This Friday, our founder, Ray Groves, turns 80.
It’s a milestone that gives us the chance to celebrate an incredible birthday and reflect on the journey, values and character that helped shape PRG into the business it is today.
For many people in the HVAC industry or the business community in Eastbourne, Ray is known as the founder of PRG, one of the UK’s longest-established specialist PR and marketing agencies. But to those of us who know him personally, he’s much more than that: a journalist, storyteller, mentor, relationship-builder, family man and relentless believer in going the extra mile for clients.
If you spend any time with the PRG team, you’ll quickly realise that his influence still runs through the company today.
Ray founded PRG over 45 years ago after spotting an opportunity to combine technical understanding, strong writing and genuine industry relationships. Before launching the agency, he worked as a journalist and editor within the gas and heating industry, including editing Gas in Industry during a transformative period for the sector.
Back then, PR looked very different.
Press releases were typed, printed, packaged and physically mailed. Photography involved film. Communication took patience. Relationships mattered enormously because there was no shortcut to trust.
Those foundations became central to the way Ray built PRG.
From the beginning, the business was never just about publicity. It was about understanding people and industries and helping clients communicate with clarity and credibility. Over the decades, PRG grew from a spare-room consultancy into a respected full-service agency working with some of the best-known names in HVAC and beyond.
But while marketing channels evolved, the core philosophy never really changed and that ethos continues to define PRG today.
Anyone who has worked with Ray knows he values authenticity above all else. He believes in straight conversations, long-term partnerships and earning trust over time. In an industry increasingly driven by algorithms, automation and instant results, those principles feel more important than ever.
They are also reflected in the values we talk about so often at PRG: Family, Authenticity and Excellence.
“Family” is more than a word on a website for us. PRG has always been a genuinely family-run business, not just in ownership, but in culture. Many of our client relationships span decades. Team members support one another, loyalty matters and, importantly, people matter.
“Authenticity” comes directly from Ray and Simon’s approach to business and life. They always believe that good marketing should never be about noise for the sake of it. It should be honest, informed and rooted in real expertise.
“Excellence” that comes from the standards set from day one. Good writing, attention to detail, professionalism, pride in your work and never cutting corners.
Those standards helped PRG earn the trust of clients ranging from global manufacturers to local businesses, and they remain part of our DNA today.
Ray’s legacy on a local level can still be seen today. As a past-President of the Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce, he was instrumental in shaping policies and initiatives that have helped the business community in Eastbourne thrive. We still all fondly remember the PRG-created Eastbourne “Change Your View” marketing campaign in the early 2000’s that helped to re-imagine the outdated “God’s Waiting Room” tag that the town had been saddled with.
Perhaps the biggest testament to what he built is that PRG still feels true to its roots, something that Simon, Jo and the team are incredibly proud of.
Happy 80th Birthday, Ray. From all of us at PRG.
