Jason Petsch
Commentary: Petsch started out as a lieutenant in the South African Parachute Regiment before joining the family wholesale agriculture supplies business. Moved to UK in 1999, worked for several companies in marketing and publishing.
GRITIT was founded in 2004 with Alastair Kight, after they met in 2001 on a gritting job. Sales rose 83% a year from £845k in 2007 to £5.2m in 2010.
The company has won several awards, including Provider of the Year 2013 in the British Institute of Facilities Management Awards and rankings in the Sunday Times Fast Track List of UK’s top 100 growth companies two years on the run - 2011 & 2012.
Quote: “Believe in what you do.“
Year of Birth: 1973
Residence: Reading
Business: GRITIT – co-founder, now CEO. Developed from a gritting business to a company that delivers protection against ice-related risk on a financial and operational level. Director of seven other companies. Also acts as a mentor for Surrey Entrepreneurs
Business Location: Stockley Park, Uxbridge
Turnover and year: £7.7 million in 2011
Description: Operator turned entrepreneur and business mentor, who has grown the company from start-up to a turnover
