cairngorm Group has racked up a phenomenal 77 per cent increase in income from conservatories and home extensions over the past 12 months.

This is on top of a 30 per cent value surge on similar products in 2020.

The boom has triggered the window manufacturer’s search for more joiners and fabricators to help cope with demand.

Group chairman David Dowling said: “People want more space in their homes. It’s a lifestyle trend generated by the pandemic, and as a result they’re seeking bigger and better conservatories and extensions.

“They’re viewing conservatories as year-round rooms and not summer only as they used to be, which is why they’re investing so strongly.

“We’ve also seen people moving from the central belt and England after selling their homes at top prices, buying more cheaply in the Highlands and adding quality extensions. It’s generated big business for us and shows no sign of slackening.”

Joint managing director Chris Dowling said: “This is the highest yielding year since we began making conservatories in 1988, and people working from home is a major factor. We’ve added them to homes from Skye and Caithness as far east as Inverurie in 2021, and enquiry levels remain high for the New Year.”

Cairngorm’s manufacturing of windows at their Longman facility rocketed by 70 per cent to December 2020 and has increased by a further 10 per cent over the past 12 months.

Housebuilders such as Springfield Homes, Tulloch Homes, Scotframe, Compass and Pat Munro have all provided strong repeat business for windows and doors and helped ensure a busy forward order book said Cairngorm.

Mr Dowling, who runs the business with his brother Scott heading the production side, attributes pent-up spending power due to being unable to go on holiday during the pandemic as one of the key reasons for home improvement investment.

Clients also love the company’s green agenda he added.


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