Member Spotlight
NAME
MURRAY HUDSON
YEARS IN THE
EDUCATION
BUSINESS
17
TITLE
MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN
COMPANY
GRATNELLS LTD
WHEN WAS YOUR COMPANY
FOUNDED AND HOW?
Gratnells was originally founded under
the name W.A. Hudson in 1890. Our
story began in the East End of London,
UK in the center of the city’s house-
hold ironmongery and furniture fittings
industry. However, it was not until
1967 that the name Gratnells came
into being as a mix-up of the original
YEARS OF EDMARKET
MEMBERSHIP
24
founders grandchildren’s names. Gra-
ham + Trevor + Neville = Gratnells.
The company has been manufacturing
innovative storage solutions for educa-
tion ever since, including the world-fa-
mous Gratnells tray. news and current affairs producer and
reporter for the broadcaster. I covered
three U.S. elections.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? My father asked me to join the fam-
ily business in 2000. It was a massive
career change, but one I was ready for
and I have never looked back. Work-
ing through the night does get to you
eventually.
My first job was as a graduate trainee
for the BBC. I spent a decade as a
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN
THE EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS
BUSINESS?
WHAT MAKES YOUR COMPANY
UNIQUE?
Murray Hudson welcomes His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, to the Grat-
nells booth at a major international Ed Tech event.
4 essentials | summer 2017
At Gratnells we work all the way down
the innovation process from original
ideas through concept development to
practical implementation. We believe
that the learning environment has a pro-
found impact on the learning outcomes
of children. We are experts at designing
those environments. Which enable
teachers to be as effective as possible
and which allow children to fulfill their
potential. We work closely with schools,
local government, furniture manufac-
turers, school resource suppliers and na-
tional governments to help achieve this
and to get the best learning outcomes
for our children. With our international
reach and standing we are in a unique
position to make this happen for chil-
dren everywhere.