Another honour for Gill Riley at GGR

Gill Riley CBE, GGR Group managing director and co-founder. Photo: GGR Group

Gill Riley, GGR Group managing director, has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2025 New Year honours list in the UK.

Riley received the honour in recognition of her services to the lifting industry. In 2015 Riley was made an OBE for services to construction.

Riley co-founded the GGR Group in 1995, with her brother Graeme, to introduce new lifting solutions to the UK market. In the ensuing 30 years GGR has grown from a small family business with an initial UK£5,000 investment into a £37 million operation. Compact cranes and other lifting equipment are a core element. The group has more than 150 employees at three depots.

Latest honour

The latest award is a “testament to her relentless drive, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to advancing industry standards while championing sustainability and safety in construction and engineering,” the company said.

Riley also works to inspire a new generation of leaders for the lifting industry, “encouraging innovation and gender diversity within traditionally male-dominated sectors.”

Commenting on her new award Riley said, “I am truly humbled and honoured to receive the King’s CBE. This recognition is not just a personal achievement but a reflection of the dedication and hard work of everyone at GGR Group. Together we’ve built something special and I look forward to continuing our journey of innovation, excellence, and growth together.”

GGR Group offers more than 1,000 products, including the Unic range of mini spider cranes, a selection of compact pick and carry cranes, vacuum lifting and other load handling equipment.

A GGR crane atop The Shard building during its construction in London. Photo: GGR Group