The Highland-based sawmill operator and biomass supplier is teaming up with the long-established Lanarkshire construction company to supply and install bespoke garden rooms and home offices across Scotland.

The move is designed to benefit from the continuing strong demand for outdoor space which was sparked by lockdown and is now being sustained by the huge numbers of people – estimated by the ONS at up to 40% – who still work part of the week from home.

Under the terms of the deal, wood will be supplied from GMG’s eco-friendly plant in the Strath of Halladale in Sutherland, which is powered by a massive solar array on the roof, and Hendry will cut the timber to size to create and install the individually-crafted units.

Malcolm Morrison, director of GMG Energy, said: “I was inspired to investigate the possibility of a partnership when Kirk Hendry, the owner of Hendry Builders, and his team built a remarkably useful and aesthetically pleasing home office in my own garden.

“The craftsmanship and the quality of work was quite outstanding and the custom-built structure has added value and flexibility to the property, as well as being brought in on time and on budget.

“There is a huge market for this kind of structure, with sector predicting a rise in sales of up to 10% this year. Suppliers are also increasingly focusing on sustainability, using eco-friendly materials and incorporating energy-efficient features, which is a perfect fit with the way we operate.”

Kirk Hendry, who has been in the construction industry for 41 years, said from his base in Strathaven: “We have undertaken a wide variety of work this year, including building two houses, a garden house and a dental surgery, but we see a great scope for growth in the demand for outdoor work and living space.

“The alliance with GMG Energy chimes with customer demand for environmentally-aligned products, since Malcolm has invested heavily in renewables and also specialises in ethically sourced timber from its own sustainable resources.”

GMG Energy, which has a turnover in excess of £2 million, has spent £100,000 on solar power generation as well as £250,000 on equipment. It is a major contributor to the circular economy, using local suppliers and providing products with significantly fewer transport miles to local businesses. It processes 2,000 tons of timber annually.

As a major plank of its business model, the company is committed to replacing every log of timber that it uses, and plants 10,000 new trees a year, which grow to maturity in 35 years. It has far exceeded this target in recent years.