12 Dec Retirement Spotlight | Brian Wood

Gray & Adams said goodbye to long-serving employee Brian Wood. Working as Estimating Manager in Fraserburgh, Brian has worked for Gray & Adams for the last 13 years. We caught up with Brian just before his retirement to find out more about what he will miss about working for Gray & Adams and what he is looking forward to as he enters this new chapter.

What was your role at Gray & Adams and what were your day-to-day responsibilities?

As Estimating Manager, my primary responsibility was to ensure that all quotation requests received from the Sales Team were allocated to the appropriate estimator (including myself), completed accurately and returned within the required timescales.

Within the Fraserburgh Sales Team, there are currently five estimators, each with their own specialist area of knowledge and expertise, which is regularly shared across the team as required. In recent years, I have been heavily involved in the introduction and implementation of the new estimating and quoting system. As confidence in its accuracy continues to grow, the previous system, which served the business well for 14 years, will gradually be phased out. Once fully embedded, the new system will be a significant advantage to both the estimating team and the wider business.

In addition to quoting, I was responsible for processing customer orders and allocating the required labour and materials to the relevant production departments to ensure that trailers could be built efficiently from start to finish. As projects progressed, amendments were managed to ensure the final product met the customer’s exact specification. Other responsibilities included ensuring that fleet numbers, livery requirements, delivery locations and any customer-supplied items were in place prior to production commencing.

What did you do before you came to Gray & Adams and why did you want to work for the company?

I began my working career in 1976 as a Distribution Apprentice with Scottish Gas, installing gas mains and services. Prior to joining Gray & Adams, I was a Commercial Director with a utilities contractor involved in gas, water and electrical distribution networks throughout the UK. After 36 years working within the underground utilities sector, the company was taken over by a national organisation and I decided it was the right time to seek a new challenge.

When I saw the Estimating Manager position advertised at Gray & Adams, I applied and was invited to meet Peter Gray for an interview and a tour of the factory. From that first visit, it was clear that Gray & Adams was a market-leading company with strong values, excellent people and long-term stability. I felt confident that it would provide me with both a fresh challenge and the job security to see me through to retirement — a decision that proved to be the correct one.

What was your biggest achievement while working for Gray & Adams?

My biggest achievement has been my involvement in the selection, implementation and successful introduction of the new estimating software system. This was a major project that required detailed evaluation, careful planning and close collaboration across multiple departments. As with any significant system change, there were challenges along the way; however, seeing the system go live and become operational has been extremely rewarding.

The new system will shortly be rolled out across all depots within the Group, allowing information to be shared more efficiently, consistently and accurately across the business. This represents a major step forward for Gray & Adams and I am proud to have contributed to a development that will continue to support and strengthen the company well into the future.

What did you enjoy most about working for Gray & Adams?

Without question, the people. From my first day with the company, I was made to feel welcome and supported, and that sense of teamwork has remained constant throughout my time here. Colleagues at all levels of the business have consistently demonstrated professionalism, dedication and a willingness to help whenever required.

There is a strong culture of cooperation and mutual respect within Gray & Adams, which makes it an enjoyable and rewarding place to work. The relationships built over the years have been a particular highlight for me, and I will genuinely miss working alongside such a committed, friendly and capable workforce.

What are your plans for retirement?

My plans for retirement are deliberately flexible. I intend to take some time initially to relax and enjoy a slower pace of life, and I am hoping to travel somewhere warmer after the New Year. When spring arrives, I expect to spend more time in the garden and vegetable plot, which will provide both enjoyment and a new set of challenges.

I also plan to return to playing outdoor bowls after a year away and look forward to becoming more involved in the sport again. Above all, I am looking forward to having the time to enjoy a wider range of interests and activities while maintaining a healthy balance between staying active and taking the opportunity to properly relax.

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone at Gray & Adams for the support, friendship and encouragement I have received throughout my time with the company. It has been a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated and professional workforce, and I leave with many fond memories and great appreciation for the opportunities I have been given.

James and Peter Gray would like to thank Brian for his commitment to the company and wish him all the best in his retirement going forward.