That’s a wrap for the Excellence Awards 2025!
Each year, we get together to celebrate our in-house talent from across the Group. Awards include GBL Trade Apprentice of the Year, Group Apprentice of the Year, Rising Star, Unsung Hero, and Outstanding Contribution. Alongside these peer-nominated awards, we recognise the incredible people who have reached service milestones of 25, 40 and 50 years, and bid fond farewells to those retiring each year.
2025 marks an incredible milestone for five of our colleagues who have each dedicated 25 years of service (and counting!) to Gratte Brothers. The UK’s national average service length is currently 3.7 years, so reaching a quarter of a century with the business is a truly significant achievement, and we’re proud to be celebrating their loyalty, professionalism, and contribution to our continued success.
We firmly believe that our people are our greatest strength. Their dedication is what delivers our defining USP: unrivalled quality. Whether it’s long service, innovative thinking, or teamwork behind the scenes, it’s our colleagues who bring our values to life every day. It’s these reasons (plus many more) which explain why we’re committed to investing in and celebrating them at every stage of their journey!
Two of our long-service colleagues have shared comments on their time with Gratte Brothers so far:
- Malcolm Basker: Having joined the industry as an apprentice himself, Malcolm uses his extensive experience to aid the progression of trainees. On his time at Grattes so far, he says:
- “A lasting memory I have is on my second day at the office, Martin Gratte (who I hadn’t been introduced to yet), passed me on the stairs and said, “hello, Malcolm”. He knew my name! And that epitomises the family business ethos. I’ve remained at Gratte Brothers because the senior management recognise you can’t have accountability without being given the authority to make the decisions required to deliver. Gratte Brothers has given me the opportunity for progression throughout my career, and I now look forward to my future here until I retire. My advice to all trainees is when in doubt, never be afraid to ask.”
- Paul Starkey: Our Mechanical Design Director attributes his long service to the company’s great family ethos. He fondly remembers Ian Gratte always doing the rounds, saying hi and taking a genuine interest in everyone (which he still does to this day on his office visits!).
As well as honouring our long-service and retirement colleagues, the event celebrated the next generation and those who go above and beyond. The competition was strong in each category, so much so that the judges couldn’t reach a unanimous decision on the Outstanding Contribution Award, opting for a joint first-place instead. The (peer-nominated) Unsung Hero Award had the highest amount of nominations by far. This is a testament to the supportive, close-knit culture that’s one of the hallmarks of Gratte Brothers.
As ever, our thanks go to the Facilities Team whose hard work, professionalism and efficiency ensured the event went without a hitch. Thanks also go to our Marketing team for delivering the branded touchpoints, capturing imagery, and promoting the event. To LP Food at Work, thank you for providing another year of exceptional catering for the event, the menu was as delicious as ever and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Last but not least, thank you to everyone who attended – we particularly appreciate the effort made by those based in our regional sites and offices to come to our London HQ! It’s not often that we get the opportunity to socialise as a whole Group, so catching up with old faces and meeting new ones is always a real treat.
As we reflect on the celebrations, we’re grateful for the years of dedication from our teams, and the shared success that comes from having a team of passionate, talented people driving Gratte Brothers forward. Here’s to the next year!
