EXECUTIVE REPORT
The new Falkirk premises give considerably more space.
Emphatic YES
Your Equipment Solutions has continued its impressive growth with a move to significantly larger premises. Alan Guthrie visited its new Falkirk facility.
EHN caught up with Your Equipment Solutions’ (YES) MD David Johnstone during a busy period. He was in buoyant mood following the recent birth of his first grandchild, whose arrival was perfectly timed to enable David and his wife Lisa (also a Director) to attend the Executive Hire Show as normal, and the company had all but finished moving into new premises in Falkirk, two miles from its former location in Grangemouth.
The new facility is the company’s third premises and confirms its remarkable growth since its foundation in March 2012. “The new site is about eight times the size, covering 50,000ft2 37,000ft2
with of indoor YES has introduced a powered access machinery fleet. space plus a
mezzanine floor,” said David, who was Northern Divisional MD of HSS Hire prior to establishing YES. “It also has larger offices upstairs, canteen facilities and shower rooms. We had been looking for a new location for some time and this was ideal. It previously belonged to the garage where we got our vehicles serviced. We got the keys at the end of November and spent Christmas and the New Year moving in.”
The business has also bought some of the assets and the customer base of a Falkirk-based company, McLaren Access Plant Hire, which offered powered access equipment including JLG, Niftylift and Skyjack models up to 12m. “We had been re-hiring this kind of machinery extensively, so it was a perfect opportunity. We have already expanded this fleet, spending approximately £80,000 already on additional machines, and we have recruited former McLaren employee Scott Walker, who will establish a training operation offering IPAF and PASMA courses.
“Our success has been based on service. We have a great team of 15 people and I believe we have built a reputation for trust and integrity, with a consistent level of support day and night, and at weekends. We do not have endless tiers of management and we can make quick decisions. Our central location, and our bigger premises, means we
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can service the majority of the Scottish market from here, having successfully serviced sites in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Ayr, St Andrews, Selkirk, Aberdeen and, even, the Isle of Arran in recent times. We are serving a wider radius, but instead of having to open more depots we have concentrated on growing and expanding the fleet.
“Recent purchases include several deals done at the Show, such as a five-figure investment in more Youngman Boss tower, lighting, heating and transformers from Hire Supply Co, plate compactors from Altrad Belle, Rothenberger pipe threaders and accessories, and two Kubota mini excavators, being supplied from Young Plant, taking our spend in new products to over £150k already in 2018. I think it is important to support exhibiting suppliers, and our industry in general, by attending the Show and doing business there.”
YES has further developed its operation by introducing in-house HAV testing. “Several customers asked us to provide ‘real-life’ vibration readings and we have bought a Larson Davis test meter, which our Ops Director Alex Johnstone and Technical Director Eddie Nicholson have been fully trained in and are competent in using. This enables us to provide data for unusual applications, helping us win more business and keeping our customers safe.” Investment has also been made in staff development, with Eddie’s son, Ryan, and David’s son (another Ryan) recently joining as apprentices. As David’s father (also called David) is involved in the company, this means the team now spans three generations.
“Above all, we still love the industry,” said David. “With our grandson Jamie’s imminent arrival, we didn’t know if we would be able to attend the Show, and when I booked last-minute flights the tickets were obviously more expensive, but it was important we were there. And the great deals we did during our visit more than paid for it. In hire, you get out what you put in, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved in these past six years.”
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www.yourequipmentsolutions.co.uk
David and Lisa Johnstone saw Morris Site Machinery’s new launches at the Show.
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