What’s Happening: Major Timber Firm Collapses and Jobs Lost
National Timber Group (NTG) in Administration
- National Timber Group, one of the UK’s largest independent timber distribution and processing firms, has entered formal administration following severe trading and liquidity problems. (Wikipedia)
- The group runs around 47 sites across Scotland and England and previously employed approximately 1,150 people nationwide. (Press and Journal)
Extent of Job Losses
- Initial closures in November 2025 led to 561 redundancies — roughly half the workforce — when 13 branches were shut immediately. (Wikipedia)
- Further closures in mid-December 2025 saw five more sites in Scotland close, resulting in 33 additional job cuts, as well as 11 extra redundancies tied to earlier closures. (STV News)
- In total, well over 500 jobs have now been lost across the UK, with more than 200 roles eliminated just in Scotland. (STV News)
- NTG’s total UK workforce was around 1,200, meaning these redundancies affect a significant portion of its employees. (STV News)
Case Impact: Site Closures and Redundancies
Scottish Site Shutdowns
- NTG confirmed closure of several Scottish sites, including:
- Coatbridge
- Baldovie
- Inverness
- Inverurie
- Glasgow
– with 33 jobs lost at these locations. (STV News)
- Earlier closures in Dumbarton, Forfar, Newton Stewart, Edinburgh (Hawkhill), Anniesland and Stirling had already led to dozens more cuts. (STV News)
- In Scotland alone, redundancies now top 200 as operations are wound down where no sale interest was found. (STV News)
Companywide Effect
- Across the rest of the UK, redundancies are similarly concentrated at sites where offers to buy the business could not be secured. (STV News)
- As a whole, hundreds of employees across distribution and processing units have lost their jobs in a major employment shock for the timber and wider construction supply sector. (STV News)
Why This Is Happening
Trading Conditions and Liquidity Pressures
- Administrators appointed to NTG (jointly managed by Alvarez & Marsal) emphasised that the group had been facing “difficult trading conditions and liquidity challenges” for some time before going into administration. (Wikipedia)
- Despite looking for buyers of the business or parts of it, no buyer came forward for the business as a whole, forcing redundancies at sites with no sale interest. (STV News)
Sale Efforts and Partial Rescues
- Administrators noted offers were received for some NTG sites — meaning parts of the business could continue under new ownership for some employees — but not enough interest emerged for a full-group rescue. (STV News)
Comments from Administrators and Management
Administrator Statement
- Alvarez & Marsal stated that where “no offers of sale were received for branches,” closures and redundancies were “necessary.” They are supporting affected workers through redundancy procedures. (STV News)
CEO Remarks
- NTG’s CEO, Mark Dixon, previously acknowledged the firm had been in “advanced discussions” with a potential buyer and had been experiencing ongoing market and liquidity struggles before the administration appointment. (STV News)
Industry & Local Impact
Supply Chain & Construction Link
- National Timber Group’s collapse has knock-on implications for the construction supply chain, as timber distribution and processing are core inputs for building and renovation projects across the UK.
Local Economic Impact
- In regions like Scotland where multiple sites closed simultaneously, the job losses create a significant local employment impact, especially for towns with few alternative large employers. (STV News)
Examples of Partial Rescues
Sites Secured by Other Firms
- Some NTG assets have been acquired by other firms, which are securing jobs at specific locations. For example:
- Premier Forest Products recently acquired two former NTG sites (Manchester and Reading), safeguarding 36 existing jobs, with plans to expand staffing as these branches rebuild. (Business News Wales)
This demonstrates a mixed picture where some jobs are lost but others may be protected through targeted acquisitions.
Summary – Key Facts
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company in trouble | National Timber Group entered administration due to trading and liquidity pressures. (Wikipedia) |
| Job losses | Hundreds of redundancies (over 500 jobs cut) across UK sites; 200+ in Scotland alone. (STV News) |
| Sites closed | Multiple distribution and processing sites shut where no buyer was found. (STV News) |
| Administrator role | Alvarez & Marsal managing closures, redundancies, and ongoing sale efforts. (STV News) |
| Partial rescues | Some sites (e.g., Reading, Manchester) acquired by new owners, saving some jobs. (Business News Wales) |
What Happens Next
- Administrators are continuing to seek buyers for other NTG sites, which could potentially rescue more jobs if deals complete before year-end. (STV News)
- Employees made redundant are being supported through statutory processes and advised on redundancy entitlements. (STV News)
Here’s a case-study and comments-focused breakdown of the hundreds of jobs lost in the collapse of the UK’s largest timber firm, including real examples, impact snapshots and reactions from administrators and other stakeholders:
Background: Collapse of National Timber Group
National Timber Group (NTG) — one of the UK’s biggest independent timber distribution and processing firms with around 1,150–1,450 employees across dozens of sites — entered administration in late November 2025 after prolonged difficult trading conditions and liquidity pressures. Joint administrators were appointed to parts of the group as rescue or sale options were explored. (Wikipedia)
When administration was formalised, 13 branches were closed immediately and 561 staff were made redundant, marking a major employment shock in the construction-materials supply sector. (Lawyer Monthly)
Case Study A — Immediate Job Losses and Site Closures (National Timber Group)
Scale of Redundancies
- 561 redundancies were confirmed across England and Scotland when NTG filed for administration and shut 13 branches. (Lawyer Monthly)
- The closures affected both distribution and processing operations that served builders, contractors and infrastructure projects nationwide. (Press and Journal)
Impact on Local Communities
In Scotland alone, the closures resulted in significant local job losses:
- Initial closures at six sites (e.g., Dumbarton, Forfar, Newton Stewart, Edinburgh, Anniesland, Stirling) led to 169 job losses earlier in the administration process.
- Subsequent closures at five more locations (Coatbridge, Baldovie, Inverness, Inverurie, Glasgow) added 33 further cuts, with additional roles eliminated at previously closed sites — bringing action-area redundancies to over 200 in Scotland. (The Scottish Sun)
These closures had knock-on effects for regional supply chains that relied on timber distribution, as builders and smaller merchants scrambled to re-source material on short notice.
Case Study B — Partial Business Sales and Saved Jobs
Not all of NTG’s operations were lost. Administrators worked to sell viable sites to other timber firms, which protected some employment:
Premier Forest Products Acquisition
- Premier Forest Products — a major independent timber merchant — acquired two previously NTG-operated Arnold Laver sites in Reading and Manchester.
- This deal secured 36 existing jobs and included plans to expand staffing (potentially to 100+ roles) as the sites were rebuilt and restaffed. (Yahoo News)
These partial sales illustrate an important lesson in large employer insolvencies: targeted asset sales can preserve jobs and maintain supply continuity where full business rescue is not possible.
Comments & Reactions
Administrator Commentary
- Joint administrators (Alvarez & Marsal) said redundancies were necessary in branches where no buyers came forward for the business as a whole, and they are supporting affected employees through statutory redundancy processes. (The Scottish Sun)
- They also noted that offers were received for some sites, indicating continued interest in parts of the business and raising hopes that more jobs could be saved if sales complete before Christmas. (The Scottish Sun)
Wider Sector & Market Context
NTG’s collapse comes amid strains in UK construction supply markets:
- Rising cost pressures, supply chain tightening and reduced margins have impacted many building-materials suppliers this year, making it harder for mid-sized distributors to stay solvent.
- The timber and builders’ merchant sector is also feeling competitive pressure from larger players and tight credit conditions for smaller sub-suppliers servicing housebuilders and contractors.
While NTG’s failure is unusually large for the sector, the broader market has shown signs of stress across construction-related firms — a theme reflected in wider 2025 insolvencies and job cuts across parts of the industry. (Planning, Building & Construction Today)
Summary: Job Losses & Outcomes
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company | National Timber Group (one of the UK’s largest timber distributors) (Wikipedia) |
| Administration | Entered administration in late Nov 2025 due to trading/liquidity issues (Wikipedia) |
| Jobs lost | ~561 redundancies so far; 200+ in Scotland alone (The Scottish Sun) |
| Sites closed | 13+ branches shuttered as part of the administration process (Lawyer Monthly) |
| Saved jobs | 36 jobs protected via sale of two sites to Premier Forest Products (Yahoo News) |
| Next steps | Administrators seeking buyers for additional sites to retain jobs before year-end (The Scottish Sun) |
Key Takeaways
- Large-scale redundancies reflect the challenge of rescuing a national timber group amid difficult trading conditions.
- Partial asset sales demonstrate a pathway to preserve employment and maintain regional supply chains.
- The timber and construction distribution sector remains sensitive to economic cycles and liquidity pressures, with NTG’s collapse serving as a high-profile example.