Celebrating Our People and 35 Years of PI-KEM
This year's PI-KEM Annual BBQ brought colleagues, friends, and guests together for an afternoon of celebration, recognition, and plenty of memorable moments.
For the first time in the event's history, the British summer decided not to cooperate. Heavy rain and thunderstorms provided an unexpected backdrop to the day, but not even thunder could dampen the spirits of the PI-KEM team and our guests.
Reflecting on PI-KEM’s Journey
As part of the celebrations, guests heard from Managing Director Colin Rouse, who reflected on PI-KEM's journey over the past 35 years.
Sharing stories from the company's early days, Colin spoke about how PI-KEM grew from a family business operating from a spare room into the company it is today. His speech celebrated the people, relationships, and values that have shaped the business over the years, while also looking ahead to the opportunities and challenges of the future.
It was a great chance for our guests to learn more about the history of PI-KEM and reflect on the journey that has brought us to this important milestone.
Recognising Outstanding Colleagues
A highlight of the event was our annual Colleague Awards, recognising team members who have gone above and beyond throughout the year.
Award Winners & Runners-Up
Team of the Year
Winner: Materials Business Development Team – Aemelia Grantham, Alex Brazington, Jade Westwood and Colin Rouse
Runner-up: Operations and Logistics – Adam Gadsby, Sam Barwell, Owen Rowley, Heather Wiggins and Bridget Phipps
Colleague of the Year
Senior Leadership’s Choice Winner: Emma Shott
Colleague’s Choice Winner: Tina Cobb
Colleague’s Choice Runner-up: Siobhan Wood
Leader of the Year
Winner: Amy Rowe
Runner-up: Ruth Madden
Inspirer of the Year
Winner: Aemelia Grantham
Future Leader of the Year
Winner: Lee Fitzpatrick
Congratulations to all nominees, runners-up, and winners for their outstanding contributions to PI-KEM.
Every Product Has a Purpose, Every Connection is valued
A much-anticipated tradition of the PI-KEM Annual BBQ is the goody bag, with each year featuring a collection of bespoke gifts for attendees to take home.
This year, to mark our 35th Anniversary, guests received a special keepsake made from repurposed PI-KEM glass windows. The gift transformed a piece of PI-KEM's history into a lasting reminder of this important milestone and reflected the theme that every product has a purpose and every connection is valid.
It was a unique way to celebrate both our journey over the past 35 years and the creativity and innovation that continue to shape our future.
Honouring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future
Alongside the festivities, guests explored a special PI-KEM Then and Now display, showcasing historic branded items and memorabilia alongside PI-KEM’s current branding. It was a great opportunity to reflect on how the company has evolved over the years while remaining true to the values that continue to drive us forward.
Great Food and Great Company
A huge thank you to the SO Catering team for providing a fantastic selection of food, and to our special guests for joining us as we celebrated the people and achievements that continue to shape PI-KEM.
Events like this are a reminder of the talent, dedication, and teamwork that drive PI-KEM forward every day. As we celebrate our 35th Anniversary year, it was particularly fitting to recognise the colleagues who have helped shape our journey so far and those who will help define our future.
Thank you to everyone who attended, helped organise the event, and contributed to its success. Here's to the next chapter of PI-KEM and another year of shared success together.
