Sir Anthony Eden was Prime Minister on the first day that Scott Taylor arrived to work in his family’s business, Taylor and Fraser. It was 1956, and while it was his first day, the company had already been going for 50 years! Taylor and Fraser was founded by Scott’s grandfather back in 1906 and will celebrate its 120th anniversary next year.

Fast forward from Scott’s first day to 6th January 2025, fifteen Prime Ministers later, Scott has handed the reins of the business to new owners to steer the Taylor and Fraser name on the next part of its journey.

Headquartered in Waterford, Ireland, and with offices in Dublin, London, Manchester, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Frankfurt, Suir Engineering has grown over 40 years to become one of Europe’s leading providers of mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineering services. It is indeed a testament to Scott’s leadership that such a successful and prominent company has acquired the Taylor and Fraser brand.

Many engineering businesses have come and gone in the past 119 years since Taylor and Fraser first hung up the brass plate and started trading, so what was the secret ingredient that separated this business from the many others it has competed with along the way? It is not unreasonable to suggest the answer lies in the Taylor name. Scott inherited the work ethic and values from his father and grandfather and has instilled these throughout the company.

The Taylor and Fraser name is synonymous with quality, expertise and service delivery. You only need to look at some of the names on the Taylor and Fraser clients list to confirm that they are held in high esteem; they include Gleneagles Hotel, The Carnegie Club, The Old Course Hotel, and Gordonstoun School, where a young Prince Charles attended.

Scott’s ability to build and maintain relationships is undoubtedly a primary factor in the success of the business. Still, he is quick to refute this, instead apportioning it to the expertise and quality of the work they provided. Indeed, both are elements in the creation of a business that has operated mainly under the radar but, nonetheless, very successfully.

Few appreciate Scott took the business to as many as 46 Scottish islands, where Taylor and Fraser provided their engineering expertise to private estates, schools, hospitals and many other public buildings. And Scottish islands weren’t the limit of his reach; Scott estimates that during his tenure, Taylor and Fraser have completed around 13,000 projects, including two in the Falkland Islands!

Scott is passionate about the business, which he strives to define as a mechanical engineering firm. However, it was Scott’s willingness to help his clients that led the firm into construction when he intervened to assist the University of Strathclyde in finishing projects that were severely disrupted by the demise of construction company Melville Dundas in 2003. He took the courageous decision to quickly hire some of their key people in order to ensure the projects were delivered.

Now, Scott reluctantly accepts that they are establishing an equally strong reputation in construction and electrical engineering, but he remains passionate about the mechanical engineering pedigree! Regardless of how the business is defined, it is a genuine testament to Scott that whatever they do, it is done well and that clients return to them again and again.

Finally, those who had the pleasure of working with Scott want to express their gratitude for his leadership and vision. Over the years, his unwavering dedication has not only shaped the company’s success but also inspired those fortunate enough to work alongside him.

Thank you, Scott, for your mentorship, guidance, and commitment to excellence. You leave behind a legacy of hard work and integrity that will continue to inspire us all.

Below are some pictures from the recent reception for Scott in the Taylor and Fraser offices.