The North-east-based GPH Builders Merchants is celebrating its 40th year in business this year and aims to raise £40,000 for various charities to mark the occasion.

The money raised will be distributed across charities selected by employees. The initiative is just part of the company’s plans to mark this anniversary, which also includes ambitions to increase online sales turnover to £1 million in the next two years, and cut landfill waste in half by 2025.

The Inverurie-headquarterd company has a proud track record of supporting charities, including recently donating £40 to Maggie’s Centres for every goal scored in the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup (in total of £2,920), and bucket collections at each match.

The company has also raised more than £2,000 for CLAN Cancer Support, as well as supported the Archie Foundation through the purchase of an Oor Wullie sculpture from the Big Bucket Trail in 2019.

Managing Director Grant Shewan said: “As a local business we are proud to have supported our communities on every level for the last 40 years, with the people we employee and serve at the heart of everything we do.

“The local communities have supported us for over four decades and have helped play their part in the company becoming what it is, so it is only right that we give something back to our loyal customers.”

Since being founded by Mike Macaulay, Jock Ingram and Eric Ingram in 1982, the company has gone on to become the largest independent builders merchants in the north of Scotland, with branches in Inverurie, Westhill, Stonehaven and Ellon.

Now owned by Macaulay, Kenny Findlay and John Glover, through parent company Findlay, Glover and Macaulay, of which Shewan is the Chief Executive, GPH has grown from a plant hire company to construction materials supplier..

And while the company is looking back and celebrating the last 40 years, bosses are also putting in the building blocks for a sustainable future by unveiling an 12-point plan to grow further.

Shewan explained: “Working towards a more sustainable alternative is a big issue in this industry. We are looking at long-term alternatives we can introduce, such as investing in renewable technologies, powering our branches with 100% renewable energy and shifting some of our fleet of vehicles to electric power.

“We are also looking to grow and open new sites, either through organic growth or by acquiring other businesses. This is an exciting period for GPH, and we approach a new era with an optimistic outlook for a successful future. The founding partners have put in the solid foundations, and it is up to myself and the rest of the leadership team to ensure a bright next 40 years.”

The company’s plan includes becoming a paperless business in the next five years, reducing landfill waste by 50% by 2025, integrate new products into the business and employ at least 10 apprentices, trainees or graduated within three years.

Shewan added: “Underpinning all of the strategies in our plan is a commitment to do the best for our colleagues and community, something we have done for the last 40 years, and will hopefully do for many more.”