News for Tool Hire, Equipment Hire & Plant Hire and Rental Professionals

“This time, it’s different”

4 September 2020

“This time, it’s different”

Anglian Plant reports that business has remained strong owing to ongoing work on existing sites and the opening of new ones - which is particularly pleasing, given the uncertainty voiced in some quarters about the recovery’s path.

The business hires a broad range of plant and site machinery from its base at Rackheath, just to the north east of Norwich.

Managing Director Joe Paterson says, “We fully expected to close temporarily when the lockdown was first announced in March, but builders and landscapers wanted to get jobs finished. We also supply a lot of farmers and they have kept working.

Supporting customers

“So we opened to support them and it’s been busy ever since. We were able to off-hire equipment, send invoices, pay suppliers and keep the wheels turning. And we knew we could continue to operate safely with the appropriate measures in place.”

Not surprisingly, Joe says that utilisation fell to 30% in April (although, as he says, that was better than zero) but it hit 78% in July and 80% in August.

£800,000 on new machines

“We have bought £800,000 worth of new kit to meet demand, including Kubota minis, Thwaites dumpers and excavators from Takeuchi and Hitachi. We’ve also added Bobcat tracked loaders for construction work at new solar farms. And today we ordered three Genquip Groundhog towable welfare units.

“We implemented measurements to comply with Covid-19 guidelines such as placing Perspex barriers at our trade counter and wearing hi-vis vests printed with 2m distancing messages, and all equipment was carefully sanitised pre-hire.”

All new fleet additions have also had NHS ‘rainbow’ decals attached as a commemorative gesture.

Homes getting under way

At a time when some people may doubt the long-term strength of the construction recovery, Joe is certainly positive. “During lockdown people realised they could work from home and are interested in moving from cities and into beautiful areas like ours (something I covered in an earlier post). There are thousands of new homes under way, and thousands more ready to get started.

“I think some developers have been sitting on their hands, wondering what would happen and recalling the 2008 credit crunch. But this time it’s different. The government says it is putting construction at the heart of the recovery, which is great news for our industry.”

Asset finance service launched

The company has also just introduced a new service, Anglian Asset Finance. “Having signed up so many finance deals during my time at Anglian Plant, understanding the machines and having the right contacts, we believe we are well placed to sell this service to others. We’re not just numbers people: we understand the kit, can offer impartial advice and we recognise a good deal.”

“This time, it’s different”
“This time, it’s different”
“This time, it’s different”

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