Kensite targets growth
22 May 2023
A programme of considerable investment is helping to transform Kensite Services from simply being a local hirer of portable toilets and site accommodation to become an all-round provider of site equipment over a larger part of the country.
As previously reported in November on the blog, the 35-year-old Atherton-based business was acquired in 2019 by Craig Ainscough (whose father Brendan was a co-founder of the Ainscough Crane Hire business) and Aidan Grimshaw, whose background is primarily in commercial property.
It has been expanding since with the appointment of new personnel bringing the current total to 38, and a significant rebranding has just been completed together with an enhanced website. More diverse products have been added to the Kensite fleet and, overall, the investment to date has been around £6 million.
“There had been a perception that Kensite was very much a local hirer serving predominantly Greater Manchester and north-west England with just toilets and cabins, and people didn’t realise that the company offered other services,” MD Campbell Rodden told me. “The new investment has enabled us to expand on what we do and how we do it.
“We have now introduced three new solar powered pieces of equipment to our product offering based on the demand from our customers. They are Solar Loos, Solar Shelters, and Solar Charging Stations. We also offer services including waste collection and water bowser supply supported by our own specialist vehicle fleet.”
The new branding incorporates a K-shaped logo representing a site setup and has been rolled out throughout the company’s premises, vehicles, workwear and fleet products to give a fresher, modern image.
“The plan now is to significantly grow the business turnover over the next five years by adding other complementary products and services. And many clients prefer to deal with a single source of supply: we’ve been very successful recently in winning new customers on that basis,” said Campbell, who is pictured (below) in hi-vis with Kensite’s Brian Martin.
The new solar product line-up already includes energy-efficient solar loos that can provide additional hot water washing facilities; charging stations enabling workers to store and recharge tools in keypad-protected lockers; and solar shelters with heating and lighting as well as equipment charge points for people taking cigarette breaks.
Other additions will include roof-mounted solar frames to provide power for welfare units and anti-vandal cabins.
Kensite’s five-year plan has also identified growth opportunities such as serving additional regions of the country and moving into related services.
“We want to go further afield,” said Campbell. “Our new website has already attracted excellent testimonials from clients who say how much they appreciate the quality of our equipment and service, and they like the fact that they can speak to the same people each time in the same location.
“This helps to build strong relationships. And the new energy-efficient products in the fleet tick a lot of boxes for customers with environmental objectives.
“Our revenue stream in previous years has been based chiefly on what people rang in and asked for, but now we can proactively ask customers about what else they will need on site and offer a much broader range.”
