Wood you believe it! Josh sets sights on becoming UK’s biggest arboricultural contractor after his business sees impressive growth

Josh Pritchard admits he’s always been something of a day dreamer.

But never in his wildest dreams could the 34-year-old have imagined building a multi-million business employing 60 people within the space of nine years.

Josh with his wife Bekki

The company he co-founded in 2015, GroundLord, has become the leading provider of tree and vegetation management, site clearance and forestry services across the South of England.

This year the Whitchurch-based business is on course for an annual turnover of £6 million and has just landed new contracts with Test Valley Borough Council and New Forest District Council.

Investment in specialist equipment now tops £3 million.

But Josh, a father of three, has his sights set on an even bigger prize.

He said: “I want us to be the biggest arboricultural contractor in the UK – and we’re well on the way to achieving that.”

Josh, who studied tree and land management at Sparsholt College in Hampshire, described himself as always an ‘outside boy’.

He said:”I wasn’t particularly academic at school but I always loved being outside.

“I also wanted to be my own boss.

“The business was literally me to begin with and then we had our first employee, Will Nelsey, who is still with us.

“The last four years, in particular, have really seen the business grow on the back of more commercial contracts.

“Our work is predominately in the South but we cover the whole of the UK with clients including civil contractors.”

One of GroundLord’s biggest breaks was becoming a contractor for HS2, working on projects from Euston through to north of Banbury in Oxfordshire.

The environmental work has led to the founding of a new sister company, GroundLord Environmental, which describes itself as “bridging the gap between contracting and construction.”

Josh said: “As an outdoor person I’ve always loved rivers, ponds and the countryside.

“With years working in the conservation industry, and a deep knowledge of land management and ecology, GroundLord Environmental is uniquely placed to design and deliver all manner of environmental projects on complex, highly designated sites.”

Josh paid tribute to his wife, Bekki, who has been a big support since they first met at the age of 16.

And while running an expanding business brings many challenges, he admitted the company’s growth was a source of real pride.

Josh said: “I’m super chuffed with how things have gone.

“We’ve got a brilliant team and the future looks good.”

• https://www.groundlord.com/

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