Inverness-based sustainable construction company receives national recognition for work in low-carbon, timber-based building design
An Inverness-based sustainable construction company has received national recognition for its pioneering work in low-carbon, timber-based building design.
MAKAR Ltd was named winner of the Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change at this year’s Helping It Happen Awards, organised by Scottish Land & Estates (SLE).
The annual awards celebrate the individuals, businesses and community projects driving innovation, sustainability and enterprise across rural Scotland.
The 2025 ceremony, held in Edinburgh on October 1 honoured eleven winners representing environmental leadership, rural enterprise and community collaboration.
MAKAR Ltd was recognised for its trailblazing approach to sustainable construction.
The company has delivered more than 250 Net Zero homes across Scotland, pioneering timber-based, off-site building methods that combine craftsmanship with cutting-edge environmental design.
Its homes reduce carbon emissions, cut running costs and provide affordable, energy-efficient housing solutions for rural and urban communities alike.
Founded in Inverness, MAKAR’s ethos of “building with nature” has helped position the Highlands as a leader in eco-conscious design and construction.
Its work demonstrates how sustainable materials and innovative design can deliver long-term climate benefits while supporting local supply chains and rural employment.
Sarah-Jane Laing, Chief Executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The Helping It Happen Awards are a true celebration of the people who keep Scotland’s countryside alive and thriving.
“The ceremony has honoured farmers who are reinventing tradition, businesses turning bold ideas into rural jobs, and communities protecting wildlife and tackling climate change head-on.
“Farming and food production remain the heartbeat of our nation, and it’s exhilarating to see such imagination, grit and resilience recognised on this stage. Our winners prove that rural Scotland isn’t just keeping pace with change - it’s leading the way.”
Claudia Rowse, deputy director of the Green Economy at awards headline sponsor NatureScot, added: "It is so uplifting to see such a wealth of talent and innovation at work in the country's rural communities, and across the whole of society, as people join together to balance the sensitive management of our natural world in order to protect and value biodiversity.
“This year's nominees show how working with nature can help contribute to business resilience and they embody real hope for the future."