MARKET REPORT POWER GENERATION
Empowered to grow
Alan Guthrie visits John F Hunt Power which continues to grow its operation through a policy of constant fleet renewal and a management style focused on service.
The steady growth and confident outlook of John F Hunt Power, which specialises in providing temporary power equipment throughout the UK, is testament to the strength of this market and its positive future prospects.
Earlier this year, the business opened a new depot in Livingston, roughly halfway between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This brought its total to five locations and, according to its MD Sales, David Hunt, there is a policy of continuous investment in the fleet to refresh and increase it. “We are constantly expanding. Customers like what we do and how we do it, and as we win more business we have to grow to keep pace. This year, we will have spent approximately £7m on new equipment by the end of December, the majority being more generators from our main suppliers BGG UK (Bruno machines) and Morris Site Machinery (Denyo), as well as additional lighting towers from the same two companies. This figure also includes approximately £750,000 on items as we expand our operation, from forklifts to delivery trucks.”
Specialist focus
John F Hunt Power dates back to 1998 when it was formed as a division of John F Hunt, with its head office in Grays, Essex. Today the John F Hunt Group comprises 19 specialist construction related companies and divisions focusing on Demolition, Regeneration, Nuclear Decommissioning and Asbestos Management, with the supply of heavy plant, tools and lifting equipment at locations throughout the UK.
Initially, John F Hunt Power focused on providing equipment for its parent company’s contracts, but in 2005 it was incorporated as a limited company as a separate business. In the same year, Richard Denbury
(now retired) and Kevin Davies joined from the former LCH Generators hire business and expansion plans were put in place. As Kevin Davies, who is now MD Operations, explained, “In 2005 approximately 80% of John F Hunt Power’s business was with the parent group and its divisions; today that represents probably only 1%. Our five depots now give us genuine national coverage.”
Operating initially from one depot in Grays, John F Hunt Power added Oldbury near Birmingham in 2005 (moving to a larger site in Halesowen in 2015), Birtley near Newcastle in 2008 (similarly re- locating to a bigger facility this year), and Bristol in 2017. “We opened in Livingston after an initial pilot project at a temporary site nearby, offering a modest number of machines that rapidly went out on hire,” said David Hunt, who is the cousin of Group Chairman John Hall. “That showed us the potential. Previously we had served customers north of the border from Birtley. The prospects are very exciting and we believe there is scope for a second Scottish depot in the future.
“As a specialist power generation business, our personnel are dedicated to that particular market - they do not get involved with
Denyo generators from Morris Site Machinery are among John F Hunt Power’s major brands.
The Bristol depot opened in 2017. 33
Events are one of the many markets served by the company.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
