Meet the Family

Tom: 

Role: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Year joined TopGrass: 2005

'''I used to work in the industry based around pest control and products for turf. I have an agricultural background and noticed lawn care was a small but growing industry in the UK. My role within TopGrass has developed over the years from being very hands-on at the outset of the company to now being more of a leadership position. 

My earliest memory of the company was my research into the industry itself. I met with other lawn care companies in the US as I got first-hand knowledge of the industry as a whole. 

When the company was established, and still to this day, our focus is a customer-centered approach and making sure our employees are happy and comfortable working at TopGrass.

I would describe our family as eclectic. We’re all so different from each other and that’s how we work.'' 

 

Shirley: 

Role: Chief People Officer (CPO)

Year joined TopGrass: 2018

''When the company was first set up, there were two companies, TopGrass Midlands and TopGrass South East. When these companies merged, I stepped down from my headteacher role to join TopGrass. There were increasing HR pressures at this time which is a keen passion of mine. 

I distinctly remember the Easter holidays of 2005 as my earliest memory of TopGrass. I remember delivering leaflets with all the children for the whole holiday. 

TopGrass is based around family values, in the way that we work with each other. Our employees are also like family. I don’t like the idea of a hierarchy; it’s not a family value and we all work together for each other. 

I’d describe our family as united. We’re supportive, happy, and communicative.'' 

 

Katie: 

Role: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Year joined TopGrass: 2014

''I have worked on and off with the company since the outset, my brothers and I all did at first to earn some pocket money.  After I finished 6th Form, I came to TopGrass and worked in customer service for a year. I then went off to university and came back 4 years later in 2014. I have been at TopGrass ever since, working my way up, and am now the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the company. In my role, I look after all of the operational functions of the business which includes all field- and office-based departments. 

My earliest memory of TopGrass is of going around in the holidays leafleting to houses around Nazeing. I also remember dad being very busy setting up the business, working 7 days a week in the beginning.

I think it’s unique how heavily family-run we are. We have all worked for TopGrass at some point, some for longer than others! We are also an independent company and we have built TopGrass with those small company values. 

I would describe our family as competitive, we challenge each other but we also encourage each other along the way too.'' 

 

Chris: 

Role: Media Producer 

Year joined TopGrass: 2021

''I, along with the rest of the family, pitch in and help whenever I can. Especially in the early days, everything needed doing! When I finished 6th form, I started working at TopGrass as an Assistant Lawn Technician. I moved to Sheffield in 2007 for university but over the years, I have sporadically helped out and worked for TopGrass, doing occasional aeration work or helping with the media side of things.  

My earliest memory is stuffing envelopes with TopGrass leaflets and letters! We had a conveyor belt of family members going, one person folding, one person stuffing and one person licking the envelope and closing it. You could only do the licking job for so long as your tongue would get sore! 

TopGrass is unique as it’s a proper family-run business, something that used to be more common going back 50 years or so, but is less common nowadays. The company genuinely cares about its customers as well as its staff. I’m proud of what it’s become.  

I would describe my family as being a proper 'lark'!"

 

Peter:

Role: Customer Engagement Specialist

Year joined TopGrass: 2020

''I did office work for about a year and technician work for about 2 years in-between university. I carried out treatments and renovation work during this time.

Since graduating from university in 2020, I have joined the TopGrass team full-time as a Customer Engagement Specialist. I am primarily based in the office but will go out on treatment days from time to time as well.

My first memory was of stuffing envelopes with leaflets and mailing them out to houses in the area. Dad kept saying that all the hard work would be worth it, and he was right!

We are all very supportive and close-knit. We have all worked for TopGrass and support each other and the company in what we do.''

 

Sprout: 

Role: TopGrass Mascot 

Year joined TopGrass: 2005

Sprout is our office dog and comes with us to our training and TopGrass outings. He enjoys cuddling up on our team's laps and protects our office from deliveries! No one knows a lawn better than a man's best friend.