It all began in 1990 and since then the Huws Gray Group has grown from a single location at Gaerwen on Anglesey with a team of five, to an organisation employing thousands of people right across the UK and we are especially proud to be the UK's largest founder-led, independent Builders Merchant.
We have enjoyed a remarkable journey over the last 32 years and collectively, our people have helped us build a very special culture. We’re focussed on getting the basics right because we know how much value this adds to our business and we’re full of energy and enthusiasm for what we do. They’re our magic ingredients, and they’re what we look for in our people.
Our customers are our top priority, so we want our branch teams to have the flexibility, autonomy, and trust to deliver what’s best for them, because ultimately that’s what’s best for the business. They do this safe in the knowledge that our central support teams are 100% behind them and are as focussed on getting things right for our customers as they are.
Creating a work environment that is appealing and safe for colleagues of all backgrounds is the only way we can secure the future of our industry. This is why we’ve taken the #BuiltOnBetter Pledge to show our commitment and joined the Coalition as a Strategic Partner. Together we pledge to:
Work together to inspire the next generation of leaders in the construction industry
Conduct internal surveys on equity, diversity and inclusion, and to act on the main problems and barriers identified
Develop and share resources from within and beyond the construction industry
Support a healthy and collaborative workplace environment, and maintain a whistleblowing procedure where colleagues feel comfortable speaking out
Educate ourselves, our colleagues, and the wider industry around aspects of equity, diversity and inclusion
Commit to benchmarking, tracking and sharing equity, diversity and inclusion data within organisations
Assess our equity, diversity and inclusion progress on an annual basis, publishing a report and outlining a plan for further action every year as a coalition
To find out more, please visit Construction Inclusion Coalition
Rarely standing still the Huws Gray group had almost doubled in size every five years, and a landmark acquisition in 2022 puts us where we are now.
Driven by both organic growth and acquisition we now operate nationwide and have some of the most well-respected brands in our fields
Here’s our incredible journey over the last thirty years.
Where it all began, a single branch in Gaerwen, Anglesey with just five team members
By the end of the nineties, we were expanding our presence in North Wales and had doubled again to a total of five branches
By 2006 we were starting branch to out into North West England and had more than doubled again with a total of 16 branches and over 150 colleagues. This huge growth was really only just the beginning but we reached a milestone moment in this period and had built our first branch from a brownfield site, giving us the blueprint for our ideal branch layouts with generously sized self-selection areas and the opportunity to carry a healthy stock holding.
With more acquisitions and new branch openings, the Huws Gray brand was becoming well known throughout North Wales and North West England. Our principle of keeping things simple for us means that it’s simpler for our customers and this approach allowed us to grow at scale and pace. With close to 30 branches and over 300 colleagues, by 2010 the business has doubled again.
In 2015 we celebrated our 25th Anniversary across 45 locations and with over 500 colleagues. The clear vision ‘to put the customer at the heart of everything we do’ has supported rapid growth over the last two and a half decades.
With a winning formula and following further acquisitions of established independent merchants, The Huws Gray Group reaching a milestone moment in 2018. The opportunity to acquire the well-established and respected Ridgeons Group expanded our geographic footprint to East Anglia. Bringing their 40 locations, including a specialist timber mill, into the Group established Huws Gray as the largest independent merchant group in the UK with a total of 100 locations.
Our acquisition of the GB businesses from Grafton Group plc was a landmark deal for the Group. Bringing the well-respected brands of Buildbase, Civils & Lintels, PDM Buildbase, The Timber Group, Smiths Briten and NDI businesses added a further 200 locations to our portfolio and we welcomed 3,500 colleagues. Our ambition to double every five years is once again achieved and extends our geographic footprint substantially.
We’ve got a strong set of guiding principles that under pin everything we do. We are human though, so living & breathing these values is not always easy but they’re the fundamental foundations that have allowed us to become successful, and they are at the heart of all our decision making
That means we want our people to succeed and not fail. We invest heavily in learning and development because reaching your potential and bringing your A game is crucial to what we do. Our massive growth has created amazing career opportunities for our people and we are committed to promoting from within where possible.
We know that when things are simpler for us, they are better for our customers so we aim to avoid unnecessary complication. We’re successful by staying true to the basics of how we do things and we do not allow unnecessary clutter to get in the way.
We are focussed on making things easier for our customers and are constantly looking for ways that we can do things better. We keep an open mind and are flexible to change. We listen to our colleagues and take action, as we value diversity of opinion. This helps to ensure we remain a profitable and healthy business.
We conduct ourselves respectfully, but you know that energy and enthusiasm we mentioned earlier – well that features heavily in how we interact with our colleagues and customers. We are passionate about providing great customer service and enjoying the time we spend at work.
We’ve got a variety of exciting opportunities to join our talented teams right across the business. Hear from our valued colleagues below on what it’s like to work for the UKs largest independent builders’ merchant.
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Can't find the role for you? Want to learn more about the Huws Gray Group? Take a look at our other company careers pages or upload your CV to the Huws Gray team and if a role that suits your skills and experience becomes available a member of the team will get back to you
What do our team love? What keeps them engaged and motivated? Why should you follow in their footsteps?
I have been with Huws Gray for around 3 years now, after leaving college, I was given an opportunity to start my career as an apprentice in our Leeds Headingley branch, covering all aspects from yard and sales to stock control and transport. The opportunity the company gave me to cover all aspects of merchanting gave me a really strong foundation to build on which has lead me to being given an opportunity to work on the Acquisitions Team undertaking one of the industry’s biggest acquisitions in history alongside some of the most experienced people in the business at 20 years old. Experience gained then lead me to take on a Branch Manager role at 21 and really drive growth and success. Huws Gray are a fantastic company to work for, supporting my personal growth and ambition, we have a fantastic family feel to the business, some great people across the country and an excellent atmosphere. I would absolutely recommend Huws Gray as a great company to work for.
In 2013 I joined the company (formerly Ridgeons Timber & Builders Merchant) as a Graduate Management Trainee. After completing placements in different aspects of the business I progressed to Branch Manager. Since then, I have moved branches as the company has needed me to and to suit my work/life balance. This has included two periods of maternity leave, both of which have been followed by opportunities to move branch to further my career and be closer to home. The company has always supported my development, including funding a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Management through the Builders Merchant Federation. Although the industry might not immediately appeal to women, there are many opportunities to have a challenging and rewarding career if you want it!
Working as an HR Assistant at Huws Gray for the past 2 years has been an incredible experience and has helped me grow both professionally and personally. The supportive team environment and mentorship I’ve received have been instrumental in my development. I’ve gained invaluable skills in the employee lifecycle, employee relatI am thrilled to be stepping into the HR Advisor role, where I look forward to taking on new challenges and continuing to support our fantastic team. I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow within such a dynamic company.’ions, and HR processes, all while contributing to a positive workplace culture. I am thrilled to be stepping into the HR Advisor role, where I look forward to taking on new challenges and continuing to support our fantastic team. I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow within such a dynamic company.
