12 Dec Geoff Potter takes a look back on 2023

The year started on a very positive note with James and Peter Gray being awarded OBEs in the New Year Honours list for services to the industry and the community of Fraserburgh. This was a fantastic achievement and there was much delight across the company.

The ongoing escalation in raw material and operational costs continued to prove challenging. However, the team remained resolute, demonstrating positivity and integrity, with the true Gray & Adams spirit shining through.

In February Engineering Apprentice, Curtis McCowan was awarded Apprentice of the Year by Rutledge Group. Curtis’s attitude and willingness to learn, allied to the results he gained for his Technical Certificate, ensured he was the successful candidate out of 15 apprentices. Congratulations again Curtis. This was a significant acknowledgement of Gray & Adams’ commitment to the young people within the company and helping them grow in their careers.

In May we exhibited at the ITTHub in Farnborough, allowing us to connect with industry contacts and meet with familiar, and new, faces in person.

September rolled around again quickly, and with that so did the TCS&D awards. We were delighted to pick up the Customer Service Award this year, a well-deserved win for the business and the first time we entered this category since the Covid-19 pandemic. We were delighted to share many positive customer testimonials on the quality of our service, our people, our products and our relationships which we believe helped us secure the win.

As we round up the year, we often reflect on the long-service awards and lifelong careers of many Gray & Adams employees. As a business, we are extremely proud of the extensive experience of our long-serving employees and we’re extremely grateful for the wealth of knowledge they impart to our younger generations.

It’s hard not to be impressed by the Gray & Adams team, the excellence of our design, the quality of our products and services and our ability to overcome industry challenges. We were extremely grateful for our full order book in 2023 and look forward to carrying that into 2024.

Every single person within the company deserves a huge thank you for their hard work and dedication, and I would take this opportunity to wish everyone an enjoyable Christmas and a happy 2024.