Industry Gold Medal awarded to Tim Gray for his outstanding volunteer leadership of the sheet plant sector

On Tuesday 21st May 2024 representatives from across the UK’s Paper-based Industries gathered in Stationers’ Hall, London, to celebrate the achievements of the industry. 

The event was hosted by Andrew Large, Director General of the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI). Two-time Paralympic Gold medallist, Richard Whitehead MBE, presented the awards and delivered an inspiring speech emphasising the importance of diversity and inclusion from a disability perspective.

The awards recognised success across seven categories: Recycling, Net Zero, Community Engagement, Health & Safety, Sustainable Innovation, Skills, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

The pinnacle of the ceremony was the presentation of the Paper Gold Medal, regarded as the paramount Industry Award. This prestigious accolade acknowledges exceptional individuals who tirelessly advance the interests of the Paper Industry, over and above their responsibilities to any single company. Established in the late 1960s, the Gold Medal Association's committee, consisting of prominent figures from across the industry, reviews nominations and selects the individual deemed to have made the greatest contribution to advancing the interests of the paper and allied industries in the UK.

This year the Gold Medal was presented to SPA Chairman, Tim Gray: 

Tim Gray receiving the Industry Gold Medal from Richard Whitehead, MBE.

Andrew Large said: 

“Tim has been awarded the Paper Gold Medal in recognition of his tireless, voluntary leadership of the Sheet Plant Association (SPA). UK Sheet Plants are an integral part of the packaging supply chain, yet are too often neglected. Tim’s drive and enthusiasm for the SPA has professionalised and revolutionised that sector. He leads in sharing expertise from the UK and around the world and in developing initiatives such as the UK Corrugated Industry Trade Show that provide a forum for the industry to showcase itself to customers and suppliers.” 

In his acceptance speech, Tim said: “I would like to thank Industry colleagues for the nomination and the CPI, the Paper Industry Gold Medal association, and the judging panel for this award, that I will treasure and be very proud to hold. … As part of this award I have been asked to write a paper on a subject of my choice for publication - I have accepted the challenge - I assure you I am no poet laureate, and my paper will not win academic acclaim. It will however be written from the heart and will strike a chord with many who read it.”