What Gratnells does

Gratnells Ltd is a UK-based private manufacturer of modular storage systems designed primarily for educational environments. The company's product architecture centers on standardized trays (in shallow, deep, extra-deep, and jumbo variants and 14+ colors), frames (single, double, treble columns and various heights), and trolleys, all interconnected through a proprietary StopSafe runner safety mechanism that restricts tray pull-out distance. Sub-brand ranges (Callero, Callero Custom, Dynamis, Science, SmartCase, Gratstack, Antimicrobial, and Learning Rooms Collection) cover early years, primary, secondary, science labs, art rooms, and selected adjacent verticals (healthcare, laboratories, offices).

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware sales of trays, frames, trolleys, and furniture, priced in GBP (£9.77 for spare parts to over £1,300 for fully configured units) and distributed through direct e-commerce (store.gratnells.com), institutional trade accounts, and a Gratnells Modulus bespoke-design service. Distribution covers a UK & Rest of World storefront at gratnells.com and a dedicated North American site at gratnellsusa.com, with a global support line routed through Portugal. Beyond product sales, Gratnells operates an educational consulting arm — Planning Learning Spaces in Practice (PLSiP) — and runs the Learnometer environmental monitoring device developed with Professor Stephen Heppell, the latter functioning as an IoT data layer rather than an AI product.

The company is privately held, employs 11-50 staff, and is headquartered in Madingley near Cambridge under UK jurisdiction. It holds wholly-owned subsidiaries Gratnells USA (North American sales) and Gratnells Engineering, and maintains a broad accreditation footprint (ASE, BESA, EDMarket, FIRA, WorldDidac, Ocean Clean Sweep, Wastecare) supporting public-sector and institutional procurement eligibility.

Name

Gratnells

Legal name

Gratnells Ltd

Website

https://gratnells.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gratnells Ltd is a UK-based private manufacturer of modular tray, frame, and trolley storage systems with proprietary StopSafe runner safety technology, serving primarily K-12 education and selected healthcare, laboratory, and office markets across the UK, USA, and select international geographies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Storage Solutions

NAICS

Showcase, Partition, Shelving, and Locker Manufacturing (337215), Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing (33721)

SIC

Partitions, Shelvg, Lockers, & Office & Store Fixtures (2540), Office Furniture (2520)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Modular Shelving & Cabinetry System Planning (Non-Construction) (HSAFAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids’ & Nursery Storage Retail (Toy Storage, Closet Organizers) (CRAIAJAL), Drawer, Cabinet & Pantry Organization Retail (Dividers, Inserts, Lazy Susans) (CRAIAJAD)

Keywords

• Education storage solutions
• Classroom furniture
• Storage trays
• Learning space design
• School organization systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Madingley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Storage Products Sales: One-time sales of trays, frames, trolleys, and furniture products. Products sold through direct e-commerce and trade accounts with pricing in GBP including/excluding VAT.
2. Custom/Bespoke Solutions: Gratnells Modulus bespoke design service for custom storage solutions not available in standard product range.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gratnells manufactures and sells modular storage solutions for educational environments, including plastic storage trays, mobile trolleys, frames, and classroom furniture. The products are designed for schools and learning spaces, enabling organized, flexible classroom layouts for teachers and students.

Product overview

Gratnells is a manufacturer of innovative storage solutions primarily serving the education sector. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized around product sub-brands: the Callero Range (including Callero Primary, Callero Plus, Callero Shield, and Callero Makerspace variants) and Callero Custom Range for modular configurable storage; the Dynamis Range for flexible trolleys; the Science Range for laboratory storage in various configurations; SmartCase for transport cases; Gratstack for stackable solutions; and the Antimicrobial Collection for hygienic environments. Core products include award-winning trays in multiple depths (Shallow, Deep, Extra Deep, Jumbo) available in 14+ colours. Key product lines encompass trolleys (single, double, and treble column configurations), static frames, and cloakroom storage. Supporting services include Gratnells Modulus (bespoke design), the Planning Learning Spaces in Practice (PLSiP) framework for learning environment design, and SortEd accessories. Products feature StopSafe runners for enhanced safety and are backed by a 5-year guarantee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Callero Range: Storage trolley and frame system for educational environments
• Dynamis Range
• Science Range
• SmartCase Range
• Gratstack Range
• Antimicrobial Collection
• SortEd
• Gratnells Learning Rooms Collection
• CloudCubby
• Planning Learning Spaces in Practice

Products and services

• Gratnells Storage Trays Standardized plastic storage trays in a range of sizes and colors, designed to organize classroom resources in schools. Used by teachers and students to sort and store learning materials; compatible with Gratnells trolleys and frames.
• Gratnells Trolleys Mobile trolleys purpose-built to hold Gratnells trays, allowing classrooms to reconfigure storage configurations and move resources between rooms. Used by schools seeking flexible, mobile storage solutions.
• Gratnells Frames and Storage Systems Frame-based storage units that hold multiple Gratnells trays in fixed or adjustable configurations, providing static classroom storage walls and shelving solutions for educational spaces.
• Gratnells Classroom Furniture Classroom furniture products designed for learning spaces, complementing the Gratnells storage range. Targeted at schools and educational institutions refitting or equipping classrooms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Year 4 pupils' average combined progress in reading, writing and maths doubled when learning environment changes were implemented in 2020-21 compared to previous academic year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Planning Learning Spaces in Practice (PLSiP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProprietary design framework co-developed by Gratnells for school learning space transformation. Terry White serves as Co-Director. Framework guides schools through six-stage process connecting curriculum to physical space design. Used in UK and international schools including New Zealand.
• Professor Stephen HeppellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration for Learnometer environmental monitoring device. Professor Heppell's research team protects personal and environmental data collected from the device, powering Gratnells' data-driven learning environment solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Playthings: Community Playthings manufactures educational furniture and storage for early years and primary schools, directly overlapping with Gratnells' Early Years & Primary Collection and Callero Primary trolleys.
• Virco Manufacturing: Virco is a US-listed manufacturer specializing in educational furniture and storage, directly comparable to Gratnells' Science Range and modular trolley offerings for K-12 environments.
• Lakeshore Learning Materials: Lakeshore Learning is a major US-based supplier of educational products and classroom storage/organization solutions, serving the same K-12 segment as Gratnells with comparable product categories including classroom organizers and storage furniture.
• Smith System: Smith System manufactures classroom and K-12 educational furniture including storage and organization products, serving the same school procurement market as Gratnells with overlapping product categories.
• Copernicus Educational Products: Copernicus is a Canadian manufacturer of mobile and modular classroom storage solutions (e.g., coat lockers, makerspace carts), directly competing with Gratnells' Callero trolley range for K-12 school budgets.
• Really Good Stuff: Really Good Stuff sells classroom organizers, storage and educational supplies to K-12 teachers and schools, comparable to Gratnells' SortEd accessories and tray-based organization products.

Broad incumbents

• Steelcase: Steelcase is a global office and learning-space furniture manufacturer serving broader workplace and education markets; its education portfolio overlaps with Gratnells' office/learning-room storage but at vastly greater scale.
• HNI Corporation (HON / Allsteel): HNI Corporation is a large US office and educational furniture manufacturer (HON, Allsteel) with a K-12 and higher-ed portfolio that intersects with Gratnells' modular storage offerings through a much wider catalog.
• KI Furnishings: KI manufactures institutional and educational furniture with storage and classroom solutions; broader and more diversified than Gratnells but serving overlapping K-12 and higher-education customers.

Emerging players

• Fleetwood Furniture: Fleetwood Furniture is an Irish educational furniture manufacturer producing primary and secondary classroom storage and furniture; a regional peer that overlaps Gratnells' Callero and tray-based product lines in similar UK/Irish school markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gratnells
• Facebookfacebook.com/gratnells
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gratnells-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gratnells