Where Are They Now? – G.A Fabrications
Back in 2025, we told the story of how a redundancy and a decade-old business plan brought Gareth and Andrew together to found G.A Fabrications. Back then, the pair were laying the foundations for a new venture, with support through the RISE Hastings Programme and Let's Do Business Group. As part of this year's Start Up September® campaign, we caught up with them again to find out how the last year has unfolded, and everything they've achieved since then.
At its core, GA Fabrications is a bespoke metal fabrication business based at Eastlands Farm in Catsfield, East Sussex. The team works across three core strands: one-off bespoke fabrication, small batch production runs, and larger commercial projects, including precision components for the vacuum sector. Founded in late 2024 by Gareth and Andrew, the business draws on more than 70 years of combined experience in metal fabrication, with every project underpinned by a promise of clear communication from quote to completion.
Since our original conversation, G.A Fabrications has grown from a fledgling start-up into a business that's doubled its turnover in its first full year of trading. It's been a year of steady growth, new relationships forged, and plenty learned along the way.
“I think for both of us, we’ve really been enjoying it. It’s been great fun and has had its moments, but we’re quite laid back. We deal with things as they come up.”
Their easy-going approach seems to be paying off, and neither of them expected to be quite this far along so soon. The first few years of any new business bring their fair share of challenges, which makes their progress this year all the more impressive.
“We’ve probably gone a little bit further than we expected. We can look back and be proud of what we’ve achieved in the time we’ve been going. We had a vague plan, and it’s come together.”
That reputation for reliability among clients who can't afford delays reached new heights when they were asked to help manufacture some parts for a large display that won a gold medal at the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show.
Forging Future Talent
Ask Gareth and Andrew what's stood out most over the past twelve months, and they don't hesitate. It wasn't a big commercial contract or a new piece of kit. It was a visit from students at Saxon Mount School.
The pair were invited to the school last year and came away struck by the energy and positivity of the pupils, so much so that they later welcomed a group of students into their own workshop. The Year 9 and 10 pupils, right at the age where they're starting to think about their futures, were split into groups and given a genuine taste of the trade. Some watched 3D drawings come together, whilst others picked up tools and had a go at welding.
“The main point of it was to bring them out into a working environment and show them that there is stuff out there they can do. The students that jumped in to try the welding absolutely loved it, and the smiles on their faces were incredible.”
It's a theme that runs through everything Gareth and Andrew talk about when it comes to the business's future: the desire to show young people that there's more to a career than just sitting at a desk.
Cut From the Same Metal
When they first set up, Gareth and Andrew always pictured the business splitting into two distinct strands, and that's exactly how it's played out. On one side is the B2B work, building relationships with designers, architects and clients working on projects that range from restaurant refurbishments to ultra-high vacuum chamber components. On the other is what they affectionately call the "fun side of GAF", the custom gates, quirky commissions and one-off pieces for members of the public.
One of the projects they're proudest of came from working alongside a pair of landscape gardeners using Corten steel, the material that develops a distinctive rust patina over time. Together they created curved walls and steps for a private garden, and they're looking forward to seeing the finished result once the surrounding planting has had time to grow in.
They've also just wrapped up a set of bespoke gates for a private client, a project that taught them plenty about the difference between working with businesses and working directly with the public. "You have to guide them in the direction you want them to go," they said. "They have ideas, you give them all the information they need, and they come back to it." The feedback made it all worthwhile, with one client telling them their customer service was second to none and praising how patient and involved they had been throughout.
Building the Framework
G.A Fabrications is still very much a two-person operation, but this year has seen the first signs of that changing. Rather than taking someone on directly, Gareth and Andrew have started bringing in specialists to support specific parts of the business, including a social media expert who will begin taking charge of their online presence and helping to reshape their website.
Apprenticeships remain firmly on the agenda too, and the pair are being thoughtful about the right time to take that step. Every January, they plan to reassess whether the business is in a strong enough position to properly support a young person, so that when they do take someone on, they can offer real stability from day one.
“It’s not fair on a youngster to go, we’ll give you all this, and then have to say sorry, it’s not working out.”
It's this same care that shapes how they're approaching the growing responsibilities of being an employer, from HR to health and safety, wanting to get it right from the start.
Shaping What's Next for G.A Fabrications
Looking ahead, Gareth and Andrew are focused on building a steadier base of regular clients, the kind of dependable work that gives them the freedom to keep saying yes to the creative projects they enjoy most. That stability, they hope, will put them in a position to take on their first apprentice next year.
They're also keen to keep giving back locally. The business is currently working with the Stables Theatre on a project, offering their time and skill in exchange for exposure rather than a fee – the sort of arrangement they hope to continue doing more of as the business grows.
“When we first met Gareth and Andrew, we could see the ambition and the skill were both there. What’s been brilliant to watch is how they’ve turned that into something real, a business built on trust, with a team of two who genuinely care about doing right by their customers.”
It's a refreshingly grounded outlook from two founders who, almost two years into trading, have already built something they're genuinely proud of. Let's Do Business Group is proud to have played a part in that journey through the RISE Hastings Programme and additional support as members of Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce, and we look forward to seeing where the next chapter takes G.A Fabrications!
Stories like Gareth and Andrew's are exactly what Start Up September® is all about. Running throughout September, the campaign brings together events, expert consultations and resources to help aspiring entrepreneurs and new businesses across the Southeast and East of England get started and keep growing. If you're thinking about starting or growing your own business, take a look at what's on this September to see how we can help.