Omagh construction leader awarded MBE

OMAGH businessman William Desmond Scott, founder and chairman of Scott & Ewing Ltd and Woodvale Construction Company Ltd, has been awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to construction in Northern Ireland and his outstanding contribution to the Tyrone community.

A familiar and much-respected figure in the local area, Desmond’s career began in 1966 as a plumbing apprentice in Belfast.

Just three years later, he and his late cousin Philip Ewing established Scott & Ewing Ltd, laying the foundations for what would become one of Northern Ireland’s longest-standing and most trusted mechanical services (i.e. plumbing and heating) companies.

Driven by a lifelong love for construction, Desmond founded Woodvale Construction in April 1980, now an award-winning main contractor renowned across Education, Health, Commercial and Heritage sectors throughout the North and South of Ireland.

For more than five decades, Desmond has been instrumental in training and nurturing generations of tradespeople, apprentices, and future industry leaders.

Many of his staff have worked alongside him for more than 40 years - a testament to the loyalty, encouragement, and opportunities he has provided.

His commitment to professional development has helped hundreds of young people in Tyrone and beyond secure sustainable careers in construction.

Beyond his role in business, Desmond has made an immense contribution to the community he loves.

He has supported and championed numerous local charities and organisations, including St Vincent de Paul, the Marshall children’s trust which supported the four Marshall children who were tragically orphaned the week before Christmas over 40 years ago, Care for Cancer, Omagh.

A trustee of the Tyrone Protestant Orphan Society, the Friends of Arvalee School and Resource Centre, and the long-running Senior Citizens Christmas Lunch at the Silverbirch Hotel, where he had served on the organising committee for more than 35 years, providing lunch and festive entertainment for over 300 guests, annually.

His generosity has provided essential services, respite support, educational enhancements, and much-needed moments of joy for families across the district.

Desmond’s leadership has guided his companies through some of the most challenging times for the construction industry, including recessions, industry collapses, and the pandemic.

His resilience and fairness - particularly in his support for subcontractors and suppliers - have earned him deep respect across the sector.

Speaking about the honour, colleagues described Desmond as “a humble leader whose values of loyalty, hard work and community spirit have shaped not only two successful businesses, but the lives of countless people across Tyrone.”

This MBE recognises a lifetime of dedication to his industry, his workforce, and his community - a well-deserved tribute to a man whose impact will be felt for generations