The Malcolm Group - A Scottish Family Legacy Built To Last

In the heart of Renfrewshire, where lorry fleets roll out from Linwood and construction projects unfold across the country, The Malcolm Group has grown from humble beginnings into one of Scotland’s most respected names in logistics and construction. But while its operations are far-reaching, the heart of the business remains distinctly local, personal, and deeply rooted in family values.

For over a century, The Malcolm Group has remained a family-led enterprise with a strong sense of purpose—focused not only on logistics and construction but on supporting livelihoods and preserving a legacy.

A Horse, a Cart and a Vision

Originating as a family-owned business in the 1920’s, The Malcolm Group began with assets of just a single horse and cart. A small family-run enterprise, its operation involved collecting coal from the nearby railway station, filling individual sacks in preparation for door-to-door deliveries in and around the local area.

The success the company has enjoyed since then is largely due to the hard work and business savvy of one man – Donald Malcolm – who inherited the coal-round business from his late father. With entrepreneurial foresight and prudent investment in vehicles, plant and depots, he is responsible for building the business which we know today.

By 1960, when the firm was acquired by Grampian Holdings, Donald had built it up to a fleet of 37 vehicles - plus seven items of plant. Consistent investment in the business, often ahead of market trends, lifted the company to its current status as a respected player in the logistics and construction markets.

On 18th January 2002, Grampian Holdings plc was renamed The Malcolm Group plc and was fully listed on the UK Stock Exchange.

In May 2005, after 45 successful years in the "public" domain, the Group was once again taken into private ownership by the Malcolm family, currently run by Donald’s two sons Andrew and Walter Malcolm.

Leading with Purpose

Today, Andrew Malcolm serves as the Group’s Chief Executive. Having worked in almost every part of the business, from the garage floor to the boardroom, he brings a grounded perspective to leadership. For Andrew, the company’s purpose goes far beyond financial performance, it’s about stability, trust, and responsibility.

“My job in life is to protect the workforce I have got,” he says.

“I want to make sure every generation that works in the business sees a secure future, a secure income. Our first priority has been to create security and an income stream for people’s families that they can actually depend and rely on.”

This people-first approach is a key reason why the company remains so resilient. Many employees have spent their entire careers at Malcolm’s. Some families have had three generations working there.

The Malcolm Group’s culture is stronger because of shared values, including – care for people, promises delivered, trust and integrity, pride in our work and mutual respect.

Built on Relationships

The company motto, “Practical Solutions, Successful Partnerships,” captures how The Malcolm Group prefers to work—with honesty, flexibility, and long-term thinking. In both logistics and construction, the focus has always been on building trusted relationships, whether with national clients, local authorities, or team members on the ground.

Their logistics division now covers a vast network of warehousing, rail freight, road haulage and distribution. Meanwhile, their construction division services all areas of the construction industry including civil engineering & groundworks, sports surfaces, surfacing, plant hire, hiab & plant transport, tipper & skip hire, road sweeper hire, recycling, waste management, landfill and quarrying & aggregate supply.

Despite its growth, the firm has always kept its feet on the ground. Andrew Malcolm's leadership reflects this balance—he holds fast to the company’s roots, but he’s also looking ahead.

Practical Solutions, Sustainable Future

Environmental responsibility is no longer optional in any industry, and The Malcolm Group is embracing the challenge.

Sustainable business practices have been at the core of the Group’s one hundred years history – putting their people at the heart, building successful partnerships for longevity, and looking at new innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Their experience has enabled The Malcolm Group to be adaptable, practical, and efficient – attributes they hold key as they progress their environmental sustainability strategy.

As a cross-sectoral business, operating within logistics, civil engineering, and waste industries, they recognise the opportunities and challenges ahead. With each sector being a vital component of continued growth and economic viability of the UK, the transition towards Net Zero across each sector is unique, bringing their own risks and rewards. A consistent feature, however, is the importance of collaboration and collective agreement across peers, customers, industry bodies and governments.

Their Environmental Sustainability Strategy compliments and supports their wider approach to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance). They recognise the role they have in continuing to reduce carbon, improve air quality, enhance biodiversity, provide fulfilling employment opportunities, and connect communities.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has recently verified The Malcolm Group’s net-zero science-based target by FY2046, highlighting their continued commitment towards the climate emergency. This recognition demonstrated that The Malcolm Group’s climate related targets are aligned with climate science. Andrew looks forward to continuing their journey towards a greener future.

Recognition and Responsibility

In recent years, Andrew Malcolm’s leadership has been widely recognised. In 2023, he was awarded an MBE for services to the transport industry. The honour, he said, was not just personal, but a reflection of the collective effort of the business and the team he has led.

“I’ve been quite lucky in life in that I do what I enjoy, and I enjoy what I do,” he remarked. “Although I’m the fortunate one who gets the honour, it is in no small way due to the business and team that I have around me.”

He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of the West of Scotland—an institution closely linked to the region and one whose graduates now work across the Malcolm organisation. For Andrew, it was particularly meaningful to be honoured by his local university and to see how the business continues to support and be supported by the community.

Looking Ahead with Confidence

Running a century-old family firm in modern times comes with real challenges—from volatile fuel prices and regulation to shifting labour markets and political uncertainty. But Andrew Malcolm takes a long view. The company is privately held, meaning it is not beholden to shareholders or quarterly earnings. That gives it the freedom to make decisions that benefit the business in five, ten or even twenty years from now—not just in the next financial year.

He often speaks of the importance of stewardship over ownership—of maintaining something for the next generation. That ethos permeates every part of The Malcolm Group, from how it treats its staff, to how it invests in equipment, systems, and people.

“My father was a phenomenal influence on me,” says Andrew. “What he gave me, what we’ve tried to hold onto, is the belief that when you look after people and keep your word, the business will look after itself.”

A Legacy in Motion

The Malcolm Group is proof that family businesses can scale without selling their soul. It demonstrates how tradition and innovation can co-exist—and how a sense of purpose, rooted in the value of people, can drive a business as much as profit margins or technology.

As its trucks continue to criss-cross the UK and its teams break new ground on construction projects, The Malcolm Group remains quietly but confidently itself: proudly Scottish, wholly family-owned, and guided by the steady hand of experience.

In a world of uncertainty, that kind of continuity may be its greatest strength of all.