Cricklade packaging firm GWP Group celebrates 30 years in business this month.
Managing director Ruth Cook thanked staff for their efforts - especially during recent very challenging times
It says it does so in a spirit of renewed optimism thanks to an upturn in sales following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
The business originally began at Cheney Manor in Swindon as the Great Western Packaging Co. It started with just over 5,000sqft of manufacturing space and a handful of employees, but now has two sites covering more than 100,000sqft and employs more than 100 people.
The pandemic posed special challenges even to a firm which has weathered recessions.
Managing director Ruth Cook said: “We have remained operational throughout the pandemic, supporting a number of critical businesses that supply directly into the NHS as well as those that are part of supply chains for food, medical and pharmaceutical industries.
“Whilst this meant that we saw a real contrast in the fortunes of companies we work with – with some temporarily ceasing to trade and others struggling to cope with increased demand - what we are now seeing is a marked increase in demand for packaging across almost our entire customer base.”
The firm moved to new premises in Cricklade in 2003 and has continued to grow ever since. It found that another challenge posed by the pandemic was ensuring the safety of staff.
Ruth said: “Staff safety has been our main priority throughout. Over a fifth of our employees have been with us for more than 15 years – including a number from when we first started trading – and their dedication and hard work has seen us through this difficult period.
“I’d like to thank all of them for their efforts - they make the company what it is today.”
Looking beyond the pandemic and having invested extensively in manufacturing equipment and increased storage space over the last three years to allow for a leading just in time delivery service, the business sees a number of opportunities over the coming years.
Ruth said: “We have also become involved in a number of new areas during this period – such as helping to manufacture visors for health workers and safety screens for protecting staff – and the growth in e-commerce packaging has been particularly significant.
“The lockdown appears to have further accelerated the move towards online sales we have observed over previous years, which is now more pronounced in terms of both existing customers adapting and new enquiries coming into the business.
“Although we couldn’t have expected to be celebrating reaching 30 years in the current circumstances, as a business we are extremely grateful to our staff, customers, suppliers and everyone involved with the business.
"They have not only helped us through this difficult period, but have set us up for many more years of growth and successful trading too."
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