Glencraft

We currently have a workforce of approximately 50, made up of exceptional crafts people and support staff. Our team of experienced business directors is working hard to grow the business so that we can continue our social & community objectives.

Our Business Directors

Our Consultative Board

Stewart, Board

I’m a local hotelier and businessman. I joined the Glencraft Board in 2010. I entered the hospitality industry in Aberdeen at the age of fifteen and worked in Paris and London before returning home to own and run several of the city’s leading hotels. I’ve built my career on enveloping people in luxury and I currently own Aberdeen’s only five-star hotel.

Glencraft feels like a kindred spirit organisation in both its unique positioning as Aberdeen’s only mattress manufacturer and its commitment to using only the highest quality materials and hand crafting every item it produces.

Andrew, Operations Manager And Board

I was a mechanic for eight years before I came to Glencraft. When I was made redundant I resisted coming here because I didn't think I'd be able to use the same high level of skills I'd spent years developing. I finally agreed to give the place a chance and that was 28 years ago - I've never looked back!

My first job here was making chairs, suites, coffee tables and cabinets, then I moved into upholstery. People would bring in all kinds of chairs - from expensive heirlooms to the only chair their granny was comfortable in; we'd take the chairs apart, tighten up the structure and re-upholster them so that they were good as new. I?ve worked my way up, being a charge hand, supervisor and site coordinator on the way. I?ve been a member of the board since 2001. My motto would be: speak up for what's right. It's also important to not be afraid of a bit of hard work.

My wife calls me the hotel inspector: I can't go on holiday without running a hand over the corner joint of the bed base. You can judge the quality of the frame by the thickness of the wood and if there are any gaps at the join then the wood has been seasoned properly.

Duncan, Board

I'm Chief Financial Officer with PSN. I've been working with Glencraft since January 2010, helping to secure the re-launch and leading PSN's support to the new business.

I moved from the Western Isles to Aberdeen to attend university. I've raised a family in the city and we've always been aware of the great Glencraft name. When news broke at the end of 2009, that the company was facing closure, my first thought was: what can we do? Around PSN, which has roots in Aberdeen going back over thirty years, a lot of our employees also started asking if PSN could help. We did a lot of homework over the Christmas break and the overwhelming answer was that yes, there's a great business here and we can help it reach its potential.

PSN has a strong commitment to giving back to the local communities that provide us with our excellent workers. We discovered some very talented fundraisers among our employees when we ran an appeal to increase education and healthcare provision around our Bangladesh worksite. This time our fundraisers are back in force, we're learning about the social enterprise business model and its exciting to be working hand-in-hand with another organisation.

Lisa, General Manager

I've been with Glencraft for three years. I joined as the finance manager. Glencraft has been central to the history of Aberdeen and North East Scotland for over 150 years. If you grew up in this area you have almost certainly slept on a Glencraft bed or known someone who worked at Glencraft.

It's a fantastic place to work and I'm so proud to be part of this organisation. The name Glencraft has always been associated with the best in beds. The business has had its ups and downs but the workers here have always fought hard for the right to have decent jobs based on their expert craftsmanship.

We are able to move with the times because our workers have a say in what we do. Over 100 years ago, when the organisation included a school for blind children, blind employees in the workshop insisted that the children should be integrated into mainstream schools to improve their employment chances. Today, many of our employees bring in ideas for product development because we're part of the community and know what people look for in a good bed.

I'm glad to say that employers have become more realistic about hiring blind people ? it doesn't involve making nearly as many changes as they imagine. In turn, we've hired people with a wider range of abilities and disabilities. In the future I'd like our disabled workers to have the same choice of employers as our able-bodied workers, then Glencraft's role could develop into helping people adjust to disabling injuries or medical conditions. We're a great example of providing a service to the community, that the community can support by getting a great product in return.

My bed at home is a Maree on a black Caledonian divan.

Carl, Sales & Marketing Director

I started my working life as a junior clerk with RBS in Shetland & have covered various roles. I've been with Glencraft since January 2011 and it is an inspiring place to work. It's my job to develop new business both private and commercial clients: I am also responsible for ensuring we provide the best quality, best service, best price and best delivery options for our customers including our bespoke orders. I make sure that our products meet the legal and quality standards we require and that we maintain good relationships with all our customers. I also ensure that our marketing activity and the message about our objectives as an employer and social enterprise are being heard.

Why buy a Glencraft bed? Because they're built locally, they are built to last and the quality is exceptional - good enough for places like Gleneagles, The Marcliffe and along with a Royal Warrant of approval from the Queen at Balmoral then its good enough for me! My bed at home is a Tay.

Colin, Mattress Maker

I joined Glencraft on the 18^th of February 1983, it was my first job after school. The man who trained me was 65 and he'd been blinded in the war. A blind trainer is the best person for a blind trainee to learn from. We have a great heritage here of people passing on their skills. Everyone learns on the job from people with a lifetime of expertise.

Most of my work is making bespoke-sized mattresses. We do special sizes for individuals and for hotels, offshore installations, care homes and universities. My favourite part of the job is when we're busy. You get a good feeling of satisfaction when there is a huge pile of mattresses to show for a days work.

This isn't just a workplace, it's a community. My wife works here and we've been married for over 20 years.

My bed at home is a Premier

Gavin, Wire Operative

I've been here 10 years. When I joined I was told that the more I learned, the further I'd go, so I've trained in most of the departments. I've spent a few years each in the insulating, upholstery and carpentry departments and now I put the rod edging on the mattresses.

What happens to mattresses that don't have rod edging? Your mattress goes all squashy and looses its shape. My uncle is site coordinator here so my first ever bed was one he bought me from Glencraft.

I've always worked: when I was fourteen and still at school, I worked part-time as a kitchen porter. The hours here are much more sociable: the workshop starts up at 7.45am but we finish at lunchtime on Fridays. I play football and rugby so that's handy.

Gemma, Divan Assembler

I came here on work experience when I was at college and I decided to stay. I've been with Glencraft 8 years. I love working with wood. In the future I hope I'll always have jobs that involve working with wood but I really like my current job so I'd be very happy to keep doing this.

A good bed frame relies on good quality wood and we use very sturdy pine here. If you buy a bed where the wood in the base isn't strong enough, apart from the joints coming loose, the top of the divan won't be able to stay taught and so your mattress will sink in the middle.

What's the sign of a top quality bed? That it's a Glencraft bed! These beds are the best quality I've seen. Outside work I like to travel. I've been to lots of places in Europe, the Americas and Asia. I think my favourite trip was three weeks in Australia.

My bed at home is a Tay.

Morag, Senior Sales Advisor

I joined in 1993 after working as a clerk for an industrial joiner. I’ve seen a lot of trends: people are getting taller so there are increasing requests for longer beds. As interest in interior design took off, our divan that you can have covered in a fabric to match your décor became more popular. Our most sought after mattresses at the moment are pocket-sprung and the models with a memory foam top.

Some people are loyal to one type of mattress: they find their favourite and stick to it. We also have customers who like to buy something a little more luxurious each time they come back. Most of our customers are return buyers or people who have been referred by return buyers.

Glencraft mattresses are all a minimum of 10inches deep; a standard mattress is usually 6inches deep. We use fillings that won’t buckle or bunch and the ticking – the cover of the mattress – is also very good quality so that everything is held securely in place, protecting the internal components from damage.

My ideal customer is someone who takes time to select the right bed for them. I want them to be delighted with their purchase. Couples need to buy beds together and everyone really needs to lie down on a few beds. You can’t be shy when you’re making such an important investment.

My bed at home is an Earn.

Maureen, Production Manager

My sister has worked here for 35 years. When I was looking for a job, 17 years ago, she recommended that I join. I’ve been a machinist since I left school. My first job here was a sewer, then a supervisor in the bedding department, then I supervised the other supervisors, then I got my present job as production manager.

The workforce is a mix of able-bodied and disabled people. We run a proper working factory: people have to do a full day’s work and we do have disciplinary procedures though we don’t need to use them very often. To do this job, being a mum helps. With each order I have to make sure that everything that needs to be done, gets done, on time and to meet our standards, but it’s also my job to make sure that everyone’s okay.

I’ve stayed because the place and the people get to you – coming here becomes a passion, not just a job. What I’d like for the future is job security for the people here and some expansion. A lot of us now in our fifties would really like a good business to pass on to the next generation.

My bed at home is a Lomond.

Paul, Wire Dept. Team Leader

Before I came to Glencraft I used to repair electric wheelchairs. After a motorbike accident, I did an HND in computing and then came to work here. I’ve learned everything I know about the job from the old hands who’ve been doing this for years. What would you like to know about our springs? We can make 20 000 in a day; there are 192 springs in a single mattress, 288 in a double and 350 in a king size. Each of our springs is 185mm tall and 145mm in diameter.

The design of the spring is important. Each of our springs have a little flare on the top so that they can be threaded correctly into the machine that coils them together. Without the right degree of flare, the spring might not be caught and coiled to the next spring so you’d feel a little gap in your mattress. The springs have little knots at the top and bottom to hold them together. If those are done correctly or lined up properly when the mattress is being constructed, you’ll also feel the difference, especially as your mattress matures.

Why should people buy a Glencraft bed? Because of the detailed craftsmanship: there are no imperfections that might go unnoticed in mass-produced beds; every single one of our beds has received personal attention at every step of its construction.

My bed at home is a Tay.