In the two years since Construction Industry News caught up with Newmarket Plant Hire Ltd the company has not only rebranded itself as The NPH Group to better reflect its capabilities, but has also continued to invest strongly in its fleet and infrastructure, as Carl Jarvis, Managing Director, and Ashley Tarrant, Operations Director, recently outlined.
“Since we last spoke we’ve been progressing well and have been more than holding our own in the market,” explains Mr Jarvis. “Over the past 18 months we have been revamping the business quite substantially, including undergoing some significant changes from a staffing perspective. We have also invested not only in our plant but also in our delivery fleet. We embarked on a programme to replace our vehicles over a three-year period which we have achieved while from a plant perspective this is a continued investment process, as we are committed to continuing to run a broad range, and to reduce the age profile of the fleet. We’ve also put a two-year programme in place to upgrade all our depots, workshop and office facilities.
“Last year we conducted a rebranding exercise that saw the creation of The NPH Group. The main reason for the change of name was that some customers couldn’t get their head around the fact that a company called Newmarket Plant Hire could also have a depot down in Basildon for example.”
“The perception in some cases was that we were only based in Newmarket because of our name, whereas in reality we have other sites in Ipswich, Kings Lynn, Harlow, Cambridge and Basildon,” adds Mr Tarrant. “The name change has helped to remove any confusion and allowed us to broaden our customer base. The feedback that has followed the rebrand has been very positive and the only negative was that there was a misconception that we’d been bought out but we’ve been able to put these fears to rest.”
Following the completion of the rebrand, NPH has been able to make the most of the name change and the continuing investment. “The entire process has enabled us to strengthen the business improve internal consistency, and an improved service to our customers,” says Mr Jarvis. “Our market is a wide cross-section that comprises everyone from private individuals looking to do some DIY through to the larger builders, although our main market tends to be the small to medium sized builder.”
With its commitment to investment NPH continues to have good relationships with its suppliers and manufacturers and has recently added 17 metre telehandlers, tracked dumpers and 13 ton excavators to its fleet. “We’ve only run up to about the 8 ton & 12m in past years but a couple of years ago we added the 13 ton, and more recently 17metre machines and they were received so well that we increased that fleet further,” says Mr Tarrant. “Another area we are focusing on is small tools. All depots now run a full range of tool hire products and we have introduced a ‘Top 25’ small tools range, which consists of fast moving equipment. Our Managers have the facility to make sure that stock levels are kept to the agreed level and they can purchase directly in order to do so. Again this has been very well received, which we can see by the results that are coming through.
“The name change has helped to remove any confusion and allowed us to broaden our customer base. The feedback that has followed the rebrand has been very positive and the only negative was that there was a misconception that we’d been bought out but we’ve been able to put these fears to rest.”
Ashley Tarrant, Operations Director
Even with all the positive changes that that have been introduced into NPH, there remain a number of challenges that the company is having to contend with, as Mr Jarvis outlines: “Pricing is the biggest issue we’re having to overcome. The plant hire industry can be its own worst enemy because it seems that everyone is out to win business by undercutting the competition, which keeps the rates low.
“The other challenge that was something of an issue previously was staffing but we’ve been able to get on top of that one now. We had a really strong staff recruitment drive when Ashley joined us at the beginning of last year and we took on a number of new managers, new fitters and promoted some of our existing fitters and foremen. We’re not getting complacent but I do feel that we’ve been able to make clear improvements in this regard.”
It is clear that NPH is in a stronger position than it has ever been before and the company is keen to continue this momentum. “One of the things that we have done over the last 18 months is identify that our ethos is to run a traditional plant hire company as they used to be run and to give a good service to customers,” concludes Mr Jarvis. “This is what we’re committed to offering consistently across the group and it’s an approach that is paying dividends. We’re in a very price sensitive environment but we have customers that continue to use us because of the strength of the service that we’re able to provide. This is where we excel. We like to think of ourselves as a hire business that is able to build long term relationships with customers because of the traditional values that we have at the heart of the company.
“The entire process has enabled us to strengthen the business and provide an improved service to customers. Our market is a wide cross-section that comprises everyone from private individuals looking to do some DIY through to the larger builders, although our main market tends to be the small to medium sized builder.”
Carl Jarvis, Managing Director
“Next year will see us celebrating our 30th anniversary and in the next 12 to 18 months we’d like to have opened at least one new depot so we’re currently looking within the Norwich area for potential sites. We’ve also recently purchased the site next door, which has enabled us to move our head office into its own office location giving a bigger yard space for the Newmarket depot. We’re also just about to dig the ground to put the extension to the workshop, which will double the size of our facilities to around 5,000 sq ft.”
With its 30th anniversary fast approaching it is apparent that NPH will have plenty to celebrate in the year ahead.