A charity business which was saved from liquidation five years ago has won a major contract to make mattresses for the famous Caledonian Sleeper rail service.
Outsourcing giant Serco has tasked Glencraft, which is partly staffed by disabled people, to manufacture hundreds of beds for a planned new fleet of trains being introduced in 2018.
The six-figure contract is a major coup for the social enterprise, which faced the axe in 2009 and was rescued by local businessmen in a Scottish Government-backed package.
Glencraft will supply replacement mattresses throughout the duration of the 15-year rail franchise.
Factory general manager Carl Hodson said: “We are absolutely delighted to be involved in the supply chain for the Caledonian Sleeper service and we look forward to working with Serco to make sure passengers have a fantastic nights sleep.
“This type of work and things we are currently progressing are all helping us to provide dignity through work for our employees.”
Glencraft, which employs about 50 people, already supplies to leading hotels, the Royal Family’s Balmoral estate, Robert Gordon University and the oil and gas industry.
Aberdeen South and North Kincardine SNP MSP Maureen Watt said she was “absolutely delighted” that the firm had won such a prestigious contract.
“This is a great vote of confidence for an enterprise that has been through difficult times, but has always been a credit to the local community,” she added.”
Serco, which also runs the NorthLink ferry service to Orkney and Shetland, will take over the franchise from Aberdeen-based First Group next April.
It plans to invest more than £100million in new rolling stock which is expected to be introduced by the summer of 2018 and has also awarded a contract to the Real Shetland Company to provide blankets for use in premium en-suite cabins throughout the duration of the franchise.
The firm’s business development director Jamie Ross, said: “These local enterprises are key to delivering a truly emblematic service that showcases the best of Scotland”.
The Glencraft factory was established in 1843 but went into liquidation in November 2009 with the loss of 55 jobs.
Oil services firm Production Services Network, now part of the Wood Group, stepped in with a business plan which won the backing of the Scottish Government.
The package allowed 36 people to be re-employed initially and the workforce has continued to grow.
The firm is currently based on Wellington Road but will soon be moving to Lang Stracht.