Powerhouse Perspectives with Victoria Gratte

Victoria Gratte represents the third generation of the Gratte family and brings an innate understanding of the company to her role as Marketing Director. From delivering post on her school holidays to leading a Group-wide branding update, Victoria’s growth with the company is reflected in the development and success of the Marketing team. Our regular content series, Powerhouse Perspectives, takes a closer look at individuals across the business, and Victoria is the first member of the family to take the spotlight. Read on to learn about her experience and unique industry insights…

1. As the granddaughter of one of our founders, what’s your earliest memory of Gratte Brothers, and how has growing up around the business shaped your view of the company today?

“My earliest memory of the business has to be my annual visit during the Christmas school holidays, when my sister and I would “go to work with Dad” for the day. I have fond memories of feeding the shredder and pushing the mail trolley around the office, delivering letters to each floor and stopping to say hello to everyone along the way (there was a lot more post back then!).

One moment that has always stuck with me, and which shaped my view on the company was sitting in the office on Christmas Eve and hearing the tannoy announce that my dad had given everyone the rest of the day off and to have a wonderful break. I remember thinking how cool it was to be able to do that and seeing how happy it made everyone.

My dad made it a point to walk around every floor each day, greeting people, taking an interest in their lives, and maintaining an open-door policy to everyone. That’s a value that has always stuck with me and has become engrained in the business. Back then, I didn’t fully understand what the business did or what each person’s role was, but even at that young age, I could sense the weight of responsibility that came with running a business and I’ve always understood that everyone, including those with the family name, had to earn their place, understand the business from the ground up, and respect the values that underpin it. I’m proud to say that in 2025, that culture is still very much alive and well.”

2. Aside from our physical project delivery, what do you think Grattes does best?

“There’s no doubt that our physical delivery in terms of the engineering systems that we leave behind on our projects are second to none. However, what I truly believe we excel at is the lasting impression we create throughout the entire process. It’s not just about the technical details; it’s about our flexibility, clear communication, reliability, commitment to safety and many other integral elements that define our approach. Whilst we work for businesses and not individuals, businesses are ultimately made of up individuals, and it’s the relationships and trust that you build with them during project delivery that is pivotal. I personally conduct all the customer satisfaction surveys for the Group, so I regularly speak with individuals who represent the very diverse range of clients that we’re fortunate to have across all our services. Time and time again, I hear how our methods stand out and how our team consistently goes above and beyond to exceed their expectations. We’re lucky to have a strong base of repeat clients, but it’s not down to luck, it’s a direct result of our ethos and the way we do business.”

3. From your perspective, what are the biggest changes you’ve seen in our industry over the years – and how is Grattes positioning itself for the future?

“I’ve been in the industry for seven years, which by both general standards and Gratte Brothers’ own benchmark makes me somewhat of an adolescent. Yet even in this relatively short time, I’ve observed several changes. From a marketing perspective, companies have increasingly recognised the value a strong digital marketing strategy brings and the importance of having a dedicated team working behind the scenes. Traditionally, we like many other companies in the industry have been humble and have never been ones to boast but we’re continually improving at sharing our successes.

Building services has long been known as a ‘handshake industry,’ relying heavily on personal relationships, but that’s rapidly evolving. With everyone spending so much time online for both personal and professional reasons these days, an online presence is no longer optional, it’s essential. When I first joined Gratte Brothers, our Twitter (now X) and LinkedIn accounts existed but were rarely used. Now, we actively manage five different social media channels, posting multiple times a week alongside the frequent long-form content we publish on our website. Whether it’s for lead generation, recruitment, or brand building, falling behind digitally is not an option and it’s my team’s responsibility to ensure that our online presence reflects who we are and what we stand for.

Beyond just growing our digital marketing footprint, digital innovation as a whole is transforming how we and many others in the industry operate. Leveraging data and analytics allows us to work smarter and more efficiently and having a dedicated digital innovation team at Gratte Brothers means we’re always exploring new opportunities to improve.

It’s also impossible to ignore the industry’s ongoing commitment to energy efficiency, waste reduction, and lowering carbon footprints, alongside the increasing adoption of prefabricated construction methods. We operate two facilities focused on this, and every time I visit, I leave inspired by the potential for its growth and the positive impact this will have across the industry as a whole and for those working onsite.”

4. Can you share a moment in your career at Grattes that you’re particularly proud of, was particularly memorable, or that taught you a valuable lesson?

“While I’ll always be proud of launching our then new website in 2020, which was my first major project for the business, my proudest achievement to date is undoubtedly our rebrand in 2023. From my initial pitch to the official launch, the project took around 18 months to bring to life and it wasn’t without its challenges, but it marked a significant turning point for the business and was a catalyst for many of the exciting developments that followed.

Gratte Brothers Group has never lacked a clear identity and we’ve always known who we are, what we stand for, and what we deliver. However, the rebrand gave us a unique opportunity to pause, reflect, and reaffirm those values and importantly allowed us to align our outward image with the strength of what’s always existed beneath the surface.

Every now and then, a fresh perspective or visual update is needed to signal change or growth and that’s exactly what the rebrand achieved. Every time I see our updated logo appear on a new asset, or hear a colleague reference it, I’m reminded of how impactful that project was. It shifted how we see ourselves as a business and how others perceive us and that’s something I’ll always be incredibly proud of.”

5. From a marketing perspective, how do you balance honouring the heritage of the Gratte family business with the drive for innovation and modernisation?

“Striking the right balance isn’t always easy, but it’s vital and I also think that it’s something our team does exceptionally well. The stability of our business is rooted in the strong foundations that have been built over generations, and that legacy is always front of mind. As a marketing team, we honour our heritage because it’s woven into the fabric of Gratte Brothers and its one of our greatest assets, but we’re equally committed to embracing new ideas and innovation.

When we unveiled our new logo back in 2022, it will have been noticed that we didn’t change our logo fundamentally, we simply refined it. By improving its symmetry and refreshing the colour palette, we made a subtle but powerful update. Whilst many may have expected us to do something far more dramatic, I hope it reminded people that a small innovative change can have a big impact, and that you don’t have to rip everything up and start again to bring a fresh perspective.”

6. What skills or mindsets do you believe are essential for marketers in the building services industry today? And, what advice would you give to any aspiring building services marketers?

“In my experience, to be a successful marketer in the building services industry, you firstly need to be comfortable wearing many hats and embrace the variety that comes with the role. One day you might be on-site in full PPE, climbing ladders and navigating step-overs to capture the perfect shot of plant equipment and on another day, you could be sat at your desk analysing the performance of digital content and preparing a detailed quarterly report. It’s this diversity that makes the job so engaging.

Building services is a professional, B2B industry, and it’s often misunderstood as lacking creativity or flair, which is something I am always keen to challenge. As in any industry, effective marketing comes down to knowing your audience and applying creative ideas in a way that is appropriate for your product or service.

When it comes to skills, strong copywriting is essential, as is a sharp eye for detail because you’re often the final check before an asset goes public, and consistency matters. A deep understanding of branding is also crucial. Whether you’re designing site signage, producing social media graphics, or selecting the right size, shape, and colour for a branded item (yes, those details count), you need to know your brand inside out and be an ambassador for it every day. There are so many facets to marketing so don’t expect to understand or specialise in them all but be curious and don’t be afraid to ask for training.

Communication and project management skills are also equally important, as a role in marketing requires you to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders including finance, operations, Health & Safety, and many more.

Finally, my advice to aspiring marketers in the building services industry would be to be passionate about your craft and stay curious. You don’t need a trade qualification to thrive here, although I’ve certainly learned more about engineering than I ever expected! What matters most is a willingness to learn and the confidence to bring fresh ideas to the table.”