Solving construction finance headaches: How GG Glass & Glazing streamlined spending with Pleo

If you work in construction finance or operations, you’ll know that managing multiple sites and costs is no walk in the park. For Ben Grocutt, Group Finance Manager at GG Glass & Glazing, a nationwide window specialist for retail, the last few years have been a whirlwind of growth and process challenges. 

But there’s been a game-changer on the horizon: Pleo.

We sat down with Ben to get the lowdown on how Pleo has completely streamlined finance at GG Glass & Glazing, turning what used to be a major headache into a smooth, quick monthly routine. Here’s what he shared.

How Pleo turned a month’s work into a 30 minute breeze

Ben joined GG Glass & Glazing eight years ago when the company’s turnover was around £11 million and the finance team was just two (and a half) people. Now, with a turnover of £25 million and a finance team of eight, the stakes are much higher.

As the business scaled, so did the need for smarter processes. That’s exactly where Pleo came in: by automating spend management and providing real-time insights. Pleo helps businesses scale without losing control or visibility, freeing up finance teams to focus on strategy, not spreadsheets. 

“It’s been a real challenge, the last few years, to account for all that cost and the number of transactions every month. Pleo has literally turned that job into a 30 minute exercise once a month” Ben told us. 

GG Glass & Glazing operates across the UK with multiple locations, each running its own cost centre and profit and loss (P&L) statement. All these costs then roll up into the overall company accounts.

With all that complexity, keeping track of costs and approvals was a big job.

Transforming tedious tasks into effortless routines 

Before Pleo came on board, the monthly cost review process was a real bottleneck. “It was easily a week's worth of time between everybody, into something that you literally do on the go in seconds.”

“Pleo has solved a very big headache for us,” he says. “It’s also streamlined a review process that we just didn’t have before,” Ben adds.

This improvement doesn’t just save time, it significantly improves accuracy and control, reducing costly human errors. By minimising manual inputs and streamlining workflows, teams can stay on budget and make smarter decisions with fewer risks.

Making life easier for everyone, not just finance

One of the standout benefits of Pleo at GG Glass & Glazing is how it has simplified finance processes not just for the finance team, but for the entire business. Ben points out that the real magic lies in how user-friendly and accessible the system is, even for those who don’t work in finance.

“From a non-administrator point of view, the whole ease of the approval process is really good for us,” Ben explains. 

The ability to approve costs on the go has been a huge game-changer. Whether someone is out on site, in meetings, or between jobs, they can easily review and approve spending from their phone. 

Ben sums it up perfectly: “I couldn’t imagine life without it now. Honestly, I wish we’d had Pleo sooner.”

Why construction finance leaders should take note

If you’re a CFO or finance leader in construction, you’ll recognise the challenges Ben talks about. Including managing multiple sites, huge transaction volumes, and keeping costs under control while scaling.

GG Glass & Glazing’s experience shows how the right technology can make a massive difference, cutting down admin time, improving process visibility, and freeing up your team to focus on the work that really matters.

Pleo’s success at GG Glass & Glazing is a perfect example of how innovation in finance operations can support growth and efficiency, exactly the kind of thing Project Trailblazers aims to showcase.

Are you ready to transform your finance function and take control of your construction company’s costs? Keep an eye out for Project Trailblazers, and learn how tools like Pleo can make a real difference for your team.