10 Dec From Welder to Managing Director: Tom Taylor’s Journey with Gray & Adams
Tom Taylor worked for Gray & Adams for 34 years, starting as General Welder & Fabricator on the shop floor in Gray & Adams’ Doncaster depot in April of 1991 to eventually becoming Managing Director of Doncaster in 2016, a position he maintained until his retirement on 19th December 2025. He saw the company grow exponentially in that time, with his work contributing to that achievement.
What did your career journey at Gray & Adams look like?
When I started with the company as general welder & fabricator, Doncaster’s main focus was on repairs and refurbishments, building only two new vehicles a week, so most of my time was spent on welding work on repairs. After eight months I became welding foreman and spent five years in that post, including six weeks in Fraserburgh working in the fabrication shop. I moved into the role of repairs manager in 1996, gaining in-depth training in refurbishment and costing. After eight years in that role, I became area sales manager. Peter Gray and the sales team guided me through that transition and was always on hand with advice.
Four years later I shifted to operations manager. For the next eleven years I worked with the team at Doncaster on all aspects of how to manage the workshop from production management to health and safety. In January 2016 I was promoted to Managing Director of Doncaster and stayed in that post until retirement. Working with James and Peter at board level was demanding yet rewarding. Throughout my career at Gray & Adams, Peter and James have helped me tremendously to get me to where I am today. Knowing that I can approach them about anything at any time is very reassuring.
What is your most memorable moment with the company?
Thinking back, it’s got to be my first promotion to Welding Manager only eight months after I started, I was told at that the time I was the youngest manager in the whole group. I don’t really know how true that was at the time, but I remember the pride I felt and that really marked the beginning of my journey with Gray & Adams.
Biggest achievement with the company?
My final promotion to Managing Director in January 2016, following Steve Rose’s retirement. I had plenty of sleepless nights wondering if I had the right sized feet to fill Steve Rose’s big boots… But I remember some great advice Peter Gray gave me, “Don’t try and fix something that’s not broken” and that advice stayed with me.
Favourite innovation that you have seen from Gray & Adams?
I remember working on one of the very first Refrigerated Double Deck trailers that Gray & Adams built in back 2000. This felt like a real step forward for the industry.
Would you have any advice to give to someone starting at Gray & Adams?
Work hard and turn up for work on time and opportunities may come your way, you never know, you too could become a manager or even managing director one day.
What are your plans for retirement?
With a lot more time on my hands, I plan on travelling more around Europe in my motor home and finishing the restoration work on my 1953 Chevy pickup truck.