A look back on 2025

2025 was a year full of moments worth celebrating. Across the business, our teams showed incredible commitment, to each other, to our communities and to the high standards we’re proud to uphold. From fundraising and staff events to strengthening partnerships and achieving industry recognition, the year was shaped by teamwork, generosity and shared success. This recap looks back on some of the highlights that made 2025 such a memorable year and captures the people and efforts behind every achievement.

A Year of Supporting

2025 was a year full of generosity and community spirit across all our sites. Our teams went above and beyond, supporting a wide range of charities through both team efforts and personal challenges.

At Hull, the team raised a significant amount for Hull and East Yorkshire Sands and Cancer Research, taking on monthly cycling challenges, raffles and other fun fundraising events. Over at Droitwich, Thomas Round braved a full head shave to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, while Thorne General Manager Joe Caunce organised a pool tournament to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. These are just a few examples of the incredible dedication our people show year after year.

We also had a really special moment at our Selby site when Henry, a young fan, joined William Bowker and the team for the day to experience life at Bowker. William even surprised Henry with gifts and a birthday cake. Henry’s family had reached out earlier in the year to show off his Bowker Lego depot, complete with all the vehicles ready for action. It was such a joy to meet someone so passionate about what we do and a reminder of the impact we can have on our local communities.

Staff Events

We continued our legacy of staff events, giving everyone the chance to have some fun and stay active together. From football and golf to cycling challenges, memory walks and fishing events, there was something for everyone. These activities are a great way to strengthen connections across teams while also giving back to our employees.

Recognition, Accreditation and Industry Success

2025 was also a year of recognition and achievement. Our Knowsley site achieved AA BRCGS accreditation, Selby retained its AA status, and Thorne earned AA+ BRCGS accreditation (the “+” signifying an unannounced audit). These milestones are a real testament to the hard work and commitment of our teams.

We were proud to be nominated for two UKWA awards: Logistics Service Member of the Year and Warehouse Manager of the Year. Liam McDonough took home the Warehouse Manager award, marking an incredible journey from warehouse twinner to General Manager at Selby.

Our partnership with Palletline was also recognised, earning the Outstanding Commitment Award, celebrating our reliability and service excellence throughout the year.

Further cementing our industry standing, we were ranked 9th in the CILT Top 30 Logistics Providers of the Year, a huge achievement that highlights the strength, innovation and dedication of our teams.

Rounding off an incredible year, we were named CBA’s Logistics Service Member of the Year, a fitting recognition of our operational excellence, reliability, and professionalism across the chemical supply chain.

Celebrating Our Partnerships

2025 was also a great year for celebrating the strong partnerships that support our business every day. Our long-standing relationship with Thomas Hardie Commercials (THC), our trusted supplier of Volvo trucks, continued to go from strength to strength. Early in the year, THC and Bowker released a video celebrating our strong relationship and highlighting our key milestones including the Volvo Aero vehicle and the all-electric rigid.

We were also proud to celebrate our connection with the British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland, recognising the importance of preserving and celebrating the history of the UK’s commercial vehicle industry. We currently hold 3 vehicles in the Museum:

• 1924 Thornycroft BX
• 1933 Leyland Beaver
• 1967 Atkinson Silver Knight

Our connection with the museum goes beyond the vehicles, Bill Bowker Snr played a vital role in supporting the museum, ensuring transport history is preserved for future generations

These partnerships are an important part of who we are, built on shared values, trust and collaboration We look forward to continuing to grow and succeed together in the years ahead.

A Year to Celebrate

Looking back, 2025 was a year shaped by teamwork, generosity and shared success. Whether it was supporting charities, celebrating long-standing partnerships, coming together at staff events or being recognised across the industry, every achievement was driven by the dedicated people who make Bowker better every day. As we have strived forward into 2026, we do so proud of what’s been achieved, grateful to everyone who played a part and excited to build on the momentum created throughout 2025.