Fox buys B&W Plant Hire

13 December 2022

Fox Group, the Lancashire-based provider of aggregates, recycled materials and earthworks. Has acquired B&W Plant Hire & Sales Ltd which has depots in Blackburn, Keighley, Northwich and Southampton. 

Established in 1963 by Bill and Mary Whitwell,  the company started with just one piece of equipment, a JCB 3C. The hire fleet now encompasses more than 2,500 items.

Earlier this year, Fox bought Cotswold Roller Hire.  

Paul Fox, CEO of Fox Group, said, “B&W has a strong reputation with solid family values and a fantastic team who are passionate about their customers, which is aligned with the Fox Group culture. The acquisition of B&W adds a large amount of plant items to our already significant fleet of plant, tippers, specialist compact equipment and bulk haulage.

“The geographical spread of B&W’s depots also extends the reach of Fox Group, increasing our already extensive footprint across the UK.” 

Will Whitwell, B&W’s owner, commented “After a lifetime in the industry, and 25 years building B&W, I feel that the time is right for the next chapter in the company’s journey. Fox Group are a fantastic fit to hand B&W over to – Paul and his team are very dynamic and the future will be exciting for the company. 

“My heartfelt thanks go to the brilliant team within B&W, for their dedication and loyalty. And finally to Bill, my father, for giving me the opportunity to work alongside him and grow the business to what it has become today.”

Andrew Partington, managing director at B&W, added: “I am very excited by the acquisition and the future growth it will bring to our team.”