Who's Who - Company Directors
Ron Laing - AW Laing Ltd Company Director
In the early 1960's, Ron was brought up in his fathers growing business, helping at weekends and school holidays, (tasks included removing nails from timber and straightening them up for recycling). A salesman from the start, his first schoolboy enterprise was preparing kindlers from waste wood and selling them around the town!
Ron left Grantown-on-Spey in 1966, to serve a Technician Apprenticeship with Ferranti in Edinburgh. In 1970, he started a (Hons) Degree course at the Herriot Watt University (Edinburgh), where he graduated in 1973 in Mechanical Engineering. Ron then went on to work in a research department at Weir Pumps, Cathcart, Glasgow before returning to the family business AW Laing Ltd in the late 1970's.
His engineering background and technical drawing experience at Ferranti’s, including knowledge gained in subjects such as strength of materials and (thermo) dynamics, provided a key understanding of structures, heat and noise transfer, all relevant to house construction.
Ron is also very interested in the conservation and effective use of renewable energy, with the aim of being carbon neutral. Since the mid 1970’s, AW Laing Ltd have been constructing energy efficient houses using Scandinavian joinery components with triple glazing, utilising mechanical heat recovery and ventilation systems.
Geoff Laing - AW Laing Ltd Company Director
Geoff Laing was brought up in the AW Laing Ltd family business, and naturally learned the basics of construction at a young age. Geoff has been interested in construction and buildings ever since, graduating in 1995 from Herriot Watt Univeristy with an (Hons) degree in Building Economics and Quantity Surveying.
He spent 8 years at Davis Langdon and Everest, in London and Edinburgh, working with a mix of construction professionals through all disciplines, (including leading Architectural Practices such as Foster and Partners, Allies and Morrison, Shepperd Robson, Ian Ritchie Architects, Benoy and many others). During this period, he gained invaluable experience in cost planning, procurement and management over a wide range of construction projects. Geoff is also an Associate of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, (MRICS member).
Since January 2005, Geoff has been at AW Laing Ltd assisting in all areas of the family business, with joint responsibility for developing new business, competitively pricing contracts, managing health and safety of work and resource allocation.
What keeps Geoff motivated and interested? Being able to help people achieve their goals in what is often the largest step they may take in their life – designing and building their own home.
Previous building projects included:
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A wide range of eco friendly private projects, and developments within the Cairngorm National Park.
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Affordable Housing project (Ardgael - Kincraig), for the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust.
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Considerable redevelopment at Logie Steadings, (near Forres).
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The redesign, and rebuikld of the Scottish Gas HQ in Edinburgh.
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Theatre improvements for the Barbican Theatre, London.
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Refurbishment of the Waitrose Head Administration Office at Bracknell.
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New build office projects in Paternoster Square London, Gresham Street and Southwark for major clients such as Land Securities PLC, Greycoat Construction PLC and MEC (UK) Ltd.
Irene Laing - AW Laing Ltd Company Director
Irene was born into a Perthshire farming family, and enjoyed teaching Home Economics (in schools in both Paisley an Grantown on Spey), and then joined the family firm AW Laing Ltd in 1987.
Irene and Ron met as students in Edinburgh in 1971. They moved to Grantown on Spey in 1976, where the AW Laing Ltd family business were well established. Irene's interest, and background in Home Economics and Kitchen Design, certainly makes her a vital asset to the business. Over the years, Irene has provided key advice, managerial guidance and support to the firm on a daily basis.
Irene particularly enjoys meeting new people, and is enthusiastic about designing living spaces to suit individual personalities, and their particular needs. Giving customers pride and pleasure, in the use of what has been jointly created and implemented for them.