Clyde Coast Contracts Incorporated

The history of Clyde Coast Contracts can be traced back to 1979 when Owen McLaughlin established the business, working out of a room boasting little more than a desk and a chair.

The early years consisted of local civil engineering projects such as drainage, roads and sewers and the company gradually grew to around 20 employees in its first ten years.

The Early Years

CCC worked predominantly on groundwork contracts with a wide variety of repeat clients including Laing, Fairclough, Wimpey, Barratt Construction, Henry Boot, Mowlem, S&M Homes, McCarthy & Stone, Amec, Dickies, John Lynch, Morrison and Shanks & McEwan.

Experience

• Groundworks
• Plot works

Now established

Owen continued to grow the business and worked on contracts with more key main contractors including Miller, Tarmac, Maxi Construction, Morrison Homes, Raynesway, Balfour Beatty, South Ayrshire Council, D Campbell (CCG).

Diversification

Owen (Snr), Owen (Jnr), Michael, Rose and Eddie McLaughlin are now controlling a medium-sized contractor employing 12 staff and 35 operatives with a turnover exceeding £5m per year.

2004 - 25th Anniversary

We celebrated this milestone when we were completing our own development of semi-detached housing in the Ayrshire village of Darvel.

Experience

• Substructre groundwork
• Developments
• Sectors
• Housing
• Commercial projects

2009 - 30th anniversary

Clyde Coast would have preferred to celebrate 30 years in more prosperous circumstances but it was time to roll up our sleeves during the recession

Groundworks and infrastructure remain our core business, but now CCC can be found operating on big earthmoving jobs, PFI schools projects, large drainage schemes, industrial units, town centre shopping and residential developments, all of which contributed to increased turnover of £5.5m

Owen (Snr) moved to semi-retirement and was succeeded by Owen Jnr as Managing Director.

New Premises

A huge investment was made in new premises, giving the firm a modern and flexible workspace.   This has been great for employees and provides a positive first impression when prospective clients come to visit.

Today there are three directors – Owen Jnr (owner/partner), Michael McLaughlin (contracts director) and Anthony McLaughlin (commercial manager). Several other family members also work in the business, which directly employs around 80 people.

“The company has 40 years’ experience. All our plant and premises are up to date, we keep up to speed with health and safety and we’ve currently got three apprentices; we bring people into the business from an early age and recruit from local schools. The family side of things continues. Steven – Michael’s son – is now estimating/surveying at a high level within the company.” (Owen Jnr, 2015)

Investing in the next 40 years

Looking to the future, the plan is for steady and consistent growth rather than dramatic and potentially risky escalation. 

The plans are to keep doing what we’ve always done.

We will continue to invest in commercially viable ideas. We don’t want 1,000 people.  We are looking for steady growth and will adapt based on our clients' requirements. 

The family aspect will definitely continue; that’s what we’ve always been based on.