South London Timber has been an employee-owned timber merchant since 2022.
If you’ve ordered timber from us in the past few years, you’ve already experienced what that means in practice, even if you’ve never seen it written down.
So to help explain why we made this change, here’s the story behind it, and why it matters for anyone buying timber and sheet materials from us today.
How it happened
After over 35 years building South London Timber from the ground up, founder Ted James made the decision to transfer ownership of the business to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), with all shares transferred at full market value.
As part of the change, Harry Major became managing director and Kane Swanson was appointed sales director, with Ted continuing in a hands-on role as executive chairman.
It’s a model that’s become increasingly common among UK construction and trade businesses in recent years, particularly for founders looking to secure a company’s future without selling to an outside buyer.
Why Ted made that choice
Having spent over three decades building a reputation on personal service and straight dealing, Ted didn’t want to hand the business over to a stranger, or leave the decision until he was no longer around to make it.
Transferring ownership to an EOT meant the business could keep running exactly as it always had, under people who already knew it inside out, while giving every member of staff a genuine stake in its success.
Speaking at the time of the change, Ted said: “Having hit the ripe old age of 62, I felt the time was right to re-structure the business rather than leave it until I am no longer around. Transferring to an EOT keeps the business running smoothly without disruption and ensures job security for our loyal staff.”
It’s proven to be a significant decision – and one that’s continued to shape the business ever since.
What it means for you as a customer
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Staff who are genuinely invested in getting it right
Every member of our team has a stake in the company’s success, not just a sales target to hit.
That shows up in the small things: an account manager who double-checks your order rather than just processing it, or a driver who takes the time to work out a tricky access point rather than leaving a delivery at the gate.
When people have a real interest in the outcome, it changes the way they work.
Continuity you can actually rely on
Employee-owned businesses tend to hold onto their people for longer, and we’re no exception.
That matters more than it might sound. It means the account manager you spoke to last year is often still the person picking up the phone this year – so you’re not re-explaining your site, your standard requirements, or your delivery preferences every time you place an order.
On repeat and phased projects, that continuity saves real time.
Decisions made for the long term, not the next quarter
Without external shareholders demanding short-term returns, we’re free to make decisions based on what’s genuinely best for the business and our customers over years, not quarters.
That’s part of why we’ve been able to keep investing in stock, logistics and certified, responsibly sourced supply, rather than cutting corners to hit a short-term number.
A culture built on accountability
Being employee-owned reinforces the ethical standards we’ve always held ourselves to: fair dealing with suppliers, honest communication with customers, and no overstatement or concealment in how we do business.
When the people delivering that promise also have a stake in the company living up to it, it tends to stick.
The proof is in the projects
Four years on, the model speaks for itself.
We’ve continued to supply some of the biggest construction and infrastructure projects in the South of England, including Battersea Power Station, the Elizabeth Line and the Thames Tideway Tunnel, and picked up recognition from the industry along the way, including Timber Merchant of the Year 2023 at the Timber Trades Journal Awards.
None of that happens by accident. It happens because the people behind every order, every delivery and every piece of advice have a genuine reason to care about getting it right, project after project.
Work with a timber merchant that has a real stake in getting it right
Whether you’re planning a home improvement project or a contractor managing a phased infrastructure programme, working with an employee-owned timber merchant means working with a team that’s genuinely invested in your project going smoothly, not just closing a sale.
Get in touch with our team today:
- Call: 020 7252 8383
- Email: sales@sltimber.co.uk
- Complete the form on our Contact Us page
