Strategic restructure set to drive growth at Dugard

UK machine tool distributor Dugard has completed a strategic restructure, transforming the company from a complex shareholder configuration to a focused three-director leadership team. The new structure features Eric Dugard alongside Sales Director Colin Thomson and Managing Director Jamie Young, all of whom are active operational leaders within the business.

The restructuring creates a dynamic leadership team where all three directors are actively involved in day-to-day operations, enabling faster decision-making and more agile responses to market opportunities. It represents a significant shift from the previous arrangement, where Eric Dugard was the sole active director and employee among 14 shareholders.

“You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs,” says Eric Dugard, reflecting on the transformation. “With the restructuring, the shareholders and board are now aligned and helping us to move forward.”

Long-standing Sales Director Colin Thomson adds: “It enables Eric, Jamie and me to take far more dynamic decisions. The three of us are fully invested in the business – we’re not just shareholders, we’re active members of staff with the propensity to promote business growth.”

Enhanced customer service and support

The restructuring has allowed Dugard to introduce several customer-focused improvements. These include the promotion of Sean Ford to Technical and Operations Director, a move that ensures unified oversight of service, applications and spare parts for seamless co-ordination from machine order to installation and ongoing support.

From a customer perspective, the streamlined platform uses new protocols that route all interactions centrally for faster responses. It also improves project management by monitoring each customer and enquiry weekly, ensuring smooth co-ordination of delivery, installation, staffing and communication.

Strategic supplier partnerships

The company has strengthened relationships with key suppliers, turning long-standing partnerships into collaborations. Suppliers now visit UK customers regularly and engage more in end-user applications and automation solutions, supporting Dugard’s expertise and the partnerships with its principals.

“If anything, we’ve become much closer to our suppliers over the past year,” says Eric. “It’s more like a partnership than just a supplier-dealer situation. They’re far more involved in the actual end-user aspect of our projects, which at the end of the day is the most important thing.”

Dugard has recently expanded its portfolio with the addition of high-end Zopo machining centres, beginning representation in early 2025 after a considerable evaluation period. The company has already sold Zopo machines into the market, with further details available shortly.

Market position and future outlook

“This restructuring gives us the opportunity to move the company back to where it was – back to the top,” says Colin. “We can make our decisions and invest in the machines and staff we need, much more quickly and easily. We now have three highly experienced and motivated directors that can sit around the table and make the ‘yes or no’ decisions without a committee of legacy directors that were holding our business back.”

Eric emphasises the strategic importance of the change: “We wanted to move forward and reinvest in the company. The business needs to look to the future, and our structure enables us to do exactly that with new leadership for the next 10 years and beyond.”

The company maintains its complete technical team, sales force and service capabilities, ensuring continuity for existing customers while positioning for future growth.

“We’re really going to hit the ground running, and our reinvigorated team is relishing the challenge,” he adds. “With lots of new technology launched at EMO later this month, the outlook is very positive.”