In our regular feature, we find out about members of the Scottish Decorators’ Federation. This time, we hear from Ivor Cluness, from Shetland-based decorating firm Anderson & Cluness Ltd.
What’s your background?
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, but in1979, there was a lot of work going around in Shetland due to the oil boom. My dad knew what he was doing when he said: “You are going to get a trade.”
There were two options open to me. I could have trained to be a plumber or a painter and decorator. It all came down to pay really. The plumbing apprenticeship paid £28 a week, while the painting apprenticeship paid almost twice that. I chose painting and decorating. I served my apprenticeship with the Shetland Islands Council, having to travel to Inverness College on block release for the study element of the course. I completed my apprenticeship in 1981 at the age of 19 and continued to work for the council for a period of 10 years.
My work colleague Stuart Anderson and I left to set up separate businesses in 1989, but after a year we teamed up and formed Anderson and Cluness.
We did well, picking up a good array of contracts while continuing to build the business up and expanding our workforce which included apprentices from the get-go. In 1998, we had the opportunity to expand into Orkney where we still have a positive continual presence.
In 2012, the opportunity arose to buy one of our main painting and decorating suppliers in Lerwick. This has been a very successful venture for Anderson and Cluness. Due to our knowledge and experience within the trade this has allowed us to expand the product choices of quality paint and decorating sundries for all our trade and general public customers. Over the last 10 years we have seen growth and continual expansion, in the region of 600 per cent.
We have recently expanded the business into a larger and more accessible unit within the industrial estate in Lerwick.
2019 was a pivotal year for both me and Anderson & Cluness due to the retirement of my business partner Stuart. This gave me the opportunity to take on the full ownership of the company.
What’s your specialty?
We have the ability to work across all aspects of the decorating trade. This includes exterior maintenance redecoration of properties in both private and commercial sectors, maintenance of local authority and housing association properties – including leisure and hospitality facilities. However, new builds and property refurbishments is the largest sector of our work.
When did you join the SDF?
I have been associated with the Federation for more than 25 years. I know Ralph Skene, who is on the committee, and it was him that suggested that I become involved. I used to go to meetings and events but never signed up until 2024. I am a member of other trade associations such as the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Scottish Federation of Master Builders (FMB), but SDF is all about decorators, so I felt it was about time I joined.
What’s the best thing about the Federation?
The ability to access additional help on employment law is second to none. It’s difficult to navigate that when you are running a business and so that to me is invaluable. The Federation can support us if there is any dispute between client and customer. They would attend the job to ensure that the specifications had been met and hopefully resolve any issues. This service is critical.
How has the Federation changed?
They have a voice in the industry and they are heard by the Scottish Government. To be members of the SDF helps us too, as being associated with them means we are also recognised as being part of a trade body that looks after its members.
What’s been the biggest challenge in your career?
Doing the work is easy, but the biggest challenge is cashflow and being paid on time. Over our time trading unfortunately we have experienced the effects of non-paying customers, both trade and private. It is a difficult decision, however my stance has always been to pursue bad debt and if this means taking court action, it has to happen. To date my actions against debt have always been successful.
What’s been your favourite job?
I love all the jobs we do – meeting and talking to people, finding solutions and seeing the final result makes me happy.
What would be your dream job?
Put it this way – we suffer from poor weather here in Shetland – so anywhere nice and warm would be incredible. We can’t do any outside work between the months of November and March, so to have the opportunity to say, ‘shall we work inside or outside today’ would be great!
What are your long-term plans for the business?
Retirement is not on the cards yet and I still enjoy working in the business, but I would like to see the company stay within the family. My son Russell is now involved, having served his apprenticeship with us and going into the oil, gas and marine industry for a short while to work in industrial coatings.
Our combined knowledge and experience means that our shop has become a central hub in Shetland where people come to ask for painting and decorating advice. There’s not a lot we don’t know, however, we have the resources to find a solution to any painting and decorating problem and specifications.
We are the biggest employer for local painters and decorators in Shetland, so it’s good to see jobs being created in your local community. Over the years we always ensure to include apprentices in our workforce. It is vital local companies engage and support young people as they are our future workforce. During our time trading we have supported almost 40 apprentices to gain their painting and decorating qualification. It is our goal to continue this process – at present we have five apprentices at different stages of their qualification working for us.
Can you tell us a little about your life beyond work?
I have been married to Fiona since 1985 and we have two sons, Russell, (37) and John-Scott (35) and two daughters, Cheryl (33) and Louise (25). Russell works in the business, while John-Scott is an Operator at the Sullom Voe oil terminal. Cheryl is an English teacher and Louise has just completed a Masters in aero-mechanical engineering.
Russell has three children, so they keep us busy too.
While Fiona and myself live busy working lives we enjoy our sunny holidays. Most recently we’ve just returned from a fantastic holiday in New Zealand, where we attended a family friend’s wedding.
In my free time, I had the opportunity to join the Up Helly Aa (Shetland’s annual fire festival) Committee in 1999. This was a 16-year commitment doing various roles within the committee, including being a galley painter and progressing to being the Treasurer of the festival for 10 years. The pinnacle role of my time on the committee was becoming Guizer Jarl in 2014 and leading my squad on Up Helly Aa Day. This was a fantastic achievement which my family and I devoted a lot of our life, effort and time to. While my time on the committee is over, I am now part of the Ex-Jarls Association where we continue to support the committee if required.