CEO MONTHLY / DECEMBER 2025 16 Band of Builders was born in 2016, when Founder Addam Smith made an appeal on social media for help renovating the home of a close friend and colleague Based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, Band of Builders is a national construction charity leveraging the power of unity to ensure that no industry member is left behind. Through a unique blend of life-changing practical support, mental health and wellbeing services, and immediate financial aid, the charity has gained renown for responding quickly and efficiently to the challenges construction workers face. This exceptional work is steered by CEO Gavin Crane, a leader driven by his purpose and passion for making a positive impact on those in the industry. We spoke with Gavin to learn more, following his recent recognition in the CEO of the Year Awards 2025. who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The response was beyond anybody’s wildest dreams, as tradespeople across the UK joined forces to complete the project. That moment sparked the formation of Band of Builders, banding together members of the construction industry with a simple mission: to stand shoulder to shoulder with construction workers and their families when life takes an unexpected turn. This mission is headed by Gavin Crane, the UK’s Charity CEO of the Year 2025. Gavin joined Band of Builders as a volunteer in 2017 with the aim of making life easier for fellow construction workers, never anticipating that such a seemingly small decision would set him on the path to leadership. Over the years, Gavin took on more responsibilities – supporting project delivery, building relationships, and helping shape the organisation as it continued to grow. This path allowed Gavin to see the challenges facing construction workers up close, and the difference support truly makes. “I learned first-hand what makes this charity so special: the skills and dedication of our volunteers, the generosity of our partners, and the lifechanging impact that good people can make when they work together with purpose,” he told us. “Becoming CEO has felt like a natural progression, but it is also a privilege. I have the opportunity each day to take the lessons from my early volunteering days and use them to guide a national organisation that now supports people across the UK. That journey – from volunteer to CEO – keeps me grounded and constantly reminds me why our work matters.” “I learned first-hand what makes this charity so special: the skills and dedication of our volunteers, the generosity of our partners, and the life-changing impact that good people can make when they work together with purpose.” Today, Gavin’s role as CEO is to steer the team forward, ensuring the charity stays true to its mission whilst continually expanding the support offered to construction workers and their families. While responsible for the charity’s strategic direction, long-term sustainability, and the organisation’s overall performance, Gavin is equally responsible for fostering a culture where staff, volunteers, and partners can thrive. Day to day, this takes the form of overseeing project delivery and support services, working closely with partners and leadership teams, and championing the voices of the unheard. As a leader, Gavin operates with a people-first mindset, focusing on clarity, collaboration, and accountability to ensure everyone understands the direction Band of Builders is heading in, and why it matters. His leadership style has evolved as the charity has grown; in the early days, Gavin was involved in every detail due to the hands-on nature of the smaller charity. Now, with a larger team and bigger ambitions, he focuses more on strategic thinking, empowering others, and building a system that allows Band of Builders to scale without losing its identity. The next 12 months promise to be an exciting period of growth and positive change for Band of Builders, as it aims to further strengthen its role as the national construction charity. Under Gavin’s guidance, the charity will expand its project capacity in order to deliver more life-changing home adaptations for construction workers and their families. As demand for aid continues to rise, Band of Builders aims to increase the number of projects it completes, and is preparing with new systems, clearer processes, and greater investment in its delivery team. “My aim is to lead the charity into its next chapter with confidence, clarity, and compassion, and to ensure the foundations we are building today will support the industry for years to come,” Gavin concluded. “Whatever the future holds, our focus remains the same: to stand with construction workers and their families when they need it most, and to build a charity that the whole industry can be proud of.” Contact: Gavin Crane Company: Band of Builders Web Address: www. bandofbuilders.org Changing Lives Through Charity and Community
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