16.12.2022

Fox adds to Rental division

UK construction services company Fox Group also known as Fox Brothers, has expanded its rental business with the acquisition of B&W Plant hire - a four location earth moving and telehandler rental business based in Blackburn, north of Manchester, with depots in Keighley, Northwich and Southampton - from owner Will Whitwell. B&W had revenues of £15.9 million for the year to the end of March, with a pre-tax profit of £2 million. Total assets were £41.5 million, with a net worth of £14.7 million.
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The move follows the February acquisition of Blackledge Plant Hire in Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, and the takeover of Evesham based CRH Plant Hire (Cotswold Roller Hire) in April, which runs earthmoving and compaction equipment from eight locations. The three businesses join Hurt Plant Hire which Fox acquired in 2020 and which now operates from eight locations.
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Trucks from the seven equipment related Fox Group companies

Chief executive Paul Fox said: “B&W has a strong reputation with solid family values and a fantastic team who are passionate about their customers, which is aligned with the Fox Group culture. The acquisition of B&W adds a large amount of plant items to our already significant fleet of plant, tippers, specialist compact equipment and bulk haulage. The geographical spread of B&W’s depots also extends the reach of Fox Group, increasing our already extensive footprint across the UK.”

B&W’s managing director Andrew Partington added: “I am very excited by the acquisition and the future growth it will bring to our team. I am proud to be the managing director of B&W within the Fox Group. Paul has shared the vision for the future, and myself and the B&W team look forward to the next stage of the B&W journey, together with Fox. We are fully committed to the opportunities that will arise for the business and our customers.”

Fox Brothers was founded in 1932 by Jack Fox and his brothers, running a small fleet of three tipper trucks from a base in the Layton area of Blackpool, after the war the brothers acquired US army surplus equipment including a crane or two and expanded its services, becoming a limited company in 1956. In 1968 it purchased its first new telescopic crane, a Coles 120T, and over the next few years built up a half decent crane fleet. By 2017 it had decided to sell of its rental business to focus on specialist haulage, concrete and earthwork contracting services.