Third Depot for WHC in Chipping Norton
Local plant hire business, WHC Hire, has achieved its goal and scored a hat-trick of rental depots in the region. The third branch of the forward thinking plant hire company was officially opened in mid-November by the charismatic former Director General of the CBI, Lord Digby Jones.
Formerly known as Cotswold Tool & Plant Hire, the depot was purchased in February 2017. The business was already well- known and well established with many loyal customers and WHC is already building on this success with investment in new machinery, new services and the health and safety ethos for which it has become renowned.
The showroom sells a range of consumable products and displays a range of small tools for hire, including strimmers, rotavators, lawnmowers and even wallpaper strippers. The acquisition was the culmination of a 3-year growth strategy to expand the range of plant, invest in staff and grow the business organically.
Managing Director, James Clutterbuck, was delighted to welcome guests to the opening where he detailed the journey so far; “Over the past 3 years we had a vision to be the best through investment and hard work. This included listening to our customers, being aware of market changes and investing in staff, technology, apprenticeships and products. This is key to the success of WHC and it’s been demonstrated here today with the opening of our new depot which is the teamwork from my staff, our suppliers and our customers.”
Lord Digby Jones, who also worked as Minister for State for UK Trade and Investment from 2007-2008, originally opened the new depot in Tewkesbury back in 2012 and was delighted to be back to formally open the Cotswolds branch. “This business made a big impression on me five years ago and so I am thrilled to be back to celebrate the next stage of development. Businesses like this are the country’s most important assets. They are the wealth creators. They pay tax, employ people who pay tax, reinvest profit to become bigger – and pay more tax – which is then invested in public services. Successful businesses develop a brand; they offer quality, add value and innovate. And James is a perfect example of an innovator. He has taken an idea to market successfully by doing what he does really well. From 1997 – when Worcester Hire depot opened – it took 15 years to establish his brand and open depot number two. This time it has taken just 5 years for depot three – so who knows what will happen next?
My prediction is another depot in 2-3 years. Understanding technology – the role of the mobile phone, for example – is now critical to the appreciation of what and where your market is. The world is smaller and more connected thanks to the mobile phone, social media, websites. Successful businesses embrace change and remain flexible. WHC – in what is now its 20th Anniversary year – is a company that does that and more.”