• Swindon & Wiltshire Appointments
• Wednesday May 14 2025

GWP co-founder to retire after 35 years

One of the founders of Wiltshire-based packaging specialist GWP is to retire after nearly 35 years with the firm.

Ian Heskins – along with David Pedley and Charles Eatwell – established Great Western Packaging in 1990.

Eventually becoming GWP Group, and being purchased by Macfarlane Group in 2021, Ian – who has held the position of new business development director – helped grow the company from its humble beginnings to a £20 million plus business.

“Being part of GWP and its journey over the years has been hugely rewarding,” said Ian.

“I’m very fortunate to have seen a business go from nothing to the scale of success it now has. I feel quite privileged to have been able to be the part of that.”

Recalling the early days of the company, which he joined in August 1990, Ian said: “The early days were brilliant fun! Very exciting, very busy and very, very varied as we grew from day one.

“I’d spend mornings out on the road selling and then maybe in the afternoon I’d be making deliveries and then in the evening as we started to get busier – probably through the mid-90s and we had some bigger contracts in place – we had to run night shifts.

“So there were times when we’d be running the machines in the middle of the night.

Although the business has gone from strength to strength over the past 10 years, there have been significant challenges over the years.

“Swindon, back in the 1990s, was a really substantial manufacturing town, but towards the end of that decade a lot of that higher end manufacturing disappeared to the Far East,” said Ian.

“We of course had the financial crisis in 2008, and Covid more recently too.

“But the strength of the team at GWP ensured we managed to navigate these difficult times and come out stronger on the other side.”

He concluded: “I’ll really miss just being a part of it, being a part of something which has been a major part of my life for more than 30 years.

“Packaging may not be what you would call a “sexy” industry in terms of its appeal to people who are considering their careers. But I’d suggest to anyone to give it serious consideration because it’s an industry full of variety and opportunity.”

Ruth Cook, who has also been with the company since day one, and is now managing director, said: “Ian has been an integral part of GWP since the very beginning. His knowledge and ability to build lasting relationships with customers has been a significant factor in our ongoing growth and success.

“On behalf of everyone here at GWP, we wish him a long and happy retirement to enjoy his passions – cars and motoring, travel, and spending quality time with his family.”

Pictured: Ian with a large flight case manufactured by GWP Protective