KINROSS-based contracting firm Webster Developments is celebrating ten years in business.
The company was launched by Daniel Webster in his mum’s spare room when he was just 19-years-old. The firm started out fitting kitchens and small extensions, before progressing into full new build homes for private clients.
Today Webster Developments boasts a multi-million pound turnover and 41 employees.
Daniel trained as a joiner before growing the business from a multi-trades construction company to one carrying out more ambitious projects, including a church conversion and construction of affordable housing under several housing association contracts.
Over time, Webster Developments started to deliver new build homes all over Scotland, stretching from Perth & Kinross to Ayrshire and the Isle of Skye.
In 2014, Daniel established his own private housebuilding division, Webster Homes. The business utilised the skilled workforce of Webster Developments to create luxury country housing.
Keen to pursue other business interests as well, Daniel has added a number of subsidiary companies under the Webster banner, including self storage company Webster Storage, a hot air ballooning venture called Webster Adventures, and, in a move to create a sustainable business which ploughs all profits back into buying beehives, the launch of Webster Honey in 2015.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be celebrating ten years in business with the division that started it all for me, Webster Developments,” Daniel said. “It’s been a very busy time for us recently, working under challenging post-Brexit conditions, where we have faced shortages and delays in getting materials.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of my team for their continuing hard work and commitment which has seen us pull together as a team and overcome these challenges on a daily basis. I simply could not have got to this point without each and every one of them.
“I’d also like to thank our local building merchant in Milnathort with whom we have a really good working relationship. They have really helped us get through the pandemic by helping push material orders through, it’s been an absolute godsend for us.”
Despite the pandemic, Daniel revealed Webster Developments has continued with its apprenticeship scheme, with six apprentices currently engaged across a number of trades.
The business recently handed over the £1.3 million contract for Caledonia Housing Association which, when it was secured back in 2019, was the firm’s largest ever contract win. “It’s been our pleasure to deliver six new apartments, together with a renovation of an existing building to create an additional apartment, at Crieff Road, Perth,” Daniel added. “We worked for Caledonia Housing Association before, in 2017, constructing five new build flats at Wester Loan, in Milnathort. We very much hope to work for them, along with other leading housing associations, again in the future, as this type of contract gain work has been key to the growth and success of Webster Developments.”
Daniel said establishing Webster Homes was a natural progression from Webster Developments. “It made sense to establish our own division specialising in the top end of the market,” he explained. “We hope to launch a new Webster Homes development in 2022. Meanwhile, we are continuing apace at The Paddocks at Powmill, where seven homes – five steadings properties together with two large detached country homes – are under construction.
“We’ve always liked to do something a little bit different in the marketplace, taking more of a bespoke approach. Our detached properties at Gairneybank, for example, offered the flexibility of either an additional games room or a separate apartment above the triple detached garage. This was very well received by our buyers, looking for a ‘forever home’ in an established rural location.”
It was during the course of his work with private clients, who often had storage needs whilst waiting to move house, that Daniel spotted a gap in the market for a new self storage company servicing Fife, Tayside and Perthshire. Webster Storage now has 52 units at Bridgend Industrial Estate in Kinross. “It’s still a very vibrant sector for us which has been well used over the pandemic. Particularly with the prevalence of home working, clients have had to make room for home offices, with, in some cases, multiple family members home working. The units can be used to store furniture which is not needed at the moment, and likewise we are seeing businesses who have developed online shops using them to store stock.”
Looking ahead to 2022, Daniel plans to make further progress on the new Webster Group head office, also located in Bridgend Industrial Estate. The project, comprising a building with a low carbon footprint and sedum roof, has been delayed due to material shortages. The complex will house a series of eco-friendly office pods for hire, marketed under the new business banner of Webster Spaces.
“The delay in getting our materials for the head office complex is very frustrating, as it’s going to be a fantastic asset when completed,” Daniel commented. “The innovative offices will have low rent, low running costs, a state-of-the-art spec’d interior, and the most supportive like-minded neighbours. We’ll even make sure we room for some bee hives dotted around the complex which local businesses can adopt if they wish.
“Having reached ten years in business it will be great news to finally house all our business interests in the one location. It will make for more effective working for us all. Being from Kinross, I am proud to be creating this cutting edge eco head office complex here in my home town. I enjoy having many diverse platforms to develop, it keeps it fresh for me, and I believe that each sector of the Webster Group has potential, exploiting many current trends.”
