Having entered the offshore industry in 1982, and been firmly established in the Middle East for over 16 years, circumstances saw Scott Macpherson and his family return to Aberdeen in March 2020, due to his wife Carole’s ill health. Tragically, Carole passed away from metastatic breast cancer in July 2020 and following the initial shock, Scott saw an opportunity for him and their son, Ross, to focus themselves on the acquisition of a franchise of Sanondaf UK – a specialist decontamination company, founded in 2014.

Aware that a marketplace of disinfection providers had sprung up with suspicious speed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Scott saw the opportunity to offer services already proven within the NHS, private pharmaceutical companies and a number of universities, as a way in which he could assist the local community to function as normally as possible.

Operating in Aberdeen on a literally round-the-clock basis since November, Scott and Ross have been awarded on-going contracts totalling more than £90,000.

Clients include a national transportation company, one of the UK’s largest private travel providers on behalf of a major offshore operator, a marine-based supply chain business and a local childcare facility.

Discussing the runaway success of Sanondaf Aberdeen, managing director Scott Macpherson, said: “The motivation for this journey began due to personal circumstances and, of course, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanondaf is just one of many disinfection companies, but it was clear to me that the service we can offer is significantly different to our competitors.

“Unlike so many companies of this type, Sanondaf is not a product of 2020. Established in Malta and with UK headquarters in Glasgow, it existed years before the words “COVID-19” had passed anyone’s lips – and that’s what appealed to me. Designed to disinfect and decontaminate hospitals, planes, sports stadiums, hotel premises and any location where staff are present 24/7, the system is 100% proven to decontaminate any surface and can be deployed within tight, complex logistical schedules to ensure no disruption to critical activity.”

So what does the future hold for Scott and Ross’ business, as the UK-wide vaccine programme continues to roll out across the population?

Operations director Ross Macpherson, who has recently completed his BA (Hons) Management at RGU, explained: “Unfortunately, we need to learn to live alongside Coronavirus, as we do so many other infectious diseases; it will not simply disappear once everyone is vaccinated. As the travel, hospitality and events sectors, in particular, gear up for a return to normality, a proven reduction in the continued risks of transmission will be a critical consideration for the foreseeable future.”

Reflecting this requirement, the company has recently launched a rental service. Fogging machines – alongside full product training – are provided to those companies who prefer to deploy an in-house decontamination capability. Sanondaf Aberdeen’s first customer in this respect is a catering company, who will be using the system on board a jack up facility.

Ross Macpherson concluded: “I think it’s fair to say that over the past 18 months, public awareness of the standards maintained across a huge range of locations has increased dramatically, with all industries and sectors now required to articulate exactly how they are keeping us safe. We’ve played a big part in that locally for since November, and look forward to continuing to do so for some time to come.”