At the start of 2017 the Gelder Group launched Vision 2020.
The company retained its principle vision of ‘inspiring a new generation in construction’. Vision 2020 aimed to further strengthen the Groups commitment to its:
Employees (the Company to Work for)
Partners (Building Strong Communities)
Technology (Embracing Smart Technology)
Growth (to be Enterprising in our Approach to New Development Opportunities)
A vision is a statement of intent, Vision 2020 was put together by a team of employees and took many hours of hard work, along with a lot of help from Dawn and Paul Barron of Human Alchemy.
This document explains how a set of commitments made back in 2017 have shaped the Gelder Group into the organisation it is today.
Foreword by Steve Gelder
Vision 2020 was put together by a team of 30 employees led by our Financial Director Arran Fullwood, and was guided by Human Alchemy. After 30 years in business it was the first business plan/vision/statement of intent at Gelder Group that I’d not personally been involved in.
Vision 2020, from its outset, for me became somewhat of a challenge. I am a very trusting person, but putting the trust of the Gelder Group’s future, my baby, in the hands of 30 people led by an accountant wasn’t at all easy for me personally but it proved to be the right thing to do.
No sooner had the promotional literature been launched and the paint dried in our ‘Vision Room’, our industry saw the collapse of Carillion, over the next 24 months, local construction giants, Simons and Clugstone’s followed.
The fall of such industry Stallwarts saw the mainstream banks retreat from our industry, Brexit dominated the headlines, we went through two elections with the knock on effect of reduced Government spending, James Flintham, a key member of our team very sadly passed away, which effected a lot of people, me included. We suffered problems on some large contracts and just when it felt like we were making progress, we found ourselves in the middle of a worldwide health pandemic. At times, there was so much negativity around, a sea of problems like I’d never known to deal with, that the only thing I had to hold onto was Vision 2020.
We are now well into 2021, the company is completely restructured, and we operate our own charity, we have secured places on 18 public sector frameworks, our apprenticeship programme goes from strength to strength. Over 100 kids are currently making use of our environmental park every week. Our IT systems are the envy of our competitors; our land bank is over 80 plots and growing and although I can’t find it written down anywhere in the Vision we have 4 pigs and as I write, some chickens and ducklings incubating in head office reception …
The company is in a very good place, we’ve reduced our cost base, cleared our bank loans, and we are profitable and have a strong order book. So I take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all that participated in Vision 2020, to everyone who believes in and delivers the Gelder ‘can do’ attitude day in day out, and to all our customers and partners for all their continued support and friendship.
As you can see from this document, Vision 2020’s outcome has proved to be incredibly successful.
Thank you,
Steve Gelder MBE - Chief Executive Officer
Employees – The company to work for
“Our talented people make us what we are and our friendly and supportive culture encourages them to excel.”
Ambassadors & Mentoring
Steve Gelder became an ambassador for the Gainsborough Academy, regularly attending the school to speak to the pupils and teachers
Created a mentoring scheme within the Group for all new employees
Arran Fullwood became school Governor at Sturton by Stow Primary School
Louisa Sharpe became School Governor of Mount Street Academy
Recognition & Celebration
Length of Service Awards
Creation of James Flintham Award
Team of Champions Cup
Developing our People
487 courses undertaken by staff
2 Degree level students
24 NVQ Level III students awarded
Safe Partner Scheme - Sub-contractors given free Asbestos Awareness courses
Sponsoring of staff for outside interests; Iron Mans, football teams, darts championships, canoeing and fishing competitions
Staff Rewards & Benefits
Personalised Birthday card & chocolate
Eye Test vouchers
Damon’s restaurant discount
Happy Wednesday – Monthly free Breakfast
In-house garage to maintain personal vehicles
Future Staff Initiatives
Annual Christmas Party
Annual charity golf event
Fitness sessions
Bootcamp
Partners – Building Strong Communities
“We champion community initiatives through sharing our knowledge, experience and resources.”
Community Projects
Annual Christmas Tree collection (use of vehicle and drivers)
BBC Make a Difference Awards 2019
Supported 8 local football teams with new kits
Assisted family’s to donate belongings to charities – Provided van and driver
Sharing our Knowledge
Our Senior Team have used their skills and experience to advice and support Community Project across Lincolnshire.
Marton Academy School
Alford Community Church
Dunston Bowling Club
Scampton Church
Fundraising
Annual Charity Golf day
Valentines Ball raising £7k for the Brain Tumour Charity
Spring Ball raising £20k for family of James Flintham
Lincoln Social Responsibility status by City of Lincoln Council
The Gelder Charitable Trust established in 2020
Carbon Neutral
In addition to investing in our own environmental park we’ve introduced several recycling programs into the offices:
100% paper recycling
80% waste diverted from landfill
Milk bottle lids and stamps donated to charities
100% of all toner & printer ink cartridges recycled
Investment in Young People
Recruited and trained over 45 apprentices (over 3 years)
Attended 12 Careers fairs
Trained 9 work experiences students (Including Linkage Students with disabilities & International student from Holland)
Wild in the Woods – Community Project using our environmental Park which see’s around 100 children use our park weekly
Set-up and Operate Our Own Charity
A charity that financially supports Lincolnshire building workers that have become incapacitated through illness/accident
Four individuals/families have benefitted financially from the charity to date
Charity committee made up of 4 volunteers
Technology – Embracing Smart Technology
“Our use of smart technology has revolutionized our customers’ experiences.”
Introduction of iPad & Tablets
Provided all insurance surveyors with iPads loaded with Site Audit Pro (surveying software), benefits included:
Reduce the amount of paper waste – Aim to be 100% paperless
Introduced Site audit pro – Creates quick reports and detailed annotated drawings for trades
Improve the customers experience by increasing scheduling speed
Greater communication across roles
Ultimately led to more accurate working
Improve our customers experience
Quicker scheduling and faster schedule return times being achieved
Remote Working
Our current IT setup already had the flexibility to allow our employees to work remotely, however, we never truly realized or unlocked its true potential until the world was hit with the world-wide Covid pandemic, the benefits of remote-working include:
Continuity of service provided to all clients despite 90% of employees working from home
Remote surveying - using Xactimate (surveying software) allowing ‘Virtual Surveys’ eliminating the need to enter people’s properties
Schedules created from video surveys are proving to be just as accurate as those created on a physical visit
Allows us to save on fuel, vehicle costs and cut down on travel time, which reduces carbon emissions
Development of Software
A number of bespoke applications have been developed to give the following benefits:
Greater efficiencies for data recording and reporting
Real-time communication of information
Instant access to information
More accurate reporting
MI with over 40 reports, that gives us the ability to identify delays on our projects in real time
Growth – We are Enterprising in our approach to new development opportunities
“From inception through to completion and beyond we are known for our enterprising developments.”
We have appraised 66 different development sites whilst giving consideration to over 1,500 new homes
We have appraised sites for over 300,000 sq ft of commercial, retail and industrial buildings
We have secured, developed and handed over 49 new build homes
We have secured sites, planning permission and are currently working towards the delivery of a further 130 new build homes
We are working towards the delivery of over 200,000 sq ft of commercial, retail and industrial buildings
Gelder Group are building an enviable reputation as one of the area’s leading developer/ home builders with an uncompromising policy of total commitment to quality, reliability, customer care and value
Gelder Living is currently working on residential sites in Saxilby, Nettleton, Kirton Lindsey, Sturton by Stow, Marton and Lincoln
Being more ‘enterprising’ with our developments opportunities has meant we’ve achieved all of the above with very little financial investment