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Autumn/Winter 2021 07 www.hae.org.uk www.eha.org.uk Y orkshire hire specialist SHC Hire has completed the acquisition of tool and plant hire company Hartley Hire in a seven-figure deal. The deal represents the first chapter in SHC’s new buy-and-build growth strategy and sees the company increase its presence across the north of England. It’s the first acquisition of its nature for SHC since the 2016 MBO. Based in the south Lake District and north Lancashire, Hartley Hire is the trading name of A&W Tool Hire Limited. The family-run business was founded in 1984 and has branches in Windermere, Kendal, Carnforth, Lancaster and Morecambe. The company specialises in tools for trade and small plant equipment. The acquisition enables its expansion into the south Lake District and North Lancashire. SHC already has depots in Skipton, Ilkley, Ripon and Northallerton. All 12 members of Hartley Hire staff were retained with the company. The Hartley Hire arm of the business will be led by Regional Director Lee Hallsworth. Lee recently re-joined SHC after five years away from the business. Previously Lee held the role of Operations Manager. SHC Managing Director, Neil Bravery, said: “There is a real synergy between the two businesses. This acquisition will benefit our regional clients in both Yorkshire and the south Lake District and North Lancashire.” He added: “This is our first purchase since the MBO, and it is just the start of things to come. In the coming months we’ll be rolling out a new brand proposition that reflects the addition of Hartley Hire to the SHC group.” SHC is a plant and tool hire supplier with depots in Skipton, Ilkley, Ripon, and Northallerton. Founded in 1981 as Skipton Hire Centre Ltd, it was one of the first companies to be awarded HAE’s prestigious ‘Safe Hire’ accreditation in 2001. Among other the other awards and accreditations SHC has received over the years are ‘Hire Company of the Year’, the HAE’s much sort after ‘Excellence in Customer Care’ and the winner of the ‘Excellence in Training’ award. The current management team of Neil Bravery (Managing Director) and Richard Palmer (Financial Director) acquired the business through an MBO in 2016. SHC COMPLETES PURCHASE OF HARTLEY HIRE FOR SEVEN-FIGURE SUM S ite machinery business, Morris Site Machinery, will be relocating its Four Ashes operation to Shrewsbury in March 2022 when its current lease at Four Ashes in Wolverhampton comes to an end. Morris Site Machinery’s sister business Morris Property has a number of properties and options which are currently being considered on the north side of Shrewsbury for the relocation. There are no redundancies planned and the company hopes to retain all its staff in the move which is 30 miles from the current Four Ashes site. The move will take place next Spring and the new premises will house the service, assembly and sales distribution for its robust range of generators, welder generators, pumps and pressure washers. CEO Chris Morris said: “It has been our long-held ambition to bring the business closer to our family Group headquarters in Shrewsbury and into one of our own buildings.” MORRIS SITE MACHINERY NEW LOCATION PLANS