Tracing its roots back to 1974 when Chairman, Kenny Easton, first started in business, the Easton Group’s vision is to create thriving communities through the successful implementation of its portfolio, which includes over 350 residential and commercial properties, and a collection of private equity investments in successful trading businesses.

The Dundonald based group has now been structured into three core areas of residential housing, commercial property, and private equity investments, which are represented by the group’s three operating divisions: Easton Housing, Easton Property, and Easton Capital.

Easton Housing is the group’s residential property division and provides affordable homes to families throughout Ayrshire. As a private housing provider, Easton Housing prioritises the welfare of its tenants by ensuring its homes are family ready, and offers long-term tenancies that creates security of tenure and allows tenants to create a safe and comfortable environment for their family home.

Easton Property is the group’s commercial property and development arm, which has commercial properties located throughout Scotland. The commercial portfolio supports a mixture of tenants including bespoke local traders, large businesses, and national retailers. Easton Property has adopted a unique entrepreneurial approach to property and has a proven track record of adding value and enhancing portfolio performance by completing challenging investment and development projects, and by actively managing its assets in partnership with its tenants.

The Easton family has been investing in businesses across Scotland since the 1980s, and Easton Capital is its newly formed private equity division that has been created to consolidate these investments and help accelerate their growth. Easton Capital’s portfolio includes investments in the green economy, healthcare, whisky production, and baby essentials.

The Easton Group has plans to grow further by expanding across all three divisions. It continues to seek opportunities in the residential and commercial property markets, and develop its private equity portfolio by providing long term capital to support high growth businesses.

“I am delighted to witness the next stage in our family business. Since I first started out in 1974, I have always sought growth business opportunities and I am proud to see the next generation taking the baton forward with determination and vigour. We have a very strong and capable team at Easton Group, and I am confident that we will continue to deliver successfully for the business, as well as our staff, clients, partners, and community, both now and in the future.”

“It is an exciting time to be involved in our business and I am very pleased to be part of an organisation that has grown so successfully across many different sectors. The strength of the Easton Group is due to the robust work ethic of our dedicated staff that, combined with entrepreneurial spark, drives our determination to always find a way to succeed.”

“The consolidation of our activities under a single Easton Group banner is a great opportunity to supercharge our business. We have a very ambitious growth strategy mapped out and plan to drive expansion across all three of our operating divisions to become one of Scotland’s leading family businesses. I would like to thank all our staff and partners who have assisted in our success to date and who encourage our future plans.”

The name, “Height of Arrows”, comes from the Gaelic for a local Edinburgh hill and landmark. Selected by industry expects, the stripped back gin impressed with its purity and simplicity.

Holyrood Distillery is a modern distillery spanning twelve thousand square feet in the heart of Scotland’s capital city that produces an exceptionally flavoured single malt whisky alongside its award-winning gin.

In 2018 Holyrood Distillery completed a £5.8M equity fundraise to drive the creation of its new distillery, and in 2019 Holyrood began distilling the first single malt whisky in Edinburgh in almost 100 years.

“Juniper takes centre stage in this minimalist gin from Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh. The sole botanical is distilled with salt and beeswax for a full-bodied spirit with great depth and complexity. An exciting direction for gin.”

“I am delighted that Height of Arrows has been named Whisky Exchange’s Gin of the Year. To have Holyrood’s gin thinking acknowledged in this way by folk that we have great respect for has really empowered my young distilling team and this really is Christmas come early. Our heartfelt thanks to Dawn Davies and the team at Whisky Exchange.

In Height of Arrows, we have made a gin that is distilled from our DNA as whisky makers. In whisky making we work with simplicity. Barley, water and yeast. We’ve taken this same mind set to Height of Arrows and created a complex gin born from juniper alone taking centre stage. Our hope is that gin fans will be thrilled to explore a new direction in modern gin; one that elevates today’s gin drinking experience.”

The ceremony returned great success for Green Home Systems as they were presented with three direct awards and one partnering award for projects completed in association with the private rented housing sector.

Green Home Systems was named Boiler & Heating Installer of the Year, and in addition to their big win, the company was Highly Commended in the Insulation & Fabric Installer of the Year category. Green Home Systems staff member, Audrey Hunter, received a Highly Commended award in the Energy Efficiency Champion category, and in the final award they received a Commendation in Housing Association/Landlord of the Year.

“The awards night was a great success for the company, and I am extremely happy with the outcome. Receiving these Energy Efficiency Awards is a testament to how much hard work and effort all our team at Green Home Systems has put in over the past year. Alongside the other accolades, winning Boiler and Heating Installer of the Year is a fantastic achievement and we will display our awards proudly.”

Genus Communications was formed in 2015 by Tommy Nevin to develop telecommunication franchise opportunities including EE mobile and BT Business, and they operate across the west of Scotland.

Easton Property has over 100 commercial properties throughout Scotland. It is a division of the Easton Group – a family-owned property and investment business with 50 years’ experience of investing in our communities.

“This gives us the best opportunity to ensure our customers in Ayrshire stay connected and allows us to showcase the vast array of propositions we have on offer. We are absolutely delighted to invest in Kilmarnock town centre and can’t wait to see what the future holds for this stunning store.”

“We always consider our commercial lettings to be a partnership between landlord and tenant, and are thrilled to support Tommy and Greg with this new letting. After a very challenging period for the retail market, Kilmarnock town centre is now showing great signs of improvement. This deal demonstrates the commitment of both Genus Communications and Easton Property to improving our town centres by creating great shopping experiences and new jobs. We wish Genus the very best and look forward to continue working with them in the future.”

Alastair became Finance Director of Green Home Systems in August 2020 working alongside former Managing Director and Co-founder, Steven Easton, who will remain part of Green Home Systems as Chairman and Board member. Alastair has over 20 years’ experience in senior positions and assumes the role of Managing Director effective 1st July 2021 to lead the company’s ambitious growth plans in the green economy.

Steven Porch joined Green Home Systems in October 2020 having previously held senior positions with national property contractors and will support Alastair by providing a key leadership function at a time when the company is evolving its service offerings and expanding its geographical reach. Steven Porch replaced Co-founder, Peter Easton, who will continue to provide entrepreneurial leadership as a Board member.

The Ayrshire based company also recently welcomed Graeme Kerr as Sales Director who joined Green Home Systems from a national trade specialist merchant where he held business development roles and will help to drive the company’s development and expansion into new markets.

Green Home Systems was founded in 2014 by Easton Group directors, Peter Easton and Steven Easton, and in 2020 a 50% stake was sold to Circularity Capital, a private equity company that specialises in the circular economy. The business is now jointly owned by Circularity Capital and Easton Capital, and operated by an independent senior management team with ambitions for continued growth in the green economy.

“I am delighted to take on the role of Managing Director at Green Home Systems. I’d like to thank Steven and Peter for their support and guidance, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as a member of the board.
It’s an exciting time to be involved in this industry, with the opportunity to move into new products and markets and to contribute towards the UK’s ultimate net zero emissions target. Recent appointments have added to an already strong team, and we have a great foundation on which to continue the expansion of the business. Our ambition is to become a leading provider of energy efficiency services.”

“It really is a wonderful thing for me to witness the next stage of Green Home Systems’ development. When Peter and I conceived the idea of starting an energy efficiency business we had a clear desire to build a company of real scale and value that could provide outstanding levels of service to its customers, and the leadership that has been embedded with the appointment of this senior management team will ensure that our original ambition will continue to be met. I would like to congratulate Alastair on his appointment, and I wish him and Steven Porch all the very best in their new roles. Both Peter and I remain committed to Green Home Systems and will continue to support the strategic aims of the business as dedicated Board members.”

Ardgowan Distillery is located on the Ardgowan Estate near Inverkip, west of Glasgow, and its new distillery and visitor centre is due for completion in 2023. It currently produces blended malts through its Clydebuilt range, and its vision is to produce a flagship seven-year-old lowland single malt whisky with a maritime influence.

Founded by Martin McAdam and Alan Baker, Ardgowan has assembled a strong team including chairman, Willie Phillips, and their whisky maker, Max McFarlane, to craft the finest quality single malt whisky based on the extraordinary location of the Ardgowan Estate and the unusual microclimate of the Inverkip area. Once in operation, Ardgowan distillery and visitor centre will create up to 30 jobs.

Easton Capital provides long term capital investment to support high growth businesses. It is a division of the Easton Group – a family-owned property and investment business with 50 years’ experience of investing in our communities.

“This is terrific news for the project and for Inverclyde. We have put a lot of the uncertainty of Brexit behind us and we hope that COVID will also soon be a distant memory. Over the past few years, we have used the time well to build up our team and craft some fantastic, blended malt whiskies, sourcing some of the finest casks from across Scotland. We are hugely proud of our Expedition and Clydebuilt whiskies which have won industry recognition and continue to gather a growing fanbase of customers.”

“We are delighted to announce our investment in Ardgowan Distillery and excited by the employment and development opportunities this will create in the local area. Low carbon investment is very important to us, and we are proud to be part of a project that will create a continuing negative carbon footprint and positive environmental legacy.”