Grundon is celebrating after winning the Innovation Award at the prestigious Thames Valley 250 Awards.
Hosted by The Business Magazine in partnership with Insider Media, the event, held on 17 September at Easthampstead Park in Wokingham, saw the region’s 250 top privately-owned companies businesses vie for success across eight award categories.
The Innovation Award, sponsored by Crowe UK, seeks to reward the organisation that has made a significant commitment to innovation within the past 12 months, achieving a notable impact on both its business and overall industry.
Announcing Grundon as the Innovation Award winner, Kate Stent Corporate Audit Partner at Crowe UK, said: “Since its formation in 1929, innovation has always been at the heart of this business, exemplified more recently through its sustainability-led initiatives and industry-first solutions.
“From launching electric waste vehicles powered by customer waste to investing in AI-driven driver training to reduce fuel costs and improve safety, innovation is embedded in its culture. Initiatives like reusable sharps containers and the UK’s first nationwide inhaler recycling scheme highlight its leadership in circular economy practices.
“Internal platforms like GrunHub drive high employee engagement, while ongoing R&D into hydrogen and other alternative fuels, electrifying skips and tractor units, and high-temperature incineration reflects a forward-thinking approach. Its innovations have delivered measurable impact, reduced carbon footprint, and positioned the business as a trailblazer in its sector.
“This business has shown that innovation is not just a buzzword but a core part of its strategy and culture. Its long-term view means that decisions are made to benefit not only the business but the community and industry long term.”
Kate Stent
Corporate Audit Partner at Crowe UK
Thanking the sponsors and judges, Toni Robinson, Grundon’s Risk & Sustainability Director, collected the award and said afterwards: “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted to have been recognised for our dedication to innovation. To be presented with this award in front of an audience of our peers is praise indeed.
“We have always sought to lead from the front, to literally go the extra mile when it comes to investing in new technologies and new ways of working. Innovation is in our DNA and we are absolutely committed to driving the business forward in a way that harnesses new ideas for the benefit of our customers, our employees, our communities and the planet.”
Toni Robinson
Risk & Sustainability Director
Grundon has a rich history of industry firsts, notably being the first company to introduce wheelie bins to the UK; while more recently it achieved an industry first by directly powering its electric waste collection vehicles with electricity generated from the customer waste it collects.
In addition to being honoured for innovation, Grundon also made the final six shortlist of finalists for the Climate & Sustainability Award.
The Thames Valley 250 features the top 250 companies across the region, ranked by turnover. Together, those companies employ more than 144,000 people across the Thames Valley and generate a combined turnover of just under £33.4bn.
For more details, visit https://www.insidermedia.com/news/manufacturing/regions-finest-celebrated-at-thames-valley-250-awards-winners-revealed