Our Story

Several exciting chapters of the Great Annual Savings Group success story have been written since our founding in 2012. Initially formed to provide business cost saving services to companies in the North East of England, the business has now grown from a regional enterprise to a national provider.

In the timeline below, we take a look at some of the key landmarks that laid the foundations for our rapid-growth.

Great Annual Savings

GAS starts trading from a small office in South Shields.

expand

GAS board accelerate plans to expand.

award

FEB-MAY
We achieved four industry accreditations in four months; ISO 9001, Investors in People, ISO 18001 and ISO 14001.

growthAPRIL
We secure two major tranches of funding to kick-start a period of rapid expansion.

relocate

JUNE
We relocated to stunning new offices in Seaham.

apprentice

AUGUST
We launch an apprenticeship scheme, hiring nine young people from more than 800 applicants.

great

SEPTEMBER
City minister Harriett Baldwin, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, praises GAS during a tour of the Seaham premises.

Republic of IrelandOCTOBER
GAS goes global and offers services to the Republic of Ireland.

100JANUARY
100th employee joins GAS as we continue to grow.

1000

FEBRUARY
We reached another milestone with our 1000th customer. Our portfolio now boasts not-for-profits, charities, private and public sector businesses across the country in all sectors.

ISO27001JULY
ISO 27001 accreditation.

star peopleOCTOBER
Regional winner, “Best SME in North East for Apprenticeship Programme” as we take on our second cohort of apprentices.

ICSNOVEMBER
Membership of ICS.

Apprenticeships AwardsJANUARY
GAS wins a spot in the Top 100 companies in the UK for our apprenticeship programme.

AcademyMARCH
We launch an academy to train apprentices in energy sales – “The GAS Group Academy”.

graduateJULY
Our year one cohort of apprentices graduate to full-time employment a YEAR early.

CSRAUGUST
We launch our CSR strategy which sees us pledge to support four local charities.

add peopleNOVEMBER
2000th Customer and150th employee joins GAS

Volunteer

JANUARY
The first volunteer day sees a team of GAS employees donate their time to one of our chosen charities.

IIPMAY
IIP Accredited until 2021.

Award CeremonyJULY
Our inaugural staff awards ceremony and conference held at Ramside Hall.

TGP PlatinumAUGUST
GAS recognised by supplier Total Gas & Power for exceptional compliance processes and classified under their prestigious platinum accreditation.

headcountOCTOBER
200th employee joins GAS as we continue to grow.

Better Health at Work AwardDECEMBER
GAS achieve Silver status for the Better Health at Work award.

EVCJANUARY
GAS launches its 13th service, Electronic Car Charging Points.

headcountFEBRUARY
An influx of new starters sees our headcount rise by 40%.

5000MARCH
GAS customer portfolio surpasses 5,000.

2019 Apprenticeship IntakeAPRIL
Our 2019 Apprenticeship intake launches.

Money Raised So FarMAY
The money raised for our CSR initiative surpassed last years total with a month still to go.

JUNE
GAS announced as headline sponsors of the 2019 Asian Business Awards.

Champagne

JULY
Our second annual staff conference where we recognise our staff’s great achievements over the past 12 months.

2019 growth plans

AUGUST
GAS announce a major new partnership with Tosca Debt Capital, a fund serving the UK’s most ambitious businesses to deliver market-leading growth.

Give As You Earn

SEPTEMBER
GAS receive The Payroll Giving Diamond Award 2019, in recognition of the organisation’s commitment in fostering a culture of philanthropy and committed giving in the workplace.

OCTOBER
GAS became the first recipient of the Winskill Award in recognition of our contributions and support for County Durham Foodbank.2019 Apprenticeship IntakeNOVEMBER
Our fifth cohort of apprentices officially join the firm.

DECEMBER
GAS customer portfolio surpasses 7,500, a 50% increase in eight months.

Better Health at Work Gold AwardDECEMBER
GAS are awarded Gold with the North East Better Health at Work Award.  

New Starters

JANUARY
GAS welcomes 18 new starters to the Group.  

JANUARY
GAS passes £100,000 milestone for charity fundraising.

New Starters

FEBRUARY
GAS welcomes another 18 new starters to the Group.  

MARCH
GAS launches a new Instagram channel dedicated to exhibiting “the GAS life”.

New Starters

MARCH
GAS welcomes 12 new starters to the Group.

APRIL
95% of colleagues incomes protected on 100% pay during the Coronavirus crisis.

MAY
GAS customer portfolio surpasses 10,000.

JUNE
50% of colleagues welcomed back to work within the GAS working from home solution and provided with appropriate PPE to protect all field based workers.

JULY
GAS announce plans for new 7,500 square foot gymnasium and studios ahead of move to new state-of-the-art premises.

AUGUST
GAS reveals multimillion-pound expansion with new £3m HQ and plans to double workforce. 

SEPTEMBER
GAS presents £5,000 donation to Sunderland foodbank following successful social media campaign. 

OCTOBER
GAS announce new apprenticeship scheme alongside East Durham College, a move that will see the creation of 100 permanent new roles. 

Trust Pilot 5 stars

NOVEMBER
GAS are rated 5 stars, Excellent, from TrustPilot with over 500 customer reviews. Testament to our team and their great excellent customer service.

DECEMBER
GAS’ December fundraising campaign reaches £20,000, benefitting over 1,000 families across the region.

JANUARY
GAS unveil new campus with the opening of new £3m headquarters. 

FEBRUARY
GAS rolls out onsite rapid COVID-19 testing programme for colleagues.

MARCH
GAS Decorated with Continuing Excellence Wellbeing Award.

APRIL
Group CEO, Brad Groves, launches the GF Community Foundation to provide hope, employment & community support in the North East.

Our Vision & Values

OUR GROUP VISION

To be recognised as a leading provider to businesses for great cost savings!

OUR VALUES

P
PROFESSIONAL
We are professional in the way we go about our business and in everything we do as a business and individuals.

R
RELIABLE
We can be counted on by our clients and our colleagues.

IINTEGRITY
We are honest and conduct our business with integrity. Integrity fosters trust from our clients, colleagues, suppliers, community and the environment.

D
DYNAMIC
We don’t just settle for the status quo, we challenge and look to go over and above whenever we can.

E
EXPERTISE
We know our business, suppliers, markets and our customers.

WE HAVE PRIDE IN EVERYTHING WE DO

Bradley GrovesChief Executive & Founder

Having founded GAS in 2012, Brad has overseen the company’s huge growth in a short space of time. Starting from modest surroundings in South Shields, rapid progress has seen the business move to its current office in Seaham, which is being expanded across the business park to create an 80,000 square foot GAS campus, featuring one of the finest headquarters buildings outside of London and Manchester.

The majority of Brad’s career has been spent on the boards of FTSE companies, at board level in the private sector and in turnaround private equity.  He was Group MD of Caudwell Group and worked on its sale in 2006 for £1.5 billion.

​Brad says:

"Certain businesses we’ve worked with have made six-figure savings over their contract terms. We cover the widest range of business variable costs in the market in one place.  When we get involved with a company, it allows them to focus on their core business.  The extra time we allow them to spend on their strategies can often prove as valuable as the cash we save them."

Did you know?

Brad is the proud Owner and Chief Executive of Spennymoor Town Football Club, who have achieved four promotions and eleven trophies since his takeover in 2009.  His interests outside of business and sport include a passion for animal welfare and he has been an avid dog owner for decades.

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Judith BennisonGroup HR Director

Judith was part of the team who initially set up Great Annual Savings in 2012, she brings with her an abundance of senior management experience, managing the HR/Resourcing functions in numerous fast growing FTSE250 companies including De La Rue International PLC, Blacks Leisure Group PLC and most recently G4S PLC. Judith has played a pivotal role in helping move the business forward with our ambitious growth plans and her impact has seen our head count grow significantly year on year with significant plans in place to manage and lead the continued growth going forward.

Judith says:

"Businesses who are pro-active continually look at managing their costs effectively, those who wait until a recession hits, are reactive and often too late. We want companies to be pro-active and take the pain away by saving costs now, letting GAS do the fully managed cost solution just makes good business sense for any company, whatever the size or industry. Our business ethos is something I truly believe in and want every company to benefit from our help and support, working collaboratively together is a great way to build long term relationships.”

Did you know?

Outside of work, Judith is a member of the Employer Committee for the East Durham area, which helps businesses network with one another in the Durham region as well as helps to attract people & companies to this area. When she’s not networking across the North East you’ll find her doing some form of health & fitness and be having a coffee somewhere with someone!

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