SPOTLIGHT: GBS loves how simple it is to book with SunSkips

When it comes to choosing a skip hire company, there are lots of factors you should take into account to find the one that’s right for you.

From value for money to sustainability, you need to make sure your waste management ticks all the boxes and makes your life easier.

For GBS Builders (Ipswich) Ltd, it’s the simplicity of booking with SunSkips that makes the firm their preferred skip supplier for East Anglia projects.

We caught up with GBS senior project manager Phil Procter to learn more about how SunSkips helps them with their waste flows.

‘It’s that simple’

East Anglia is a large area to cover, so a skip hire company that can work across the region is hard to come by.

Fortunately, SunSkips has sites in Stowmarket, Cambridge, Ipswich and Haverhill (with more sites on the way), so can easily get a lorry out with a fresh skip to a wide area.

Phil explained why SunSkips is the go-to skip hire company for their projects in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

He said, “It is convenient that SunSkips covers most of the areas we work in around East Anglia. I haven’t got to source elsewhere for most areas.”

“But one of the main reasons I like using SunSkips is the relationship I’ve built up with Pete [Healey, SunSkips’ sales manager].”

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SunSkips has indeed made a reputation for building strong client relationships and making the skip hire process hassle-free, something that clearly resonates with professionals like Phil who depend on a seamless service.

GBS is often called on by their clients to work on projects at short notice, so skip hire companies that leave you on hold for ages or simply can’t deliver on time aren’t an option.

“I don’t even have to phone the office to book a skip,” said Phil. “I just ping Pete a text saying I need an 8-yard skip, and he’ll send me a thumbs up, ‘All booked.’ It’s that simple!”

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A long local history

GBS is a family-run business that’s been serving the East Anglia area since 1991.

The company has developed from generation to generation, starting with small local jobs and moving onto more specialised construction services.

“The director [Joe Garnham] and father started the company working on domestic jobs,” Phil explained. “Then they set up the diamond drilling, coring out holes through buildings for services and pipes.”

GBS sub-contracts for leading developers in the UK, working on schools, hospitals, and big residential developments. The company’s growing team is now 90-strong – all fully trained and qualified in what they do with a mixture of employed and self-employed labour.

Since its humble beginnings, GBS has evolved into a multi-service contracting business, offering fire protection, diamond drilling, commercial building, health & safety, and asbestos removal.

With such specialised services, it takes a trusted partnership with a professional skip hire firm to make sure projects run on time and maintain a steady flow of waste – especially when you’re not always dealing with general construction rubbish.

MORE: ‘SunSkips is far more than skip hire,’ explains Peter Healey

Specialised waste

One of GBS’s divisions is demolition, which, needless to say, generates a lot of different types of waste.

The team typically takes down superficial elements of a site including ceilings, roofs, walls, floors, carpets, units, window blinds and partitions.

“This is called a soft strip demolition, like for a hospital ward or classroom refit. We’ll obviously have a lot to get rid of, so it’s really handy to know we’ve got a skip hire firm on hand that we can rely on.”

Soft strips generate a lot of mixed waste, so proper disposal is crucial. Being able to consult an expert waste management firm for soft strip demolitions can be a lifesaver when you have things like soft seating and old wood to deal with.

MORE: Construction waste disposal: How to save money and avoid penalties

Because with a lot of demolition work, there is often waste that can’t be thrown into a skip with the general rubbish. Fortunately, SunSkips can help with that too…

Avoiding the hazards

GBS can carry out licensed and non-licenced asbestos removal, but dealing with it can be a complex task.

Asbestos is a hazardous material that’s now banned from use in construction, but a lot of older buildings still contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

Before they can begin the removal, GBS conducts an extensive asbestos survey to identify the condition and whereabouts of the materials.

Because it’s dangerous, it has to be handled with care, using protective bags to keep the material from contaminating any other waste.

Not having to worry about the complexities of managing different waste types allows GBS to focus on what it does best, making for a happy team and a thriving business.

Project manager with a passion

Phil has worked at GBS for nearly 10 years and is the embodiment of the kind of dedication and loyalty earned by companies that treat their employees properly.

GBS clearly values its team, organising annual golf days at Haverhill Golf Club, staff BBQ breakfasts and encouraging employees to get involved in fun charity fundraisers like Movember.

The company also gives back to the local community, sponsoring events and multiple local football clubs.

“I’m motivated by the company I work for,” Phil added. “I’m loyal to the firm and the director because I’m looked after and treated well. That’s the relationship I’ve got with them.”

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SunSkips is passionate about working with companies that value high quality waste management. If a simpler skip hire process would change the way you work for the better, get in touch with our team today to discuss how SunSkips can help.