Delivering top-tier waste management and construction services, Smiths Gloucester is a sustainable success story
Owned and operated by two generations of the Smith family, Smiths Gloucester (Smiths) delivers waste management and construction services to clients across the South of England and Wales. The company is built on a long-standing belief in hard work and collaboration, as Director, Rebecca Pullin, begins: “Smiths is a family run business, which was founded in 1982 by Alan Smith. For a long time, he was the single owner and operator of the business. The company has continued to grow over the last 42 years, and now it’s one of the largest construction and waste management companies in the South West and Wales.
“We currently have 550 employees, working across our depot network, which covers Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Bristol, and Cardiff. In 2019, we acquired Bristol and Avon Waste Management, and in 2022 we acquired Ermin Plant Hire & Services. We’ve also grown the business organically, through hard work and determination. Customer service is one of our core values, and we’re always aiming to go above and beyond what the client expects. Additionally, we have a very loyal and dedicated team, many of whom have been with us for a long time.
“We offer a cradle to grave solution for customers in the construction industry. Within that, we offer a variety of professional services, including asbestos removal, surveying, groundworks, and civil engineering. We also offer drainage services; this covers everything from repair and maintenance to unblocking and laying pipes. Additionally, we have a dedicated demolition division, laser levelling expertise, and concreting services available.
“Customers can also hire equipment from us. We have skips, large plant hire, which is managed under the Smiths’ brand, and small tools and plant hire, provided by Ermin. We also have a variety of waste management services, including commercial waste collections and waste transportation. Finally, we offer scrap recycling and end of life services for vehicles.”
The company’s most recent acquisition, Ermin Plant Hire, has played a vital role in expanding operations. As Rebecca discusses: “The acquisition allowed us to improve our efficiencies across the board. Our contracting divisions can utilise the Ermin shop locations for tool hire, and we can also extend a wider range of services to our clients. It was a strategic move that strengthened our position as a complete service provider. We’ve also continued to grow Ermin in its own right, by investing in a renewed fleet of vehicles for the business.” 
Expansion efforts
Supporting its team even further, Smiths has recently invested in a new headquarters: “We were looking ahead and really considering the long-term future of Smiths. We wanted a site that would allow us to expand and evolve as a business. When the location became available, we immediately knew it was the right next step for the business. It’s got the space and capacity for future growth, giving us the freedom to scale up operations as and when we need to. Overall, the new space greatly improves efficiencies and resources across the business,” Rebecca affirms.
These ongoing expansion efforts support Smiths as it takes on larger, more challenging projects. Rebecca details some of the company’s latest accomplishments: “We are currently working on Project COMET, which stands for Computing, Maths, Engineering, and Technology. The construction element is being completed in partnership with BAM Construction, who in turn are working with the University of South Wales. The project itself is worth £2.25 million to us alone. We are completing the reduced level excavation, piling mat, foundations, and drainage.
“We are also working on the Learning Disability and Autism Unit at Blackberry Hill in Bristol. It’s currently scheduled to open in 2025, for Willmott Dixon Construction. Another of our current projects is one of our largest to date. We’re working with Bouygues, on a £13 million project in Newport. Our work includes earthworks, foundations, drainage systems, and a complex ducting scheme, among other services.”
Sustainable approach
As a waste management business, Smiths prioritises sustainability in everything that it does. “Sustainability has always been important to us. We ensure that we deal with all waste materials responsibly. Most of our waste is recycled or converted from waste to energy. For us, waste is not an end product, it can have many lives beyond us. Our job is to put in the effort and build a sustainable future with the work we do. We also try to maximise the use of recycled aggregates on our projects – we have a crushing and screening facility at our main waste management unit, and so a lot of the material processed there can be reused on later projects,” Rebecca reveals.
This sustainable approach provides Smiths with the foundation it needs to secure long-term success. As Rebecca concludes: “In five years’ time, I’d like to see the business continuing its current growth trajectory. I want to protect our people; by ensuring they have reliable employment for many years to come. I would also like to command a greater market share in the coming years, both through strategic acquisitions and the expansion of our service offering. Ultimately, I hope to continue providing top quality service to our customers by upholding our company values of hard work, family, honesty, sustainability, and reliability.”