MSP Visits DJ Laing for Family Business Week

Celebrating and supporting family firms during the cost-of-living crisis

For Family Business Week, SNP MSP for Angus South Constituency, Graeme Dey, visited DJ Laing in Carnoustie to celebrate their amazing work.

DJ Laing was established in 1975 as a civil engineering contractor, by David and Dorothy Laing. Today, the next generation are shaping up for the future as the company continues its success, with daughter, Karen Nicoll heading up as Managing Director and son Gary Laing as Contracts Director of the housebuilding division. David Laing continues to be involved as Chairman and Dorothy Laing as Company Secretary.

Family Business Week is a week-long celebration of family businesses as a force for good. Events of the last few years have highlighted the vital role that businesses have to play in supporting their local communities, and it is these values that are at the heart of family businesses. Rooted in their local communities, family businesses provide a long-term, sustainable model which views business as a force for good. The theme for 2022 is ‘Celebrating Our Place In The World’.  It highlights the central role family firms play in shaping and supporting their local communities, economy and natural environment.

The Laing family are proud of their home town of Carnoustie and like to support the local community by investing in the local economy and environment plus various community events. The Company has also sponsored Carnoustie Panmure Football Club for over 30 years and the founder, David Laing is a former Chairman of the club and former Board Member of the Wood Recycling Association.

Mr Dey visited DJ Laing at Laing House, a magnificently restored from a former jute mill which serves as the world headquarters for the D J Laing Group, with a visually stunning forefront of Carnoustie and uninterrupted, commanding views of Carnoustie’s Championship golf course.

Mr Dey spoke with Chairman, David Laing and Managing Director, Karen Nicoll about their future plans for the business.

Commenting, Mr Dey said: “I was very pleased to meet with David Laing and Karen Nicoll at DJ Laing for Family Business Week.

“As we face into recession, with costs of doing business continuing to soar and access to appropriate funding getting tighter, the obstacles for family businesses loom higher than ever. It is now more important than ever that we celebrate the vital contributions of the family business sector.

“It was really interesting to hear about their future projects and development plans, alongside discussing issues facing the community on a whole.”

Karen Nicoll Said: “We were delighted to welcome Graeme to Laing House to recognise the occasion and contribution family businesses make.  It was an opportunity to discuss our successful 48 years in business and exciting plans for the future.  It has been a challenging time post pandemic but we are in a healthy position with a full and busy workload at the moment, thanks to our valued team and good relationships with clients, local suppliers and business associates.  New ventures are on the horizon and our family values plus investment in our staff is key to continual growth in a happy and rewarding environment.”