Gray & Adams Newsletter_Spring 2021

Gray & Adams News SPRING 2021

In This Issue > The passing of an industry giant: Jim Gray Snr > The BIG Interview: Graham Moore (MRCT) ISSUE 13 | SPRING 2021

> Bringing the Vector eCool to UK roads

Contents

Introduction

Contents 2

We are a family business, first and foremost, and the quality of the relationships we build, alongside the quality of our products, remains firmly at the heart of our business. We are proud to have many valued, long-standing relationships and partnerships with our customers, suppliers and friends across the industry.

Message from our Directors

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Bringing the all-electric autonomous Vector eCool to UK roads

4-5

Gray & Adams and Carrier Transicold: Interview with Scott Dargan

6 - 7

The passing of an industry giant: Jim Gray Snr of Gray & Adams

8 - 15

The BIG Interview: Graham Moore (MRCT)

16 - 17

Working with Cotteswold Dairy

18

Gray & Adams takes on ten new apprentices

19

Donating to Doncaster Royal Infirmary for Tom Taylor

20

Staff Spotlight: Vikki Robson

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Staff Spotlight: Brian Fraser

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Staff Spotlight: Davy Smith

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A Lifetime of Value: Long Service Thanks

24

In a continued challenging time for businesses and people across the country, we were sad to announce the passing of our dad (and Gray & Adams founder) Jim Gray Snr, in February. As part of a special feature about him, we have collated the thoughts and stories of many of his friends, industry peers and colleagues to mark his passing, and celebrate his life (Pg. 8 - 15). Their reflections on our dad have given us many fond memories of him to look back on.

We hope they will give you as much enjoyment to read, as they have brought to us in these last few weeks.

The importance of customer-service excellence can never be underestimated, and our dedicated team works hard to create a platform of trust, clear communication, in-depth industry knowledge and innovative engineering expertise in every interaction. This commitment to excellence has been integral to our business from the very beginning.

From our products, to our staff and the services we provide to customers, to quote the late Jim Gray Snr – “Quality must be built in, it cannot be added on”.

With this in mind, on Pg. 24 we highlight the long service of some of our team and say a fond farewell to John Soutar, Andrew Buchan, Craig Soutar and Morag Cooper who are retiring with 133 years’ service between them. We also share stories about some of our team in our regular Staff Spotlight feature. Brian Fraser, Vikki Robson and Davy Smith are based at our Head Office in Fraserburgh and have some fantastic insights to share about their roles and what it means to work for Gray & Adams (Pg. 21, 22 and 23) We are pleased to be able to share an interview with Graham Moore of Suffolk-based Moores Refrigeration Controlled Transport Limited (MRCT) on Pg. 16 - 17, who we have worked with for over 30 years. Industry collaboration and learning from the expertise of others is important for the success of our sector, and we are delighted to share his insights with you.

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The passing of an industry giant: Jim Gray Snr

This edition also features an article (Pg. 4 - 5) and an interview from Managing Director of Carrier Transicold in the UK and Europe, Scott Dargan, about the Vector E-Cool and bringing this innovative product to UK Roads (Pg. 6 - 7). We’re also delighted to share an article about how we support Cotteswold Dairy, based at Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, who have been working with our team in Ireland for almost 20 years. (Pg. 18).

With the remaining challenges surrounding Covid-19, our people and their safety remain of utmost importance and all business decisions will continue to be driven with this in mind. With easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on the horizon, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our team, customers, partners and suppliers for their continued support.

Please continue to take care of each other and stay safe.

JAMES AND PETER GRAY JOINT MANAGING DIRECTORS

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Bringing the All-Electric Autonomous Vector® eCool™ to UK roads Carrier Transicold and Gray & Adams have entered into a special collaboration, delivering the new Vector eCool system to UK Roads. The demonstrator programme will showcase the abilities of the innovative electric technology and its sustainable advantages to Gray & Adams’ and Carrier Transicold’s customers.

Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building and cold chain solutions.

The UK’s first Vector eCool – the industry’s only fully autonomous, all-electric refrigerated trailer system – has been fitted to a new Gray & Adams 13.6-metre demonstrator trailer that is now on the road and showcasing the cutting-edge technology to Carrier Transicold customers.

Utilising a new energy recovery and storage system, the Vector eCool converts kinetic energy generated by the trailer axle and brakes into electricity, which is then stored in a battery pack powering the refrigeration unit. This loop creates a fully autonomous system that produces no direct carbon dioxide or particulate emissions.

Scott Dargan, Managing Director UK and Northern Europe at Carrier Transicold, said

“The Vector eCool reaffirms our commitment to reducing emissions, improving sustainability and increasing efficiency across the refrigerated transport sector. This exciting new technology represents a giant step forward for trailer refrigeration, and we are delighted to be working together with Gray & Adams on the roll-out here in the UK.” The autonomous power developed by the trailer and the subsequent emissions reductions have attracted significant interest from The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) – a not for profit organisation that plays a key role in helping the government deliver its low carbon transport strategy.

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Carrier Transicold has been working closely with Gray & Adams on the design of the demonstrator to maximise the environmental benefits of the system. Even with the axle generator and battery pack, it is lighter than a standard diesel unit with a full tank of fuel.

The tri-axle trailer also features aerodynamic cappings to reduce drag, while bespoke sideguards allow access to the battery system and protect cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

Peter Gray, Joint Managing Director at Gray & Adams, said

“We have a special relationship with Carrier; working so closely with them to bring the Vector eCool to the UK has been really exciting. Our design teams have seamlessly integrated the axle, braking and battery systems that make up the eCool into a trailer that has the potential to completely change the face of refrigerated transport.”

Suitable for operation with the engineless versions of Carrier Transicold’s Vector HE 19 and Vector 1550 E, the Vector eCool utilises the company’s E-Drive™ all-electric technology to the fullest. Where traditional belt-driven systems suffer a loss of up to 40% kilowatts cooling power when converting electrical energy into their required mechanical drive, the E-Drive ensures the eCool has consistent, efficient cooling power and pull-down speeds whether operating on battery power or when plugged into the mains grid.

If used with the city versions of the Vector range, the eCool is also PIEK-compliant, which combined with its emissions performance, means that the system offers the ultimate solution to tightening inner city and urban regulations.

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Gray & Adams and Carrier Transicold Tell us about the partnership between Gray & Adams and Carrier and how it began?

What is new about the Vector® eCool™ offering? What are the key benefits of this technology for customers?

Carrier Transicold and Gray & Adams have a longstanding working relationship that dates back decades. There is a mutual respect between the two companies built on the perfect synergy between our respective products and delivering service excellence.

The Vector® eCool™ reaffirms Carrier Transicold’s commitment to reducing emissions, improving sustainability and increasing efficiency across the refrigerated transport sector.

Suitable for operation with the engineless versions of the Carrier Transicold Vector HE 19 and Vector 1550 E, the Vector eCool is one of the most exciting new products we have ever brought to market.

We trust and respect G&A’s engineering team explicitly.

When it came to selecting a manufacturer to work with on the roll-out of the Vector eCool in the UK, we knew we could rely on G&A to help us deliver what we are sure will be a milestone for refrigerated trailer technology.

The eCool combines our E-Drive™ all-electric technology with a new cutting-edge energy recovery and storage system. Kinetic energy generated by the trailer is converted into electricity, which is then stored in a battery pack that powers the refrigeration unit. This loop creates a fully autonomous system that produces no direct CO2 or particulate emissions.

The system has been designed to help customers improve fleet sustainability and futureproof their operations – particularly when taking into account the tightening restrictions and regulations relating to Low Emission Zones and urban operations.

When compared to a traditional Vector HE 19 unit, with its own diesel engine and a full tank of fuel, the Vector eCool also delivers a notable weight saving. The additional weight of any new key components like the axle generator and battery is effectively offset by the system not requiring a standalone engine or fuel tank.

SCOTT DARGAN MANAGING DIRECTOR UK & NORTHERN EUROPE

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What can your customers expect from this partnership?

Is there a limit on the running time of the unit?

Carrier Transicold has been working closely with G&A on the development of the demonstrator trailer in order to maximise the environmental benefits of the entire system.

The Vector eCool system is fully autonomous, so it will continually recharge while the trailer is moving using power generated by the axle and the kinetic energy created under braking, when travelling downhill or on the overrun.

The tri-axle trailer features aerodynamic cappings to reduce drag, while bespoke sideguards allow access to the battery system, as well as protecting cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

When operating on battery power, its energy management system will automatically switch on when the charge reaches a certain level and condition, initiating the generator to recharge the battery to ensure full refrigeration capacity.

The two companies have worked in tandem on this project to provide customers with the ultimate leap forward in refrigerated trailer technology which can be used and assessed on a ‘try before you buy’ basis.

Equipped with a Carrier Transicold telematics system, operators have access to live data about the battery health, which will help manage energy utilisation.

The system can also be plugged into the electrical grid when the trailer is parked, fully charging the battery in just two hours.

What synergies are there between Gray & Adams and Carrier as businesses?

Gray & Adams are widely known and respected for their engineering prowess, product quality and service excellence. They put the customer at the forefront of their thinking and can be relied upon to deliver on time.

These competencies and values also underpin our business and I believe this shared mindset is what makes our two organisations work together so well.

Is the unit more suited to long-haul or local distribution (i.e., returning to depot every night) or can it be used more widely across the UK? Depending on customer application, the battery can power the refrigeration unit for up to six hours on a single charge which is then replenished when the trailer is moving. With this in mind, the system is most suited to routes where there is mains power access on arrival, particularly if any overnight stops are required.

What added value do you see this partnership offering to your customers?

While the total cost of operation for the Vector eCool depends on an individual customer’s specific application, we believe it offers great value. In fact, our own internal testing has shown the Vector eCool’s operating costs to be lower than those of a standard diesel refrigeration system.

How can customers book the demonstrator trailer to trial in their own fleets in 2021?

Trials can be arranged by contacting either a Carrier Transicold or Gray & Adams Account Manager.

The system is also PIEK-compliant, meaning when used with the City versions of the Vector HE 19 and Vector 1550 E, operating noise is below 60 dB(A). Combined with its emissions performance, the Vector eCool provides the ultimate solution to ever-tightening inner-city and urban regulations.

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The passing of an industry giant: Jim Gray Snr of Gray & Adams

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gray & Adams’ founder, Jim Gray Snr, who died peacefully in his sleep on the 10th February 2021, aged 86.

Jim Gray formed Gray’s Motor Body Works in 1957 after leaving national service, as a car and body repair facility in Fraserburgh, near Aberdeen. Jim Gray was joined by Jim Adams and the company became Gray & Adams.

As Gray & Adams grew as a business, they diversified into bodybuilding - building flatbeds and mobile shops, before developing their first insulated bodies on rigids and trailers.

The next big step forward came in 1962, with the introduction of the Thermo King forced air refrigeration unit from America. In 1966, the company moved to its current head office in South Road in Fraserburgh. By the 1970’s the company was building trailers for the likes of Christian Salvesen, British Home Stores and Marks & Spencer. In 1976, following the introduction of ATP, Jim Gray travelled across Europe to look at the best manufacturing practices

“Quality” he often said “cannot be added on it must be built in.”

and materials which would meet his vision for Gray & Adams.

Finally in 1978, after exhaustive research, Jim and his team created their own 40-foot refrigerated chassis-less trailer using techniques which involved a one-piece structural panel, that would be familiar to Gray & Adams’ customers today.

More factories followed, with Dunfermline in 1976, Northern Ireland in 1981 and Doncaster in 1990. With Jim at the helm, the business went from strength to strength.

He had an uncanny ability to surround himself with very capable people and, in turn, they had huge respect and admiration for the Canny Scot from the North.

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Big Jim, as he was fondly known, was not just a talented

To mark the occasion of Jim’s funeral across Gray &

entrepreneur. He was a husband, father and philanthropist,

Adams, there was a minute’s silence at each depot as a

giving generously to both local and national causes

mark of respect and gratitude for the man who started the

throughout his long life. Above all, he remained fiercely

business. In Fraserburgh, this also included Jake Scott,

loyal to his Fraserburgh roots. He could have easily moved

from the Completion Department, playing the bagpipes

his operations South to reduce costs, but Jim had a special

as the hearse left the site on its way to the service.

bond with his workers, and felt strongly that his business fed

He leaves behind two sons, James and Peter, and a

and nurtured countless numbers of Fraserburgh families.

daughter, Marie. James, Peter and Marie (and family)

Not only this, but his own family are a huge part of the

would like to express their very sincere thanks for the

Gray & Adams success story, with multiple family members

messages of support and condolence from friends and

working in the business, including three grandchildren and

customers regarding the news. These messages have been

three great-grandchildren.

received in many forms since his passing and have been

Perhaps, however, his lasting legacy was the creation of

truly humbling. Thank you to everyone who has taken the

a manufacturing giant that, quite literally, touches

time to get in touch – it has provided comfort to the whole

everyone’s life in the UK. Whether foodstuffs from

family at a very difficult time.

the supermarket, fresh produce from the farm, or pharmaceuticals and medicines, the chances are it has travelled in a Gray & Adams product to get to you.

Peter, James, Jim, Norma and Marie

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Jim Gray Snr Quotes from family, customers, industry peers, colleagues and friends Lewis B Gray

of The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise Innovation 2020 would have given him great satisfaction.

“Having spent 50+ years working alongside my eldest brother Jim, I’m happy leaving it to others to elaborate on the dedication that he gave to his business affairs. For me, equally fond memories are to be found in his interests beyond the workplace. Over the years, we were both active participants in a wide range of pastimes including golf, shooting and bowling. Our lifelong passion – introduced to me by Jim – was undoubtedly fishing. A hobby that started close to home in the late 1960s – on rivers such as the Ugie and the Deveron – would take us on many adventures, to such far flung places as Alaska, Iceland and Russia. Fishing introduced us to a wonderful variety of characters with many becoming lifelong customers and friends. Competitive in nature, Jim would become a prolific and well-respected fisherman. Of equal importance would be the craic shared with family and friends – usually over a dram – by the riverbank, where the seeds of many a deal would be sown.

On my last visit three years ago, he was still holding court in the Board Room with a twinkle in his eye. I am sure he will be sorely missed by his family, but he has left a legacy that they can be proud of. He will also be missed by his many friends in the industry of which he was respected member.”

– MIKE REYNOLDS, RETIRED REGIONAL SALES MANAGER, GRAY & ADAMS

Daniel Stewart “The two things I will most remember about working with Jim, are his dedication to the quality of his products (with him being famous for saying that quality couldn’t be added on, it had to be built in) and that he didn’t ever make promises that he couldn’t deliver for his customers.

When Jim first started Gray & Adams, I was managing Daniel Stewart Transport Ltd. Later, when I was working for Christian Salvesen, the contract we were trying to finalise with British Home Stores was dependent on the delivery of 10 refrigerated vehicles to a very tight timeline. His response was that he would be happy to make them but that he couldn’t deliver to the proposed deadline. This kind of honesty is rare in business and it is something I greatly valued about him – Jim’s word was his bond and everyone who knew him, knew this to be a fundamental truth about the man. It’s something that I heard about him time and time again from across the industry; from customers, from suppliers and really from everyone who met him. It is something that I have always greatly admired about him and he will be sorely missed. “

I shall miss Jim’s Willie Gunn flies … I shall miss Jim’s Macallan whisky … and most of all I shall miss Jim.” – LEWIS B GRAY

Mike Reynolds “My association with Gray & Adams and Jim Gray started in the early 1970’s, when I was buying refrigerated bodywork for Blue Rosette (Transport) Ltd for the Scottish region.

I found him to be passionate about his product and professional in his dealings. He could be described as ‘an iron fist in a velvet glove’.

He was forward thinking in transferring the production of the bodywork to one-piece panels instead of the twin frame construction that was the norm. I remember him convincing me to try this when I was initially sceptical because of problems I had seen with other producers.

His comment to me was, “You will not have a problem” and he was proved to be right.

– DANIEL STEWART, RETIRED OWNER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, CORBY CHILLED DISTRIBUTION

Bob Reid “I first met Jim in 1988, when he interviewed me for a job at Gray & Adams. The first thing I remember was his presence. He was the sort of man that when he spoke, people sat up and listened. It was obvious that he was very proud of his company and its achievements. As we spoke, I became more and more impressed by his straight talking and humility. So much so, after being offered the position at the meeting, I left a good job, sold my house and moved my family 500 miles North on the strength of his handshake.

Nothing else – no official letter or offer – just a handshake.

Jim was very hospitable and was always pleased for customers to visit Fraserburgh and see the quality of the product and developments to improve the product offering.

I am sure he could not have thought when he first started the business in 1957 that it would become the UK’s leader in refrigerated bodywork. By continually investing back into the business in terms of buildings, equipment and staff to keep them in the forefront of the refrigerated body building industry, they have survived many downturns and have gone from strength to strength. I feel sure the awarding

On first meeting Jim, you could be forgiven for thinking he

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was a bit fierce but when you got to know him, this perceived ferocity was just his way of showing how enthusiastic he was with everything he got involved in. He expected complete loyalty from his employees, but he returned that in spades – If I made a mistake with a customer, he may have torn a strip off me privately, but publicly he would always back me up. He had a great belief in family and would always ask how my wife and kids were doing. I remember I hadn’t been there long when I was talking to him and he noticed that I was a bit upset. He asked me if I was OK, and I told him that my 12-year-old dog had died that day. He told me to come into his office and organised a cup of tea, then sat down and chatted to me for 30 minutes about his animals, how important they were to him and how important it was to grieve for them. This was the sort of man I found him to be.

Donnie Harper

I used to enjoy the Friday evening work chats in the Board Room when the Directors and Managers got together to discuss the past week. Jim would invariably regale us with some humorous tale or other about the early days of the company and the extraordinary lengths he went to generate orders for the fledgling business, or he’d tell us about deer farming or salmon conservation or tree planting up at Altnaharra – he had a vast knowledge of many things and was always interesting to listen to.

Jim Watt

Although Jim was Managing Director and Chairman, he was very ‘hands on’ – he always seemed to know about everything that was going on, from the management to the shop floor, so there was no way anyone could pull the wool over his eyes when asked a question. Jim never stood on ceremony and expected everyone to be the same, regardless of their position in the company, no-one was too important for any task. I remember one day meeting him in the corridor and he was holding a lightbulb in his hand. “Ahh, just the man - will you pop into the toilet and change the lightbulb? Here’s the screwdriver”. The Chairman of the company, obviously on his way to do it himself - even though he had a maintenance department at his disposal.

Jim was a man for whom I held the greatest respect, not only for his enormous achievements from such humble beginnings, but for his humility and humanity. Even after my retirement, he always had time for a friendly chat whenever we bumped into one another in the town. Many a time we would block the aisle in Tesco, chewing the fat over something or other. He was a true gentleman whom I am honoured to have known, and who will be sorely missed.”

– BOB REID, RETIRED ENGINEERING MANAGER, GRAY & ADAMS

“To me, Jim Gray was a man who had a dream which he made into reality - Gray & Adams. I would be walking in the yard and suddenly, I would get a whistle from his office window and a wave to come up to see him. He would ask how the Factory Equipment was “behaving”, as he always wanted things running smoothly. He would always ask you for your opinion before starting machine repairs and if he thought there was a better way to repair it, he would give you his thoughts. Behind every great man there is a great woman, and that was Norma. It was my privilege to know them both and be part of the journey they had.”

- DONNIE HARPER, RETIRED MAINTENANCE MANAGER, GRAY & ADAMS

“I was the Finance Director of Gray and Adams and worked with Jim Gray, on a daily basis, for about 30 years. Jim was an astute businessman and saw the potential for producing high quality refrigerated vehicles for transporting food. With a down-to-earth attitude, his philosophy was based on hard work and common sense. Jim had high personal standards and looked for that in others. He was tough but fair.

Jim had a talent for making the right decisions at the right time - all to the benefit of the company. With an excellent grasp of the financial side of the business, he knew when it was the right time to expand. He saw opportunities for increasing sales and opened new factories in Dunfermline, Northern Ireland and Doncaster. Fraserburgh has also seen huge expansion which has increased turnover and created a massive amount of job opportunities in the area. It was a privilege to work with Jim and see Gray & Adams grow from strength to strength over the years.”

– JIM WATT, RETIRED FINANCE DIRECTOR, GRAY & ADAMS

Tom Cassells “Jim always struck me as an innovator – someone who was continuously looking for new ways to get further value out of the equipment we had. He pursued the double deck, and it was a pivotal moment for the industry – I was only too pleased to get behind and support the product at the time, and now most retailers wouldn’t be without it. Jim’s passing marks the end of an era and makes us all reflect as to whether we are leaving behind a legacy like him. He will be sorely missed.”

– TOM CASSELLS, FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR, REED BOARDALL AND CURRENTLY SENIOR CONSULTANT TO NEWCOLD LOGISTICS

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Jim Gray Snr Quotes from family, customers, industry peers, colleagues and friends Bob Smith

Nigel Baranowski

“I worked for Gray & Adams for some thirty years and learned many things about the man who had employed me. Jim was a proud Scotsman and devout family man, and he adopted the harsh work ethic of the fishing and farming community, where he lived and worked. I shared his values of honesty, decency and loyalty. He knew the value of money and was extremely generous to causes and individuals he felt were less successful than perhaps they could have been. He had the touch of the common man and the ability to deal at the highest level in the boardrooms of our national clients with the same demeanour.

“I first met Jim Gray back in 1989 when Tesco placed its first large order of trailers with the company. Over the years, I got to know Jim both on a business and social level. When visiting the factory, the day always ended with a warm meeting with drinks in the conference room. You always felt that he had a real interest in your business, as well as you personally.

It seems strange to relate that I found Jim on occasions to be shy and reluctant to face applause for good works he supported. On one occasion, at the horse of the year show in London, Jim had sponsored a junior pony event and was asked to enter the arena and present prizes. He politely declined this honour, and I was despatched to carry out his duties and accept the acclaim for his patronage.

Jim Gray was many things to many people, but to me and my family, he was always a willing listener, dependable and reliable if things became complicated. And to this end, he and his family are held in high esteem by all of my family.”

– BOB SMITH, RETIRED MANAGING DIRECTOR, GRAY & ADAMS (DUNFERMLINE)

Steve Rose “Jim Gray was a man who set high standards and expectations for his employees at Gray & Adams and led by example, inspiring everyone around him to meet him on the same level. He had a great presence and ran a tight ship, employing people who shared his passion and work ethic.

If you were lucky enough to join his team and meet his standards, you were rewarded accordingly.

In my experience, Jim was very personable but also a very quiet person - yet he made time for everyone that worked for him. Everyone, from every part and level of the business, was able to speak to him. He was very good to me and my family personally and I’ll never forget his support or how he was there for me when I needed him. He was a great man, and I wouldn’t have gotten to where I did in my own career without him giving me the chance. Working with Jim had a big impact on my career and, in many ways, working with him shaped me into the man I am today. I will always be grateful to him.”

– STEVE ROSE, RETIRED MANAGING DIRECTOR, GRAY & ADAMS (DONCASTER)

Jim loved his fishing and introduced me to the art of Salmon fishing, he always had advice to give as only Jim could. Woe betide the ghillie that didn’t get me some salmon, they were swapped for another one - my last visit to Altnahara saw Jim impose three swaps in the week! I felt so sorry for the Ghillies, it certainly wasn’t their fault but, Jim being Jim wanted to see results - and that meant me catching a fish.

It was a sad day for his family, his Gray and Adams colleagues, the community, his customers and friends when Jim passed away. A “one of a kind” legend in our industry had left us.”

– NIGEL BARANOWSKI, RETIRED HEAD OF ENGINEERING, TESCO DISTRIBUTION

David Steven “The first time I had meeting with Jim Gray was many years ago. Our company had no refrigerated trailers in our fleet, however this was being requested by our customers. My late Father said to contact Jim Gray - Jim had helped him out many years previously when he required flat body lorry (which other manufacturers could not manage), and then a small 8-tonner. Though it was the 1960’s, Jim built it for him within the week and my father was so grateful. At the time, lorries were highly difficult to obtain, never mind with a flat body!

After few calls with Jim, I arranged to travel to Fraserburgh.

Warm welcome received, Jim was so nice and helpful during our discussions – Gray & Adams was very busy and lead time for new trailers was very long. However, Jim came up with second-hand trailers from Gray & Adams in Ireland to get my Job started and I then ordered new trailers.

Over the years, I was always made very welcome by Jim. We always had cup of tea and discussed all the latest news.

I was young at the time and appreciated all of Jim’s advice on business matters through his own experiences and we had extremely interesting discussions. Jim was very kind-hearted man and invited me fishing on the River Beauly. I had not been fishing before and this was a brand-new experience for me – he kept me right and I really appreciated it. Invites were later extended to Altnahara for both fishing and shooting – He’d always arrive on the phone and was there to support with lots of words of wisdom.

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Jim has built up fantastic facility at Gray & Adams over the years, producing top quality trailers. Over the years, I would get a call from time to time about Altnahara or about business matters. Our conversation was always very interesting, and it was a real pleasure talking to him. I always wondered that Jim would take time to call me, after all, we weren’t one of Gray & Adams’ largest customers. Nevertheless, Jim did, and over the years, we became friendly. He always seemed to appreciate our orders for new trailers and was also aware of the orders continuing long after he had retired. I still received calls from him - unbelievable really. Through Jim and all at Gray & Adams, I have made many friends and business contacts over the years, which is all down to Gray & Adams’ hospitality. This shows what a nice person Jim was – just an incredibly kind man. I have to say, Jim passed his kindness and his business acumen to his brother, Beedie, sons, James and Peter, daughter, Marie, and to all of his team. Jim’s legacy lives on” – DAVID A STEVEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, D STEVEN & SON

Sam de Beaux “Firstly, we all have to admire what he achieved in a lifetime – from a one-man business to one of the UK’s most successful companies. For me, it was the vision to make the correct choices at the correct time. I recall him telling me that he had a dilemma as to which direction to go in manufacturing either tipper trailers (largely for the whiskey industry) or refrigerated trailers. His father said to him ‘’Son, whisky will come and go but food will always be required - build refrigerated vehicles’’ - a decision that was to prove very wise counsel.

Gray and Adams, through Jim and his fellow directors, has produced products and innovations that have changed the industry – the most notable being the introduction of the ‘double deck trailer’ in the 1990’s. These designs have not only revolutionised the refrigeration industry but also the parcel industry. Jim had a passion to understand the logistics industry and try to find solutions to its problems, before the industry even thought it had an issue!

The success of any business are the people and Gray & Adams people are exceptionally good and dedicated.

Although Jim did not recruit them all, he would have set the standards required and ensured they were set in the values of the company. I know that certain individuals who had medical issues were told by Jim to go private to get a fast resolution when they came to settle their account, Jim had already paid it. His generosity was immense and never done publicly. Jim invested in many charitable acts - from large projects like the Fraserburgh Leisure Centre, to small things that meant a lot to those that received them. I recall before a fishing trip with my son receiving an envelope with 4 salmon flies from Jim - the ones to catch the most fish. Was it true? In my head it was…. and they did.

This people focused trait was again highlighted to me by his daughter Marie at Jim’s funeral she said ‘’My dad never praised you to your face - he told others about you knowing the message would filter back’’. That is so true and worked both ways. He did not expect praise -only the satisfaction of a job well done.

November 1985: Jim Gray meeting Her Majesty the Queen at the SMMT Awards, Glasgow

On a personal note, I will always remember the hours, with a wee dram (unfortunately not always that ‘wee’) beside a river or in a fishing hut discussion - the endless debate on salmon husbandry. And although I have hesitated to say this, I do so out of utmost respect - Jim’s words of wisdom (or another story as to how to catch more fish) were preceded with the words ‘’Watch this…’’. For those that know him, you will know the pronunciation and you will forever be able to hear those words in your head. God bless you Jim.” – SAM DE BEAUX, RETIRED ENGINEERING DIRECTOR, GIST

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Jim Gray Snr Quotes from family, customers, industry peers, colleagues and friends George Lawrance

meat to Smithfield Market in London – previously this would have gone by rail.

“The one that got away: Jim Gray came in one morning back in time in early 1969, he had with him a frozen salmon which had caught earlier that day – a good 18 inches long.

He came into the workshop store and left it on the work bench, where a young, new apprentice boy was working.

John Thomson got a great lecture about this salmon and where it was caught. At 5pm, finishing time, John picks up the salmon thinking it was for him by the presentation and lecture by Jim Gray.

At Christmas time, most transport companies had an annual dinner and dance. The fact that Jim Gray’s wife, Norma, and my wife both came from Rosehearty, meant that they had a lot of things to talk about whilst we were at the bar together. He was also great at giving advice We didn’t always ask for it, but we got it anyway. For that, and many other things, he will be greatly missed.”

– TOMMY GIBB, RETIRED MANAGING DIRECTOR, GIBBS TRANSPORT

I came into the store later, and Jim is looking in the shelves and asking “Dod, have you seen that salmon I brought in this morning?” and I said, “Yes, it was on the bench!”

We both searched but found nothing. Jim usually came in with salmon and went to the bandsaw to cut them up into useable portions.

Wullie Sinclair “I’ve been retired for more than 21 years – In 1961, I joined Gray & Adams. I was a Joiner to trade and, Jim actually stopped me in the street. I’m not originally from Fraserburgh and I didn’t know him, but his car pulled up beside me and Jim opened his window and introduced himself. He said he was looking for a joiner and asked me to join his company, which I did.

Next morning, we had wound John up and Jim Gray questioned him about it. John said “Oh, I took it home thinking it was for me at the end of the day!”. Jim took it in good heart and said “You enjoy the salmon – I was just thinking about it lying around wasting”

To me, Jim Gray was Gray & Adams. The jobs we were doing when I started vs. what it is achieving now, is amazing. He was driving and spearheading its success all the way through. There were only six employees when I began. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d spent the rest of my working days there. Before the one-piece panels, everything was built from scratch. In 1978, we went to Holland to look at panels and I started making the very first one-piece panels and vans ever built at Gray & Adams – we never looked back. Jim Gray pushed everything forwards.

He was a visionary. Exceptional.

– GEORGE ‘DOD’ LAWRANCE, RETIRED REFRIGERATION MANAGER, GRAY & ADAMS

Tommy Gibb “I first met Jim Gray when he bought my Gran’s Dairy in School St in Fraserburgh, where he started repairing damaged cars in the old Byre. They then moved into larger premises where they began repairing and building bigger vehicles.

The first tipper body ever built by them, was for Gibb’s Transport. The transport we had at this time was for fresh fish, which was carried in an open lorry with a cover.

The transport rules changed for chilled food and, prerefrigeration, Gray & Adams started building suitable insulated containers for us. Later, they also got the Thermo King fridge unit, fitting this into the front of an insulated container to keep our fish fresh. At the time, I was driving a lorry and my Uncle ran the business. My Uncle, Jimmy Gibb, was very friendly with Jim Gray and they used to discuss all kinds of things, sharing business ideas and swapping stories. He got a lot of good advice from Jimmy. He loved his fish and was always helpful, supportive and kind – a real gentleman. Gray & Adams was the first to build hanging rails in the container for us to hang meat which gave us a new lease of life for our business as we could then deliver

Another thing to say about Jim, is what he has done for Fraserburgh. From being instrumental in the development of the Leisure Centre to all the jobs the company has created and sustained locally. From the very beginning, Gray & Adams has been fantastic for the community at Fraserburgh and remains so today.

I’m still very attached to my Gray & Adams days – now my daughter works there, and my 19-year-old great grandson is an apprentice welder there. It’s truly a family affair. James, Peter and Marie are doing a brilliant job and long may it continue - I wish them all the very best for the future.

A special thank you to Jim for stopping me that day in 1961 and asking me to work at Gray & Adams – lots of friends I’ve made from my time there remain friends to this day and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. It’s a very special

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place and in many ways, it’s all down to Jim. May he rest in peace.”

– WULLIE SINCLAIR, RETIRED FINAL QUALITY INSPECTION MANAGER, GRAY & ADAMS

Wilson Cardno

me to buy my very first car – I was newly married, and he took me to the bank. He went in and had a word with them, organising a loan for me. He was truly a one off and someone I will always hold in extremely high regard.”

– KENNY BURNETT, RETIRED TRAINING MANAGER, GRAY & ADAMS

“To me, Jim was the always the boss - the driving force behind Gray & Adams. I worked there for 49 and a half years.

I have the utmost respect for him, though, in all honesty, I sometimes wonder how I kept my job with all the things I said to him over the years. I tend to speak my mind and I didn’t always agree with him but nevertheless, he always made me feel like he listened to what I had to say. Sometimes he’d say, “I foot the bill Wilson, no you!” – but he always took the time to listen and then made up his own mind. It was a great experience to work for him.

When I came to work for Jim, they were in School Street in Fraserburgh, and I was working at the Body Repair Shop.

He built the first building on South Road, where the business is today. At the time, I said to him, “Jim, you’ll never fill this”.

Sure enough, he filled it and then some. He was the driving force behind its success - No question. Everyone who worked with him would say the same.

He was a good boss, but we had to work hard for him and if he wasn’t happy – he told you straight and that was it. Once he said, “Wilson, come up and see me at the site of my new house. I got there and said, “Jim, I wouldn’t be building a house here – you should go out into the country!”. With that, he marched me back to work! I honestly can’t express how much I think of him – he made a huge impression on me and I will always be thankful for knowing and learning from him.

He was a one off.”

– WILSON CARDNO, RETIRED GENERAL MANAGER, GRAY & ADAMS

Kenny Burnett “Jim Gray was a first-class boss – strict but fair. He was also a very generous man - if anything was required over and above the call of duty at Gray & Adams, you were always suitably rewarded. In the early days, he would regularly put on his brown boiler suit (always a brown one) and help out on the workshop floor. He commanded a lot of respect from his workforce and that can be seen by the high amount of long service workers in Gray & Adams. I worked with him for 48 years through the highs and lows (and there were plenty of both) but always the place kept expanding. He even helped

July 1970: Jim Gray with the Managing Director of Claben Ltd as they order four 40ft refrigerated trailers

Bill May “I am a welder to trade, and I originally approached Jim and asked him for a job in the Body Shop. At the time, he said they didn’t have anything but that he’d call me when something came up. A few weeks later, there was a knock on my door, and it was Jim. He offered me a job and said, “You can start when you like”. I worked there happily for 50 years.

Jim was a great boss and we hit it off really well over the years that I worked for him. We never had a cross word and I can’t praise him or Gray & Adams enough for all that they gave me.

It’s a great company and he was a truly great man.”

– BILL MAY, RETIRED CAR ACCIDENT REPAIR SHOP MANAGER, GRAY & ADAMS

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The Big Interview: Graham Moore (MRCT) For this edition’s BIG interview, we spoke to Graham Moore, Joint Managing Director at Suffolk-based Moores Refrigeration Controlled Transport Limited (MRCT).

How long has MRCT been working with Gray & Adams?

What challenges do you see the industry facing at the moment?

We have been working with Gray & Adams for over 30 years, since before their Doncaster site was in operation.

Working in the industry at that time, we’d heard good things about their products and had been impressed by what we’d seen of their build quality. We got in touch and have been working with them ever since.

The biggest current challenge is going to be the loss of red diesel – which will create a major cost to hauliers.

Another challenge is managing industry talent. We’re seeing some challenges in terms of attracting people to the industry and then a subsequent challenge of keeping them in your business. Everyone wants good people and there is fierce competition for staff, in terms of retaining the best industry talent.

What services do MRCT provide and in which sectors?

What are the key innovations in the industry in 2021 from your perspective?

MRCT has been delivering temperature-controlled food products since 1969. From the innovative beginnings of refrigerated containers fixed to flatbed trailers, to the purpose-built vehicles of today’s modern fleet, it has been serving customers of all sizes for over 50 years.

Of course, there’s always bigger and better technology to invest in, which is a challenge in itself. We’re seeing more and more options for sustainable refrigeration technology on the market such as electric or battery powered fridges, and related innovations which can further reduce its carbon footprint. Green refrigeration will be a major cost and education to all of us across the industry.

We provide a lot of deliveries from factory to regional distribution centres (RDC’s) and also manage a large volume of inter-factory movements – we cover a range of services but in the main, we’re working on temperature-controlled product transport and logistics across the UK.

Other innovations we’re interested in at the moment would be design for greater aerodynamics or greater fuel efficiency from tyres with low rolling resistance.

How do you feel the MRCT business aligns to the Gray & Adams business?

Longer semi-trailers (LST’s) are another interesting prospect which have the potential to make a difference to transport costs. We’ve been running these since the beginning of the Government trial period and have had good results from using them.

We’re both family-owned businesses and for MRCT, it’s about the service we receive, as well as the fact that we like the product. Our business is focused on understanding our customers, providing excellent customer service, good communication and on-time delivery, which is something that we share with Gray & Adams.

Double Decks are another key innovation which, although commonplace now, have had a huge impact on the industry.

If I have a question, or a problem, I can speak to them or see them at any time. The team at Gray & Adams make sure they are available to us at any time. Their commitment to building a strong direct relationship ensures that we receive great service and their guarantees around product quality and on-time delivery are reliable, which creates a foundation of trust.

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Finally, your thoughts about the overall service and aftercare received from the Gray & Adams team?

How does MRCT ensure it always stays at the forefront of industry innovation?

We go the extra mile for our customers and therefore part of our role is to have an in-depth knowledge of what our customers need. This, in turn, allows us to keep a focus on evolving requirements from a customer perspective, which keeps innovation at the forefront of our service.

We really like the Gray & Adams product and have been buying steadily over the years. In terms of service, it’s the best we’ve found in our 50 years in operation. We like the fact that there’s a repair centre nearby and it is close to two of our locations, in some ways this has been a factor in building our relationships with the Gray & Adams team.

Gray & Adams offers a complete service and product package, unlike anything else on the market.

How important is sustainability when considering the specifications of your fleet and how does Gray & Adams help you to achieve this?

I don’t think there’s anything particularly unique about our specifications, but Gray & Adams’ collaborative service allows us to access technical design support which helps us to maintain the most sustainable options for our fleet.

Their expertise supports us to find out what’s available on the market and engineer our products from there.

Are there any other key drivers which will impact how your fleet evolves moving forwards?

It’s a moving feast which is heavily reliant on both our customer demands and new technology. For instance, many years ago we did a lot of hanging meat for customers and had our vehicle specifications engineered to support this.

Later this became less popular with customers which meant we developed fewer vehicles with this included. However, in recent months it has become popular again – Our customer requirements are constantly in flux and relate to market trends.

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Working with Cotteswold Dairy Cotteswold Dairy based in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, is one of the largest Independent Family Dairies in the UK, supplying England and Wales and processing more than 80 million litres of milk each year. It manages every step of the milk journey from milk collection at the farm, to processing, to distribution and delivery to the customer. It operates from three service depots located in Cheltenham, Shropshire and North Wales, as well as its main production site in Tewkesbury, and works with over 40 different family farms which are local to the dairy.

The specification for Cotteswold’s fleet is varied but all must be able to hold bottled and crated products that offer product security and ensure consistent temperature control to hold the produce at the correct temperature, as well as being robust enough to keep up with the pace of the Dairy’s hardworking operations.

As family businesses with shared ethics and values, Cotteswold has worked with Gray & Adams (Ireland) since 2003 and have built a strong partnership, delivering a range of insulated and refrigerated curtainsider trailers. Their trailers are varied and includes specially designed double deckers to optimise the variety of products carried. In 2021, they commissioned a new 10.6m urban insulated and refrigerated curtainsider trailer to give increased capacity over their existing 26 tonners – a first for their fleet. The Dairy has also worked with our Doncaster team on their rigid vehicles since 2019.

Fleet Logistics Manager at Cotteswold Dairy, Ruairi Spencer, said “We still have Gray & Adams manufactured trailers and bodies which go back as far as 2003 and they are still in service. Gray & Adams is the supplier of choice for our Directors due to its durable and long-lasting, high quality product” During the Covid-19 pandemic, Cotteswold saw a rise in demand for its doorstep delivery service, which offers customers fresh milk direct to their door, at peak freshness.

With demand for their produce being so high, and the operation running six days a week and 52 weeks of the year, the reliability and durability of Gray & Adams trailers ensures that their fleet is always in service and available, with minimal disruption or downtime caused by equipment failure.

To meet this high demand, the Gray & Adams team work hard to ensure that all customer needs and specifications are met through diligent customer service and the application of innovative, industry expertise.

Ruairi said of the relationship, “The Gray & Adams team provide insight and industry knowledge, sharing best practice and ideas with us whenever we get in touch. They are inquisitive and seek to understand our business and our challenges so that they can add further value to our operations through our fleet. In the time I have been with the business, the team at Gray & Adams can be relied upon to ensure we get exactly the high quality, hardwearing products that we need, and we have a great working relationship with them too”

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Gray & Adams takes on ten new apprentices Gray & Adams (Fraserburgh) have taken on a new group of ten young people as apprentices in 2021, with the support of the AEG and Skills Development Scotland.

In recognition of the impact of the economic decline caused

by Covid-19, and the consequences on UK unemployment and employment opportunities, there are multiple Scottish Government programmes operating to support young people to take their first steps into the world of work. One of these, is the Apprentice Employer Grant (AEG) for businesses.

Aligned with the ambition of the Scottish Government’s ‘Young Person’s Guarantee’, the AEG supports businesses in Scotland to create further opportunities for young to take part in apprenticeships.

Each year Gray & Adams supports around 40 young people through its apprenticeship scheme, and continues to invest in the development of apprentices as part of its commitment to the next generation of industry talent. We encourage as many of those young people as possible to build their career with us at Gray & Adams. Our apprentices know that they contribute to the development of industry-leading products and services and this instills a feeling of pride in our young people. With a long-serving, expert team ready to pass on the expertise of its highly skills tradespeople, some of whom have worked for the business for 40 years or more, this new group of apprentices can be sure of a range of diverse and interesting opportunities to grow their skillsets and be part of Gray & Adams’ successes in the years to come.

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Donating to Doncaster Royal Infirmary for Tom Taylor In the summer of 2020, Tom Taylor, Managing Director of Gray & Adams (Doncaster) was diagnosed with cancer.

During his leave of absence, Tom and his family have been involved in a truly difficult battle with this illness, with further challenges caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic.

The magnificent sum of £1165 was raised by the Doncaster workforce and this was very generously matched by each of Gray & Adams’ sites at Fraserburgh, Dunfermline and Newtownabbey.

Alan Challoner, General Manager at Doncaster, had the idea to ask the Doncaster team if they’d like to contribute to fundraising for Tom’s chosen cancer charity, The Chatsfield Suite.

As a result, Tom & Alan were delighted to be able to present the Chatsfield Suite at Doncaster Royal Infirmary with a cheque for £5000, in support of the fantastic care they offer to patients and their families.

Alan said, “With Tom having worked for Gray & Adams for 29 years, it was hugely important for us to show our support for him by raising money for his chosen charity.

We wanted to find a way to show Tom, and his family, that the whole Gray & Adams team are wishing them well, every step of the way.”

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Staff Spotlight: Vikki Robson Tell us a bit about yourself and your career to date

What’s your vision for HR at Gray & Adams?

In terms of my career history, I spent fourteen years in the oil and gas industry, latterly working at Subsea 7 for eight years before moving into the automotive sector, where I worked at John Clark Motor Group for four years, prior to joining Gray & Adams. I am particularly proud of my time working in Oil & Gas, as it’s where I developed my passion for HR and working with people. I gained a lot of valuable experience in human resources and managing and solving staff challenges, as well as completing my CiPD qualifications there too.

During my time at Subsea 7, I worked to core values including integrity, performance and collaboration, which is something I have brought with me throughout my career. Working in a family business like John Motor Clark Group was also a fantastic experience and it is where I learned about the importance of customer service. I see lots of similarities in working for a family business and a lot of the same key focuses from the energy sector, such as the importance of communication, quality, innovation and safety, which I can build on at Gray & Adams.

My goal is really to ensure that all employees understand their roles and responsibilities, have access to up-to-date policies and procedures and that they’re informed about key business information in the right ways at the right times.

In HR we’re always looking to create an environment which offers openness and transparency allowing teams to connect to the overarching goals for the business and their part in its success. In such a large, UK-wide business, that’s a huge ask but we are up for the challenge!

What would you say are the key benefits of a career with Gray & Adams?

There are a lot of benefits of working at Gray & Adams, from offering robust on-site training, shadowing and mentoring, to delivering products for some of the biggest global brands or working in a dynamic, leading manufacturing business with a rich history and a fantastic success story. That said, our biggest asset has always been our people – the expertise and experience they have in the industry is second to none.

Tell us about your day-to-day role at Gray & Adams What I’m passionate about is improving the working experience for all employees. I handle all areas of HR so I am already working with my peers on a number of areas including internal communications, policies, people management, employee relations, recruitment, talent management, training and professional development. It is part of my job to ensure that every person who joins instantly feels part of the evergrowing Gray & Adams family. Currently, we are looking at new ways of doing inductions for example, which will help new employees to feel the family culture, no matter where their role is based. It’s a very exciting role in a fantastic business and I am enjoying every minute.

What attracted you to the business and the role?

I was, of course, aware of the business and the manufacturing of trailers but was particularly attracted to the role itself.

As I researched, I found out more and more about the history of the business and its operations. I knew I’d feel proud to work for Gray & Adams and that it fitted really well with my experience and interests.

What advice would you give to anyone considering applying for a role at Gray & Adams?

One of the things I would really love to see, is for people to demonstrate why they want to work here – I want to understand more about potential employees than just the technical skills. My main advice is to give as much information on your CV as possible and show us what you’re looking for from a career at Gray & Adams.

If you could do anyone else’s job at G&A, whose would it be and why?

A difficult question! I’d quite like to do a more hands on job or skilled trade like joinery or welding – I’m definitely not afraid to get my hands dirty and try new things!

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Staff Spotlight: Brian Fraser How long have you been working for Gray & Adams and what is your day-to-day role?

I’ve been at Gray & Adams for 23 years and I am a Senior Manager, looking after building projects and also overseeing major customer accounts, which I really enjoy.

originally developed this in the 90’s, Gray & Adams won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2020 for its recent Double Deck design. This goes hand-inglove with the point that you can’t stand still in our industry – we’re always looking ahead at ways to improve our products and services and we never compromise on quality.

What attracted you to the company initially?

I was working at a Local Authority as a building surveyor and covered a large area from Portsoy to Ellon. At the time, there was a lot of reorganising in the authority which included changes to working practices and conditions. It wasn’t working for me.

In 1998, I was offered a job at Gray & Adams by Peter Gray.

At the time, I said to him and his dad Jim, “My working life up till now has been all building houses and construction.”

Jim said, “Building houses is no different to building trailers.

They all have a roof, walls and floors - the only difference is the wheels!”

How do you ensure customer service excellence for our customers?

We measure customer service delivery through our ISO accreditation, which we update through annual review statements and customer interviews. We must be doing something right - repeat business doesn’t land on your doorstep if you get it wrong. It’s ingrained in us that we can never be complacent - we must consistently be good at what we do and continue to meet the expectations of our customers in every single order.

Gray & Adams is a great company to work for. I grew up beside them locally and have known of the business and the Gray family all my life. When I was offered the job, I decided to give it a go and see - 23 years later, I’m still here! I feel very fortunate to work here – the management team are fantastic and always take the time to listen to us.

What is the best thing about working for Gray & Adams?

.

There’s a great team at Gray & Adams and I hope that for the benefit of the town and community that Gray & Adams are here for another 60 years. We have lots of young talent looking to grow and develop and the highly skilled expertise of our established team are here to support that learning and development.

Tell us about your greatest achievements whilst working for Gray & Adams In terms of what I’ve achieved personally, it’s upholding the fantastic ability that Gray & Adams has to fulfil and satisfy customer requirements for orders. Part of my remit is to check that all required dates are achieved. That could be a delivery to Livingston or Southampton. As a business, we are very customer focused – it has always been crucial to our service that customer’s needs are met at all times.

In terms of the business, I’ve been impressed with the heavy investment on the site at Fraserburgh and throughout the Gray & Adams Group. It’s always been ingrained in us that we need to remain proactive to stay ahead. Having the foresight to keep things moving on and never standing still is a great achievement of the business that I am impressed by time and again.

What current industry innovation impresses you the most and why?

Though it’s not a new innovation as a product, as it was

From my perspective, no two days are the same. I couldn’t do the same thing day in and day out. I’m involved in a lot of different projects and the variety of the job is the thing that spurs me on daily. If I didn’t still enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it!

Any memories of Jim Gray Snr which we can share?

I’ve known Jim on a working and a personal level for many years. He was the kind of man who would pull you into his office and ask you a question, but he already knew the answer, so you’d better not waffle or try to pull the wool over his eyes. He was a fantastic boss and always knew everything that was going on.

I took ill a number of years ago. The help and support, both financial and mentally, that I got from the whole Gray family was utterly fantastic. It was a real source of encouragement for myself, my family and even my extended family as well.

The Gray family are a group of generous and caring people and many of the Gray & Adams team have benefitted from their kindness over the years. It’s one of the reasons the team is so loyal and long serving.

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Staff Spotlight: Davy Smith How long have you been working for Gray & Adams and what is your day-to-day role?

I’ve been at Gray & Adams for 9 years, and my role is Group Quality Manager. I work to ensure we uphold and maintain compliance to our British Standards accreditations. I oversee a quality control team at our Head Office site to ensure we meet customers’ needs and expectations, from the correct design specification to the delivery of the final product.

What attracted you to the company initially?

Initially it was simply the advert – I’ve always lived fairly close to the company headquarters in Fraserburgh and knew a bit about what they did. I have a background in production, as I have worked in manufacturing all my life. I served my apprenticeship as a joiner at Macduff Shipyards, before moving into the timber frame industry where I steadily progressed my career into management.

As part of the interview, James Gray gave me a factory tour. As soon as I’d gotten all the way round, I knew then that I wanted to work for Gray & Adams. It’s huge and realising the scale of the place, I was really impressed.

Even though moving into Quality Management could have been perceived as a diversion from where I had been in my career, it felt right, and it was too big an opportunity to miss.

Tell us about your greatest achievements whilst working for Gray & Adams The last 12 months has been the most challenging year for me in my career to date. In the first lockdown in March 2020, I was part of the set-up team tasked with creating a new set of procedures and putting everything in place to get the team back to work safely. A year on and we’ve succeeded and although it was a challenging time, it has been hugely rewarding to see the business continuing to thrive and grow.

Another achievement that has made me proud is the updating of our Gray & Adams Group Build Manual, along with our technical department. Together, we overhauled the original manual which has been developed to ensure consistent build of products and sharing of best practice throughout all Gray & Adams sites and teams. It’s a hugely important tool for training, especially for our new starts and apprentices. The document is core to ensuring consistency and quality in the building of our products and has helped us to become more efficient in our processes too.

What current industry innovation impresses you the most and why?

I’m really impressed by the all-electric refrigeration trailer system used in our partnership with Carrier Transicold The Vector E-Cool. It recovers energy from moving parts and stores it in the battery pack to power the fridge unit, creating less emissions and using less fuel. It could be a real game changer if it takes off.

Another thing I’ve been impressed with recently is the quality of everything in the 12-cell custodial vehicles that we have recently built at Gray & Adams. Less about innovation but more the craftsmanship that goes into the build. It’s all built by hand through the expertise of some of our highly skilled tradespeople and is so impressive.

It really makes us unique in the market and the finished product is excellent. With that in mind, we’re always reviewing best practice – it is always at the forefront of our thinking.

How do you ensure customer service excellence for our customers?

Obviously, we have to comply with the 9001:2015 quality standard and this gives the customer the assurance that the product has been built and delivered with the service excellence that is expected.

Quality – It’s a massive part of who we are and why we’ve been so successful. It has to be built in from the beginning from that initial customer enquiry and working closely to understand their needs and expectations.

This then continues through every department after that – from sales, design, to drawing and purchasing, then putting it into production and finally through to the predelivery inspections. We pride ourselves on the assurance that our customers have had their product delivered to the highest quality, correct specification and on time, with all equipment tested and verified.

We also give support or training to customers once they have their order, and our aftersales support is a huge part of the quality offering too. For us, quality is far more important than quantity. Of course, it’s nice to get big orders but we need them to be right.

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A Lifetime of Value: Long Service Thanks

Testament to the way the business is run, Gray & Adams have a number of employees who have served with us for many years. Our company has been built on their commitment and high-quality work, and we would like to take this opportunity to profile their careers and share our sincere thanks for their service.

Jack Byron 25 Years

Morag Cooper Staff Retiral

Craig Soutar Staff Retiral

Jack’s career has spanned 25 years so far.

Based at the Dunfermline depot as Assistant Line Manager, Jack partly is responsible for ensuring that every trailer that leaves the depot is safe, clean and meets the high standards that Gray & Adams have become synonymous with.

As a company, Gray & Adams continuously look to improve processes, efficiency and other working practices and Jack has enjoyed being a part of this process of striving for quality by being involved updating the procedure manual for production. Working with the business has definitely become a family affair for the Byron’s as Jack’s two sons have now been with the company for over ten years.

Morag has recently retired after working in the Fraserburgh depot for 18 years as a purchase ledger. In a very busy role, Morag was indispensable to the finance office, ensuring that supplier invoices were paid in a timely manner and of course, ensuring that her colleagues wages were correct and paid out on time. Morag also praised our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, telling us that she felt very safe returning to work and the procedures that we put in place made her feel very comfortable. Morag also tells us that she is looking forward to spending more time with her friends and her three grandchildren once restrictions are lifted.

Craig was one of the original employees at Gray & Adams Dunfermline, starting on 10 January 1977, he began is 44-year career as an apprentice with the business, progressing to Workshop Manager before eventually retiring in March 2021. In his final role of Workshop Manager, Craig was responsible for checking that all completed trailers were up to spec and took time to quality assure all aspects of the work from the team of workshop employees he managed. A fond memory for Craig is when he travelled to Germany with senior colleagues to explore new products and technologies that were coming out of Europe to help diversify Gray and Adams portfolio of solutions. Outside of his professional success, Craig has many hobbies that he enjoys and is looking forward to having more time to pursue them.

“I’ve really enjoyed my career with Gray & Adams and I’ve held a range of positions with them over the years, most recently Assistant Line Manager. I’ve always felt that I’ve been well looked after by the company and the team that I work with are great. A fond memory from over the years has been attending the company golf day which was always a good day out!”

Andrew Buchan Staff Retiral Andrew has recently retired after 32 years with the business in the Fraserburgh HQ, he worked with us a Foam Fill Operative, moving from different departments in the factory floor until laterally finishing his career on the roof panels of our trailers. Andrew is also about to hit another exciting milestone in life as his 5th grandchild is due at the end of April. He told us that will keep his hands full during his retirement!

“I remember when Prince Charles came to visit us in 2017, that was a great day.

He took the time to speak with everyone on the factory floor that came to meet him and he took an interest in all our roles within the business. I’ve seen a lot of changes in my 18 years with the company, one that sticks in my memory was learning the new computer systems for the office.

It was important to pick it up quite quickly in order to keep everything running smoothly”

“The company were always very generous, and my colleagues have given me a travel voucher as a leaving gift to use when restrictions are lifted. I really enjoy travel and I’m thinking about using the gift to go to Egypt”

John Soutar 39 Years The Directors of Gray & Adams would also like to thank John Soutar for his 39 years of service with the business. John, a former welder, he progressed to Quality Inspector in Fraserburgh was integral to the business delivering quality to our customers for nearly 4 decades. We wish him well in his retirement.

“You got some great laughs with the guys you were working with, even though some days could be hard work, you just got on with it and it was quickly forgotten. I’d just like to thank my colleagues for putting up with me for 32 years!”

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