Gloucester-based coldstore and composite panel specialist The P & M Group has thanked its longest-serving employee for 50 years of service.

Colin Leighton left school at 16 and worked with local companies in building, manufacturing and installations, before starting at P & M's constituent company ISD Solutions in 1974.

Since joining his current employer he has worked with four generations of the Moon family, which founded ISD Solutions in 1946 and established The P & M Group in 1986.

Today the umbrella company includes ISD, PLG Insulations, doors and metal fabricator QuayTherm Manufacturing, a division in Australia and Midlands-based installations specialists S Tysoe Installations. Together the companies employ more than 190 staff, with a combined turnover of around £70m.

Mr Leighton, who is 70 and lives in Gloucester, has witnessed the company's growth alongside many practical and technological advancements, most recently in his current role as technical support manager.

Mr Leighton said: "The difference today is unimaginable compared to where I started. I've seen ISD's transition from manufacturing our own composite panels to expanding into large-scale cold storage solutions as demand surged.

"When I first joined the company, carpentry skills and craftsmanship were essential. At that time, all our cold rooms were timber-framed and clad with materials like plywood, D board, and stipple-glazed sheets. Insulation materials included cork, polystyrene, and polyurethane, all of which were cut using an old panel saw, though much of the work was done by hand.

"Over time, we have phased out timber rooms and transitioned to modular systems which allowed for easier and more efficient assembly. More recently materials have continued to evolve significantly.

"Today, we are embracing new challenges around sustainability and looking to create the next generation of structures with longevity and the circular economy as the focus. It's been 50 years of significant change.

"One great benefit over time has been the evolution of health and safety standards, for which we now have a dedicated team. In the early days, our precautions were minimal, largely because we lacked awareness of the health risks posed by certain materials and products. We even improvised by using rags as dust masks to protect ourselves during tasks like cutting boards. It's a different world now, fortunately!"

Andy Moon, chairman of The P & M Group, said: "Colin's mindset stems from his early working days when teamwork was essential for getting things done. It has remained a guiding principle for him ever since and Colin has been an embodiment of those values we hold dear as a company.

"Colin is hard working, dedicated and always willing to take on challenging tasks and assist others. We salute his half-century of service and hope he can be a shining example to our next generation of staff, to show what dedication and a positive work ethic can look like."

For more information about the P & M Group, click here.