Q&A with Pippa Prichard, Director of Prichard’s, as firm celebrates 30th anniversary
Q&A with Pippa Prichard, Director of Prichard’s, as firm celebrates 30th anniversary
Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.
Q: For those who are unaware, tell us about Prichard’s.
A: Prichard’s is one of the largest multi-disciplinary businesses in the UK. We are the largest family-run business in Wales. Established in 1995 by our MD, Tom Prichard, we have grown extensively over the last 30 years and now have more than 400 directly employed staff, over 100 sub-contractors, a fleet of over 100 HGVs, and more than 5,000 items of plant machinery. Prichard’s is made up of 14 subsidiary companies, all of which feed into one another, making us one of the only construction companies in the UK able to see most construction, remediation, and demolition projects through from start to finish. From recycling to plant hire, rail to waste management, and demolition to rail services, we are able to offer it all.
Q: You’re celebrating your 30th anniversary this year. That must feel like an exciting milestone.
A: Yes, 30 years is a key milestone for us. Tom was just 16 years old when he started the business with a tractor and trailer, and to stand back and watch what has been created from that makes me extremely proud.
Q: How do you reflect on the early days?
A: The early days consisted of Tom and a handful of staff, who were initially friends rather than employees, some of whom are still working here today and have been present throughout the meteoric rise of Prichard’s. Tom’s first employee was Darren, fondly known within the company as Archie. He has progressed over the years from an HGV/tractor driver to management level, and he is now our General Manager and continues to be Tom’s right-hand man. A big shout-out to Archie for all his hard work and dedication throughout the years. We wouldn’t be where we are today without him.
The early days involved running the business from an old barn at Tom’s family farm, painfully slow internet connections, and lengthy queues for a single diesel pump. In 2015 we invested in a new site on Llantrisant Business Park, and construction of temporary offices and state-of-the-art workshops began. Since then, we have purchased more land surrounding our head office site to accommodate our rapid growth. The temporary offices have been extended multiple times, and planning was granted this year to build a new office structure, more workshops, and new Research & Development and Training Centres. The family farm now stands relatively quiet, and we often wonder how we managed to operate from there for so long, but it will always be that special place where it all began.
Q: What’s the highlight of the last 30 years (if you can pick just one!)?
A: It’s impossible to pinpoint one highlight from the last 30 years. There have been so many. There have been incredible highs but also some very real lows; both sides have shaped who we are today. Building something from nothing, relying on pure determination and drive, is not for the faint-hearted. From landing our first customer to securing our first major contract, watching the payroll numbers increase and seeing people recognise our brand, these are all such important milestones. We’ve learnt hard and fast and, personally, I’ve developed a resilience and decisiveness that’s hard to pick up in any other way.
Q: What are some of the projects you’re working on now that you’re most proud of?
A: We currently have some high-value and prominent projects for high-profile clients, and many of your readers will have seen the demolition of the old Howell’s department store in the centre of Cardiff. To be able to see our logo on buildings such as Howell’s gives us a huge sense of pride. We were also appointed to demolish Cowbridge Comprehensive School earlier this year. This one was particularly poignant for us, as it was the school Tom attended until he was 16. To return in such a different capacity filled us with immense pride.
Q: What are the plans for the next 30 years?
A: As both Tom and I work full-time within the business, we are hoping to continue our extensive growth. We are grateful for every employee, past and present, for helping us build Prichard’s into the recognisable household name it is today. Over the next 30 years, I see the business continuing to evolve to offer even more products and services. I don’t want to see us grow only in size. I want to see growth in depth, legacy, and our ability to shape the next generations of what this industry becomes.
Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials
Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast
