Europlaz appoints new Head of People to support expansion plans

One of the UK’s fastest‑growing medtech manufacturers has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Anya Grattidge as Head of People. Europlaz, which provides manufacturing services to more than 20 major OEMs, has appointed the former Morgan Stanley HR professional to help support continued growth and further develop career pathways in manufacturing and engineering.

A qualified executive coach, Anya brings over 15 years’ experience from global finance and high‑growth scale‑ups, including Liberis and Modulr, where she played a key role in a successful series C fundraise. She specialises in building people‑centred systems that support organisational performance, alongside training and progression frameworks that encourage multi-skilling, technical development and leadership capability. Her appointment follows a strong period of expansion for Europlaz, which has reported a 20% rise in revenue to £15.5 million and grown its workforce to 130 people.

“This is a really exciting time to be joining the business,” comments Anya, who became a Vice President at Morgan Stanley at just 34. “Europlaz has a fantastic culture, and I’m inspired by what Eddie, Katy and Rory O’Keeffe are building – a medtech company that sets new standards in manufacturing performance, technical innovation and product reliability.”

She adds: “As the business has grown, the demands on our people are evolving every day. One of my first priorities is to formalise HR processes and introduce technology that makes simple tasks easier for everyone, such as moving communications and forms from email and paper to a central HR system.”

To support its expansion plans and the increasing needs of new and existing customers, Europlaz is making significant investment in both capacity and capability. In the upcoming financial year, the company will increase its training and development budget by 500% compared with the same period last year, strengthening technical skills, leadership development and long‑term workforce capability. Europlaz will also recruit 10 apprentices and graduates in 2026, as part of a wider effort to build a strong pipeline of future talent.

“There’s always been a commitment to growing our own talent, and we want to build on this by expanding our apprenticeship programme,” Anya continues. “It’s a brilliant way to address skills gaps and support career development into middle and senior management. Broadening our graduate offering will also be key to developing future leaders. We offer the chance to work for a local SME where you can genuinely help shape the future of the business. There’s a family‑friendly feel here and a level of flexibility that many larger organisations simply can’t offer.”

Europlaz operates from a state‑of‑the‑art production facility in Southminster, Essex. The ISO 13485‑certified company provides injection moulding, assembly, product validation and access to modern ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, supporting the manufacture of Class I, II and III medical devices. Recent growth in its own product portfolio and wider healthcare contracts has led to a 25% increase in staff over the past year, driving the need for continued investment in people and facilities to meet the growing requirements of its customers.

Katy O’Keeffe, Marketing & Strategy Development Director, states: “This is a real coup for us. Anya brings significant corporate experience, as well as a strong track record of supporting fast‑growing organisations, which aligns perfectly with our future plans. Her expertise in executive coaching will also be invaluable in strengthening the mindset and leadership capability of our senior team.”