Plantool expands Warwick depot
12 January 2024
Plantool Hire Centres has been able to refurbish and develop its Warwick depot with the help of local authority grants.
In October 2022 the business relocated from a 6,000 sq ft building in Millers Road in Warwick to 8,000 sq ft premises on an industrial estate in the town and contacted Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub for support with its refurbishment.
They advised Ben Jones, Plantool’s MD, to apply to Warwickshire County Council’s Small Capital Grants Fund. The company’s bid for £35,000 was successful and, together with a further £85,000 invested by the business, the centre has been transformed to provide a better working environment for its 30 staff, including the construction of a new workshop and mezzanine floor.
Ben says the move also means they will be able to offer training to other businesses and organisations now they have more room.
“We had rented our previous site in Warwick since 1987 and we had long out-grown it,” he says. “This building became available so we bought it and the Growth Hub helped with the refurbishment along with Warwickshire County Council who came to visit us and gave us advice on what was possible.”
“The mezzanine has provided great extra storage space and we have a workshop now so it is a much better place to work – and much warmer. The old premises were freezing cold in winter and boiling hot in summer.
“We couldn’t offer training at our old place, apart from at our Daventry centre, but we can now provide training for up to 12 people.
“The new premises have a much larger yard and it suits better the type of equipment we now offer, having added more powered access machinery and HGVs to transport it.
“We have also taken on an apprentice because it is really important that we provide the right training for our business.”
Jim Vithanage, Account Manager at Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, said Plantool’s fully equipped and modern workshop in Warwick was a great way of marking its 45th anniversary in 2024.
Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, added: “The county is committed to supporting local enterprises who trade locally and employ local people and this is a perfect example of that.
“It’s fantastic that they have also taken on an apprentice so that young people are also getting an opportunity to get on the career ladder.”
Plantool has other depots in Stratford-upon-Avon, Nuneaton, Lutterworth, Kettering and Daventry, and Ben says that business remains strong. “We bounced back quickly after Covid and we’ve kept busy since.”
Pictured from left are: Simeon Lee of Warwickshire County Council, Jim Vithanage, Ben Jones and Cllr Martin Watson of Warwickshire County Council.
Photo: Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub
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