Forestry contracting in northern Scotland: A survey report

Abstract

This paper reports results from a survey of forest contracting firms ('contractors') in Northern Scotland, carried out as part of a tripartite 1991-94 study of forestry in rural development in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Aspects of the overall study focused upon the structure and activities of the contractor sector of the Scottish forestry industry, in particular its sources of business, employment characteristics, capital assets and future prospects. Results show that the sector in 1992 was highly fragmented, while sub-contracting was common. Harvesting and general contractors were heavily reliant on the Forestry Commission for contracts, while silvicultural contractors mostly relied on forest management companies and farmers. During the last 12 years, employment has increased only in the general sector, while workers directly employed tended to live closer to the firm's address than sub-contractors. Finally, most harvesting and silvicultural firms in the area were, at the time of survey, pessimistic as to the future survival of their businesses.