Testing Before Investing: Dean Martin Contractors’ Growth Story with WHC Hire
For more than two decades, Dean Martin Contractors Ltd has built a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and family values in the groundworks and civil engineering industry. Operating throughout Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, the family-run business has partnered with WHC Hire Services to access the right equipment for each project — enabling them to test machinery, scale operations efficiently, and justify strategic investment in their own fleet.
History of Dean Martin Contractors Ltd
Founded over 20 years ago by Dean Martin, the company has remained a proud family-run business, now led alongside his son Josh Martin, who serves as Managing Director and operator.
“I’ve been around machinery all my life,” Josh says. “I’ve always enjoyed driving diggers — it’s my hobby that makes me money, rather than my hobby that costs me money.”
That passion for plant and machinery has driven the company’s success, allowing Dean Martin Contractors to grow steadily while maintaining its personal, hands-on approach.
Services Offered by Dean Martin Contractors
Dean Martin Contractors Ltd undertakes a wide range of small to medium groundworks and civil engineering projects. Their work includes site clearance and preparation, drainage solutions, pond construction, and wetland restoration. The company also specialises in projects on SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) locations — delivering sensitive works such as pathway installations and environmental groundworks where precision and care are essential.
“We take on such a variety of work,” Josh explains. “From clearance one week to drainage the next — no two jobs are the same.”
Challenges of Their Work
Operating in challenging terrain is part of everyday life for Dean Martin Contractors. Many of their projects are in wetlands, steep slopes, or rural areas with limited access.
“Access is often our biggest challenge,” Josh admits. “We’re sometimes crossing other people’s land just to reach the site, so the right-sized machinery is crucial.”
That’s why the company depends on reliable, low ground pressure equipment like track dumpers — ensuring they can work efficiently without damaging delicate ground conditions
In-House Equipment and Attachments
Dean Martin Contractors runs its own fleet of machinery that can be easily transported and operated by the team. This includes their 3-ton excavator and tracked dumper, which provide flexibility for small to medium projects without relying on external transport.
To support their specialist work — particularly in wetland and environmental settings — the company operates a wide range of attachments, including tree shears, a flail attachment, and a reed bucket for delicate wetland operations. These tools allow the team to adapt their equipment to suit the unique demands of each project.
“All our equipment is stuff we can move ourselves. And hiring larger machinery allows us to try before we buy — so we know exactly what works best for us.”
For anything larger, Dean Martin Contractors hires the right machinery for the job, especially when extra capacity or specialist size is required. This approach gives them the best of both worlds — maintaining independence with their own fleet while accessing larger, high-performance equipment when needed.
Common Problems When Hiring Elsewhere
Even today, when Dean Martin Contractors hires equipment through other companies, challenges sometimes arise. A frequent issue is receiving incorrect buckets, which can slow down work and affect productivity.
“If you’re expecting a 36-inch digging bucket and a 24-inch turns up, productivity goes out the window,” Josh explains. “Getting the right kit for the job is key. But with this hire from WHC, I got what I asked for.”
This reliability is exactly what sets WHC Hire apart. By consistently providing the right equipment at the right time, WHC ensures projects run smoothly, helping Dean Martin Contractors work efficiently, even in the most challenging locations.
Equipment Regularly Hired from WHC
While Dean Martin Contractors operates its own fleet for everyday projects, they regularly hire larger machinery from WHC for bigger or high-volume jobs. This includes 8-ton and 14-ton excavators, as well as additional track dumpers when extra capacity is required.
“We’ve got our own track dumper, but for big projects we hire extras from WHC. It helps us scale up quickly when we need to.”
By hiring the right equipment at the right time, the company can scale operations efficiently without over-investing, ensuring every project is completed safely, on time, and to the highest standard.
How Dean Martin Contractors Discovered WHC Hire
The partnership between Dean Martin Contractors and WHC Hire goes back nearly two decades, built on trust, reliability, and a shared commitment to getting the job done right.
Company Director Dean Martin explains, “I first came across WHC about 20 years ago when they had the single depot at Worcester. We were working at Diglis Docks and needed a breaker for our own machine. I popped up there, and James was happy to let me take the breaker and get on with the job. That trust stuck with me — and we’ve used WHC ever since.”
From that very first experience, Dean Martin Contractors recognised the value of a hire partner who not only provides the right equipment but also understands the challenges of working in real-life scenarios.
How WHC Hire Supports Dean Martin Contractors
With a comprehensive and well-maintained stocklist, WHC Hire has become a one-stop shop for Dean Martin Contractors’ plant and equipment needs. Whether it’s machinery for everyday jobs or specialist attachments for environmental and wetland projects, WHC provides the tools the team requires to tackle a wide variety of work.
“WHC’s equipment covers everything we do,” Dean explains. “It’s become our first call because they always have what we need, from dumpers to excavators and attachments.”
Hiring equipment from WHC is simple, efficient, and reliable. For Dean Martin Contractors, it’s often just a quick phone call, with the confidence that the right machinery will arrive on time. Even for projects in remote or challenging locations, WHC ensures delivery to the exact site, often using technologies like What3Words to make sure equipment arrives exactly where it’s needed.
“You know it’s coming, and you can rely on it,” Dean says.
This combination of extensive stock and dependable service has made WHC Hire an integral partner, helping the team focus on completing projects safely, efficiently, and to a high standard.
How WHC Has Helped Dean Martin Contractors Grow
Partnering with WHC Hire has allowed Dean Martin Contractors to test machinery before committing to purchase, giving the team the confidence to make strategic investments in their own fleet. By hiring equipment that works seamlessly with their existing attachments, they could assess productivity, suitability, and efficiency on real projects — identifying opportunities for growth within their operations.
“Using WHC’s tracked dumpers on certain projects showed us just how much work we could handle. The demand and productivity from those jobs made it clear that investing in our own machine was worthwhile,” Dean notes.
This experience highlighted areas within their operations where growth was possible, leading to strategic investments in their own equipment. By leveraging WHC’s fleet, Dean Martin Contractors has been able to scale operations effectively, meeting the increasing demands of their projects without overextending resources.
A Partnership Built on Trust
Over nearly two decades, Dean Martin Contractors has developed a strong and lasting relationship with WHC Hire.
“We’ve got accounts with plenty of other hire companies,” Dean concludes, “but it just feels natural for WHC to be our first call. The service is excellent, and I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a hire.”
This partnership shows that WHC Hire does more than supply equipment — by providing the right machinery, supporting challenging access projects, and guiding businesses in making strategic investment decisions for their own fleet, WHC has become a key partner, supporting Dean Martin Contractors’ sustained growth and success.
Dean Martin Contractors Ltd Contact Info
Dean Martin- 07816672098 deanmartincontractors@gmail.com
Josh Martin josh.deanmartincontractors@gmail.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@joshmartin8731?si=i4DZqzVjnG9ZNwXW