On 17th July 2014, with the help of HRH The Princess Royal, we made some bold statements of how the Gelder Group would look come the summer of 2017.

To mark the completion of our 20by17 Vision we’ve released this 4 minute video to showcase how we got on.

Thank you to everyone, customers, suppliers, subcontractors and employees for your help with making the past three years so special.

(Left to right) Branch Manager Chris Kent with Apprentice Tom Potter, Head of IRR Louisa Sharpe, and Apprentice Dylan Carter with Fleet Manager Dave Leak.

Gelder Group apprentices, Thomas Potter and Dylan Carter have been given their own brand-new vehicles as they enter into their 2^nd year of studying to become Insurance Surveyors.

On the handover Head of Insurance, Louisa Sharpe commented:

Tom and Dylan are working extremely hard to achieve their apprenticeships and providing these vehicles is a statement of our commitment to invest in their future.

If you would like more information about apprenticeships within the Gelder Group, visit our dedicated Apprenticeships page, or get in touch.

Neil Holt, Contracts Manager

Neil Holt has now become our fifth Contracts Manager within the expanding Major Contracts Team. Neil has worked for the division for over 13 years and has managed many projects all over the counties. He leaves the North Sea Observatory project as Site Manager, but will continue to oversee the project, as well as additional projects in Kettering.

Well done Neil, and good luck!

(Left to right) With their UKATA certificates Tom Potter, Steve Richardson, Rob Aston and Phil Vasalo

A total of 24 staff, managers and surveyors, within the Insurance Department have successfully completed a UKATA accredited asbestos course, which focused on both awareness and sampling. This bespoke course was delivered by industry leader Eddie Strong and his team from Ferncroft Environmental. Head of Insurance, Louisa Sharpe, commented:

A fabulous course, tailored to our requirements, it’s given my team fantastic knowledge of the regulations and requirements when working with potential asbestos.

Gelder Group has always shown a strong commitment to health and safety, and this further demonstrates our proactive approach to ensuring the safety of both our employees and our customers.

(Left to right) Gary Cox, Phil Middleton, Simon Blaydes, David Troop, Jason Tindale, Jim Smith, Andy Carpenter

Eight enthusiastic fishermen turned out to commemorate the annual Rick Paton Memorial Charity Match and help raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity. All of the anglers prepared weeks in advance of the competition, with many using new tackle that was purchased for the special day. Dave Troop (Garage Workshop Foreman and defending champion) had been heard sharpening his hooks on the Garage angle grinder. Gary Cox (Insurance Surveyor) had nearly worn out the grass doing circuits of the lake, locating where the carp were, and his fishing rigs had been critically balanced and custom built to perfection. Oscar (the resident monster carp) was in an especially bad mood as he doesn’t like match day and confirmed his threat to break tackle at all opportunities during a pre-match interview. Dawn Peel (PA to Steve Gelder) blessed us with luxury as per usual serving hot tea and bacon butties as the sun tried to burn through a cloudy Sturton by Stow. The 8.30am draw was exciting with plenty of banter; Dave Troop drawing the best peg (Rick’s peg) to a resounding roar and a barrage of insults and claims of match fixing from Group members!

The Match started well with bent rods and splashes being heard all around the lake. The 2016 match champion Dave Troop had the landing net out 5 times in the first 20minutes  – the “Gelder Group Bagging Machine” showing his deadly consistency yet again. Gary remaining patient setting his stall out for Oscar (a brave man for sure), whilst keeping a steady stream of silver fish coming to the net. Splashes could be heard coming from Jason and son Jack Tindall’s peg all day showing that their preparations and match plan was working well.

Andy “The Carp” Carpenter (Site Manager) turned up fashionably late with a few heads dropping as last year’s third place champion walked to his peg like a boss. Andy soon made up for lost time, locating the Ide from the off, quickly surpassing some anglers catches (the one on peg 8) after only a few casts!

Meanwhile Mr Middleton (Senior Surveyor), aka Phil ‘’THE POWER’’, or just ‘’THE POWER’’, was quietly beavering away with a nice rhythm, putting the net out regularly and building a nice weight, a few one way tickets were hooked but not landed… Perhaps it was that pesky Oscar up to his old tricks again?

The effervescent Jim Smith, ever solid with his support for the Group, drawing the magic number peg 3. Jim kept the fish coming with various tactics and bait selection.

Simon Blaydes (Design Coordinator) was off to a flyer on peg 8, but failed to finish how he started, peaking too soon.

Mr and Mrs Paton gave us all a welcome visit , gifting a bottle of Champagne for the smallest weight of fish on the day. The message on the bottle being ‘’Better Luck next time’’. This was very much appreciated.

After a 5 hour match it was all over, the results are as follows:

THIRD PLACE – DAVE TROOP

Dave Troop inspecting his catch.

The Gelder Rod and all round dab hand galvanising his reputation with yet another placing on the podium. A 4lb.06.5 oz mixed bag of tench, carp and silver fish.

SECOND PLACE  – GARY COX

Gary Cox with his impressive catch.

The Surveyor from the North West being no stranger to the podium also;  pulling off a result from one of the lakes most difficult pegs. He made a patient match plan to catch Oscar and was rewarded with a younger brother of the Lake Big Guy at just over 4lb in weight. Coupled with a respectful back up weight of Silver fish 6lb 13.5oz  was enough to secure a very well deserved second place.

FIRST PLACE  – PHIL MIDDLETON

The 2017 Rick Paton Memorial Fishing Competition Champion, Phil Middleton.

One of the original Barbarians from Barlborough, Phil literally gave us his master class in the art of angling, amassing a very respectful 7lb 4.5oz bag of all silver fish, which is probably one of the hardest earned match weights ever recorded from our lake. Phil fished skilfully keeping the fish coming from start to finish. Phil ‘’The Power’’ for sure!

Well done to all those who took part and supported the memorial match with £47.00 raised on the day which was match generously by Gelder Group.

Kyra Elston – Apprentice Administrator.

The Major Contracts department welcomed their new Apprentice Administrator, Kyra Elston. Kyra will be working in the department as well as studying for her Business Administration Level 2 Apprenticeship.

Concept drawing of the Dhollandia building.

From conception through to completion. The Dhollandia project started life as a concept drawing by Design Space Architecture’s  Simon Blaydes (Design Co-ordinator). Subsequently, our Major Contracts Division won the £2.5 million (3,300 Sq m) project to bring the design to life. The project also brings with it new Site Manager Paul Hughes who we welcome to the team.

The project commenced on the 26th June and will be completed late February, allowing market leaders in Tail-Lifts to expand their business significantly. Everyone involved is excited to see the progress of the building take shape. If you would like any further information about this project, please get in touch.

Marking the start of groundworks for Newark’s new fire station are (centre, with spade) the chairman of Nottinghamshire Fire Authority, Brian Grocock, and (right) Newark station officer Seth Armstrong. They are with (left to right) Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service head of procurement and resources Ian Pritchard; Major Contracts director for Gelder Group, Kevin Manterfield-Ivory; site manager Ian Keogh and contracts manager Gavin Parker.

Newark Fire and Rescue Station will start to take shape now all demolition works have been completed. A traditional sod cutting ceremony took place last week to mark the next phase of the project.

The ceremony was attended by Kevin Manterfield, Gavin Parker and Ian Keogh along with the chairman of Nottinghamshire Fire Authority, Brian Grocock, and Newark station officer Seth Armstrong.

Mathew Kane – Gelder Group employee

Huge congratulations to Mathew Kane who won his fight in the ‘Ultra White Collar Boxing‘ event on Saturday 24th June 2017. Mathew has been training for this fight for 8 weeks and commented:

This is not enough time to prepare anyone for battle, I trained at least 4 times a week as the thing to remember is the harder you train the easier you fight. If you want to win, you have to train harder and smarter than your opponent.

Colleagues who witnessed Mathew’s fight described it as one of the best fights of the evening. Mathew and his opponent fought 3 fast-paced rounds and traded punches for the entire match. At the final bell, the judges came to a split decision, but Mathew’s technical abilities and aggressive/attacking style gave him the edge.

Mathew raised £475 for Cancer Research through donations and ticket sales.

Triple success for Major Contracts division.

The Major Contracts team celebrate triple success in both the LABC awards and Lincolnshire Construction & Property Awards 2017. Cartergate and Kenwick Park Spa & Leisure have received these prestigious awards and now battle it out in the National Finals in November. The team have exciting times ahead. Well done to everyone involved!