New owners for Clements
31 March 2023
Clements Plant & Access Hire of Coventry is under new ownership.
The highly regarded independent has been acquired by FGS Plant Ltd, a plant and access machinery hirer based in Aylesford, Kent, serving major contractors throughout the south east of England on a self-drive or operated basis.
FGS is part of the Heathcote Holdings group which comprises several businesses in agriculture, construction, recycling, land management and plant hire.
Stuart Willy, Divisional Manager of FGS Plant, will assume the additional position of Managing Director at Clements, and Adrian Hutchinson will continue running the business on a daily basis as Director. All Clements team members remain with the company.
However, Clements’ Chairman, Jim Longstaff (pictured below), has ceased to be a director and shareholder and is leaving the business with immediate effect after 16 years with the company.
“Clements Plant was identified by the FGS team as being an ideal fit from a quality and geographic perspective,” said Jim. “It is their intention to invest in both the fleet and the company to increase its appeal, availability and market penetration.”
● Jim Longstaff is a true industry stalwart. As he recalled in the Q&A interview that he did with me for the blog in 2020, he started his career as a spares clerk with the iconic dumper manufacturer Benford. He later worked with various industry suppliers before teaming up with the late, great hire legend John Jennings to buy Clements in 2006.
When John passed away in 2016, Jim unhesitatingly volunteered to help with the unenviable task of continuing the irreverent and unmissable Crosshire column that John had anonymously written for 17 years for Executive Hire News, of which I was then Editor. Renamed as ‘In the Spirit of Crosshire’, Jim’s regular contributions discussed (and frequently ranted about) urgent industry issues from recruitment and reps, to red diesel and rental rates.
Partly because of that, but mostly for the information and support Jim has given me over the years, I along with many others owe him a huge debt of gratitude. I wish him well in his next chapter.
