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Long-standing Scottish Building Federation (SBF) member DJ Laing this year marks an incredible 50 years in business.

The Carnoustie-based company was established in 1975 as a focused civil engineering contractor.  It now stands a formidable, diversified presence in Scotland’s construction and housebuilding sector.

Founded by David and Dorothy Laing as DJ Laing (Contractors) Ltd the company initially forged its path by undertaking civil engineering projects for local authorities and national house builders.

A pivotal moment came in 1989 when DJ Laing strategically diversified into housebuilding.  This decision, which has since seen them successfully complete over 700 family homes across Tayside, demonstrates their foresight and remarkable adaptability in meeting the evolving demands of the market.

Today, this dynamic family business continues to thrive, with the next generation actively shaping its future trajectory.  Karen Nicoll – David and Dorothy’s daughter – now serves as Managing Director, while their son, Gary Laing, is the Construction Director of Housing in addition to Contracts Director, Gavin Watson, who leads the civil engineering contracts.

David Laing remains closely involved as Chairman, and Dorothy Laing has retired, and continues to make sure that the company’s foundational values and its deep-rooted ethos of quality and integrity endure through every new chapter.

Managing Director Karen said: “As this business moved into the family’s second generation, it had to focus on succession planning and the direction it wanted to take.

“Fifty years is a long time and we’ve certainly evolved during that time.  Our ability to adapt and change direction means we’ve managed not just to survive but to thrive.

“The decision to refocus and consolidate our core activities gave us the opportunity to diversify and develop a 14-acre business park as a long-term investment project.  The first phase of 16 units took a year to build and is now fully occupied with small businesses.

“This project clearly demonstrated our overall strengths and bow we’re looking to build the next two phases of small and large units to keep up with the demand.”

DJ Laing’s success isn’t simply about the structures they build; it’s rooted in their dedication to delivering a quality product and exceptional service, all powered by their valued and trusted workforce.

Their contracts division has cultivated long-term partnerships across diverse sectors, ranging from large-scale housebuilding to essential work for government bodies, earning a reputation for efficient and high-quality workmanship.

The deliberate decision to establish DJ Laing Homes, their dedicated housebuilding arm, allowed them to control the entire construction process, ensuring a consistent quality and meticulous attention to detail in every single home they create for their customers.

This belief in the power of a community extends into being main sponsors of their local football club (Carnoustie Panmure FC) and their membership of the Scottish Building Federation.  Karen serves on the SBF Board and believes passionately in finding pragmatic solutions to find a way out of the current housing crisis.

Their half-century milestone stands as a powerful example of how strategic evolution, when combined with deep-seated community ties and values, builds a lasting and impactful legacy within the Scottish construction industry.