MacDonald & MacIntyre Joinery: Preserving 50 Years of Highland Craftsmanship

The Business
For half a century, MacDonald & MacIntyre has been part of the joinery and manufacturing landscape in the Highlands of Scotland.

From its base in the Inverness area, the family-run business has grown its presence across Dingwall, Nairn and Aviemore, combining specialist manufacturing with the skills and experience of a ten-strong team.

Fifty years in business speaks for itself. MacDonald & MacIntyre had established the experience, reputation and local presence that comes from decades in the trade – making the eventual decision to sell an important moment in the company’s history.

The priority was to make sure its next chapter was in the right hands.

The Challenge
After 50 years of building MacDonald & MacIntyre, the owner’s decision to sell came with responsibilities that went well beyond agreeing a price.

At the heart of the business was its team of ten employees. Any sale needed to give them security and continuity, while also ensuring that the name, reputation and relationships built up over decades would be carried forward.

There was also the question of who could realistically take the business on. With a specialist joinery and manufacturing operation, the strongest buyer would be one who could see more than the immediate value of the business – they needed to understand where it could fit within their own operation and what could be achieved by bringing the two together.

The challenge was finding that fit without compromising what had made MacDonald & MacIntyre successful in the first place

What We Did
From the outset, the focus was on finding a buyer who represented the right strategic fit for the business, rather than relying on the open market alone.

Alongside the wider marketing process, we considered where that fit might already exist. Simon Fraser had previously worked with Norscot Joinery and understood its growth ambitions and established presence in the Highlands. With Norscot already operating from premises close to MacDonald & MacIntyre in Inverness, there was a natural opportunity to explore.

A direct approach was made to Norscot, and as discussions progressed, the potential became increasingly clear. The geographic and operational synergies between the two businesses made the acquisition a strong fit, while Norscot had the scale and experience to support MacDonald & MacIntyre’s next chapter.

Business Partnership remained closely involved throughout, bringing the parties together, negotiating and structuring the transaction, and guiding the sale through to completion.

The Outcome
The acquisition was successfully completed at the end of March, bringing MacDonald & MacIntyre into the wider Norscot group and securing the next chapter of the 50-year-old business.

Importantly, the priorities that had shaped the sale from the beginning were protected. All ten members of staff transferred across in their existing roles, providing continuity for both the team and the business.

The previous owner also remains involved on a staged retirement basis, allowing decades of knowledge and experience to be passed on gradually rather than disappearing at the point of sale.

Now part of a larger Highland group, MacDonald & MacIntyre can build on its established name and reputation with the added scale and capabilities of Norscot behind it – while retaining the people and foundations that made the business what it is today.

In Their Words

Simon Fraser, the Business Partnership Partner who handled the sale, said:

There is a clear strategic alignment between the two businesses, both operationally and geographically. Having worked with Norscot Joinery, we understood their growth ambitions and believed this represented a strong long-term fit.

Our role was to bring the parties together, structure the transaction and guide it through to completion, ensuring a positive outcome for all stakeholders while preserving the legacy of a well-established local business.

Thinking About Selling Your Business?
The sale of MacDonald & MacIntyre shows that finding the right buyer isn’t always about waiting for them to find you.

Sometimes, the strongest opportunity comes from understanding the market, recognising where two businesses could work well together and knowing who to approach. In this case, an existing relationship and an understanding of Norscot’s growth ambitions helped bring together two businesses with a clear strategic fit.

At Business Partnership, we look beyond simply bringing a business to market. We take the time to understand what matters to you, from achieving the right value to protecting your team, preserving what you’ve built and finding a buyer capable of taking the business forward.

If you’re considering selling your business, contact us today for a confidential, no-obligation discussion with your local Business Partnership advisor.

Contact us today for a confidential, no-obligation discussion with your local Business Partnership advisor