History

I began my career in 1989, serving my apprenticeship with Perth-based James Scott Ltd (Amec Group). Before the age of 20, I took the leap and established my own business – Gary Bruce Electrical Contractors. In the early days, I worked alone, often serving clients out of my dad’s red Astra before upgrading to my first van.

One of the first jobs I completed independently was for local businessman Simon Howie, who was building his own home at the time. He remains a loyal customer to this day and has supported us since the very beginning. Shortly after starting out on my own, I took on my first apprentice – and I’ve continued to invest in young talent every year since.

My first workshop was a rented shed in Dunning, Perthshire, which I was immensely proud of. However, as the business grew, so did our needs. We soon moved to larger premises on Glenearn Road in Perth, and then on to a unit in Friarton Bridge Park, Perth, where we operated and expanded for over 22 years. During this time, we built strong relationships with a number of large clients, grew our team to 15 dedicated staff, and invested in a fleet of vans & equipment to serve our customers efficiently. We also became a limited company in 2013 and rebranded as GBEC Scotland Ltd, which you will see proudly displayed on all our correspondence and vehicles.

Over the years we have become a family-run business. My partner Claire is our Financial Director, bringing valuable experience in finance and HR. My eldest son , Jordan Bruce, joined us as an apprentice in 2021 and became a fully qualified electrician in 2024 – making me proud to see him following in my footsteps. And my youngest son, Finlay Bruce, is an accomplished swimmer representing Scotland, and as a company, we are privileged to actively sponsor and support local swimming talent

One of my core values has always been the development of trained, professional staff. I’ve dedicated significant time and effort to mentoring apprentices – many of whom are still with us today – and ensuring our entire team is trained to the highest standard to deliver quality service and workmanship.

One of our proudest achievements came in 2024, when we relocated to Forteviot Village, Perthshire – just a short distance from where it all began in Dunning, Perthshire. We transformed the village’s former primary school, which had stood empty for a number of years, into a vibrant and functional headquarters. The new premises provide ample space for all our equipment, and support our continued growth.

We are passionate about giving back to the local community, contributing to projects such as installing public defibrillators and supporting the ‘In Bloom’ initiative. With our renewed focus on sustainability, and now with the space and infrastructure to make a real impact, our next steps include reducing our carbon footprint through the use of electric vehicles, solar PV, and the potential installation of heat pumps at our site.

I’m incredibly proud of what myself and my team have built at GBEC Scotland Ltd, and I look forward to continuing to grow the business and provide the highest quality electrical services to all of our clients—both old and new.