From Writtle to the South of England: How Crawford’s Group Became a Farming Force
What does it take to grow a family business from a single trailer in Essex into a multi-division, multi-million-pound powerhouse serving thousands across the South of England?
For Wes Crawford, Managing Director of Crawford’s Group, the answer lies in legacy, resilience and being brave enough to do things differently.
Headquartered in Writtle, Essex, Crawford’s Group began in 1980 when Wes’s father, Bob, struck out on his own. Armed with nothing more than an Ivor Williams trailer and a knack for connecting the right buyer with the right seller, Bob started supplying agricultural machinery to Essex farmers. Fast forward to today, and the group now supports over 8,000 customers across Essex, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire.
But the business has grown far beyond tractors and trailers. Under Wes’s leadership, it’s diversified into commercial vehicles, grounds care and construction, with a focus on staying agile in an industry that doesn’t stand still for long
🎧 Listen to the full conversation here.
From Family Roots to Bold Growth
When Wes took the reins in 1996, there was no master plan to run the business with his wife Laura, let alone involve their two sons in the next generation. But family has remained at the heart of Crawford’s. Laura now leads HR, and their sons are carving out careers in logistics and sales.
And it’s not just the Crawfords. The wider team is packed with second and third-generation staff, a reflection of the values-driven culture Wes has built, one where loyalty, legacy and inclusion matter.
That people-first approach helped the business weather one of its toughest tests in 2022, when Wes underwent major heart surgery and was away from the business for several months. It turned out to be a defining moment.
“I realised the world does continue without you,” he says. “And the structure we’d put in place allowed the business to carry on and thrive.”
“Every decision we make is not only for ourselves, but for 150 families. That’s how we lead.”
Being Brave, Building Succession
That experience pushed succession planning to the top of Wes’s list, not just for his own family, but across the business. From apprentices to long-standing team members approaching retirement, he’s now laser-focused on developing talent and giving people space to grow.
“There are guys my age still waiting to take the reins from their fathers,” Wes says. “I don’t want that for my sons.”
Wes’s leadership style, shaped by mentors, business coaches and his father’s example, blends a willingness to evolve with a deep sense of responsibility. “At the end of the day, our decisions affect 150 families. That’s how we view it.”
Lessons From the Field
So what can other business leaders learn from Crawford’s journey?
- Invest in succession before you think you need it
- Diversify boldly, but with a steady hand
- Don’t underestimate the power of transparency
- And be brave enough to step back and let others step up
For Wes, leadership is about staying agile, leading by example, and never forgetting the people behind the business. Whether it’s shifting focus to the booming commercial vehicle division or mentoring the next wave of leaders, he’s quietly shaping the future of a business that started with a trailer… and now drives a region.
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About Made in Essex
Produced by Attract & Engage, Made in Essex shines a light on the county’s most ambitious business leaders. Each episode is hosted by our co-founder, Jill Willis, and shares candid conversations that celebrate resilience, leadership and growth – the kind that doesn’t always make headlines, but should.
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