Andrews plant hire and haulage

Good morning! This is now my third “Site Sunday” and I have been overwhelmed by the positive online and personal engagement I have received regarding content to date.

I felt a huge responsibility when determining who to visit for today’s article. I wanted to represent a company that would resonate with readers. I was particularly interested in meeting someone who would inspire and educate me. I’m very conscious that I am, after all, a graduate. With only 8 months exposure to JCB products and the vast industry sectors it is dependent upon, I have a steep learning curve to navigate. I want to be respectful of this. Holt JCB as a dedicated JCB dealer, has built its success on the business and personal relationships it has built with their Customers over the last 40 +years. It is important to represent this.

As a graduate my greatest exposure is that I report directly into Holt JCB’s Managing Director, Andrew Shields. Keen to create engaging content I positioned to him the question: “Who can give me a raw insight into growing a successful, respected company based on determination, growth mind set and customer service?” Andrews natural, immediate response lead me on a journey to Wareham, Dorset.

Turning onto the drive at Andrews Plant Hire and Haulage I was off to a positive start. In their first yard I clocked a JCB JS130 Excavator, that had clearly been moving aggregate. A line of purposely planted Daffodils in the banks positioned the subliminal message of positivity, bringing a smile, this was clearly a company of pride. Their yard was impressive, with branded lorries, low loaders and plant machinery parked on site, representing only a fraction of their fleet.

I had come to meet Managing Director Peter Andrews and one of his sons Chris, who like his brother Daniel works alongside his Dad. The humour was off to a good start, presented with a cup of tea in a “BELL” branded mug, certainly broke the ice. Note to self; send Peter and Chris JCB mugs next week!!! The office team were welcoming, and I have to admit to being distracted and drawn to the amazing site pictures on their walls. These were site photos of multiple expansive projects, the varied vastness positioned impressive projects, that they should rightfully be proud of.

Peter hadn’t been fully briefed by Andrew as to why I was there, this in itself immediately highlighted the mutual respect between them. Peter evidently trusted Andrew that it would be time well spent and Andrew knew that Peter wouldn’t be interested in self-grandeur. So now having “desk bombed” Peter and having explained what “Site Sunday” entailed, the most fascinating story of personal determination and a strong belief in customer service began to unfold.

Peter is incredibly open about his school years and that his family could not afford any “leg up”, in fact could not provide him with any financial future proofing. Dyslexia in a time when it wasn’t understood, left Peter dis-engaged with school. If you “played up” you were sent to the farming sector for the remainder of the day, a school cycle that would remain. If Peter could get out of a school day he would, these antics are a narrative for an article of its own. I cannot position Peter to be dis-engaged with learning, because his life journey represents a thirst for knowledge and an ability to retain complex information. Peter explained from a young age he knew he wanted to be in the construction industry.

It all began when he saw an advertisement to drive JCB’s for Brookes Diggers. As a young lad, Peter drove his first JCB Used Hydra-Digga, oceans away from where the model is today. This was to become a JCB plant machinery synergy which lasts to this day. He has recently bought this model to refurbish and I was glad of an opportunity to view it in his yard.

Peter reminisced about machines he operated years ago when starting out, multiple projects he has worked on, and how this lead to what Andrews Plant Hire and Haulage has become today. Peter sites the £750 loan negotiated by the same accountant he uses today as when it truly began. This loan was fundamental, enabling Peter to start his contracting work with Whitehall Civil Engineering a company he recognises as the foundation, enabling him a pioneering business opportunity, it was a brave move which he made with a Ford D750 Tipper. His first JCB was a used JCB 6D which was financed by Lombard, but the previous ownership was suspect and although Peter bought it in good faith he still had to “hide it round the way” when it was investigated.

English China Clay is a contract from the 70’s which remains to this day with Imerys “muck shifting which did us a turn and got us going with bulk earth moving”, a true testament to so much he stands for. The fondest story was from a time working with Irish contractors in his younger years. They would cook freshly purchased steak on the shovels over a fire, whilst the water from the watering plant was collected for the ¼lbs bag of tealeaves that they’d slop their tea mug into. How sites have changed from those days and it certainly didn’t do them any harm! Thankfully Peter has Aarron within his team who supervises all Health & Safety and necessary method statements, a true reflection of the current times.

Being a graduate in Digital Marketing, I have learnt and researched about modernised techniques for business exposure and growth. Believing this is fundamental to a successful and expanding business. Coming into the construction industry and listening to Peter Andrews progression, it amazes me how the foundation that many companies are built from still to this day, is word of mouth. Peter explained “the business has grown from word of mouth, through the message that we always put the customers needs first and we never say no.” Peter explained “we will mould to the customers needs”. This honest statement fuelled by traditional hard work, has amounted to Andrews Plant Hire and Haulage success and stability.

Andrews Plant Hire and Haulage has been running for 50 years giving professional service throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon. It was fascinating to hear the multiple projects Peter has managed and continues to do so. Often archaeologist need to be navigated due to the iron peninsula that is within his territory area. Nature reserves, lakes, flood banks, beech management, lagoons, race tracks, site work, sewage schemes, quarry work, open cast clay to name a very few and the more recent sand cow bedding. What caught me off guard was the staggering numbers that were set before me in terms of earth movement across thousands of acres, of re-instated acres and millions of tonnes of varying aggregate manoeuvred. Peter has worked with a range of sectors where he has had to learn and adapt to meet their needs from English Nature, to multiple International companies like Imerys. All of which have been reliant on Peter and his loyal team to deliver. When addressing Covid, Peter recognises that personally it was a huge concern. Covid for his business, they managed through. The Clay pits remained open, which was a life line to the Industry and his Wessex Water Sewage work was a focal point. I had this overall sense that I was learning more in this moment than any University Lecturer or seminar could position.

Operators is an important topic within the construction Industry which has been touched on in recent Site Sunday articles. Peter and Chris explained how they have 50 Operators in total, 20 of them being digger Operators. Many of them have been working with them for many years which also positions them as unofficial Site Foreman. They also have a number of retired skilled Operators who return for part time work. Terry, one of their excavator Operators has been with Peter since the start of the business, Terry Celebrating 50yrs service is evidentially a huge part of their business success, a cherished member of the team. Peters Machine Operators carry great respect, there is a mutual trust and Peter does not suffer fools gladly. A sentiment which is a fundamental part of his business culture. “It takes years to build a network of loyal customers, yet one incident of poor customer service, our reputation can be damaged in a click of a finger”. This is why Peter expects such a high standard of customer care from Holt JCB, after all Peters suppliers represent his own reputation.

Peter explained how JCB machinery has always been a big part of his construction journey, starting by driving used JCB machinery. Peters back catalogue is a JCB fanatics dream. Peter also met Joseph Cyril Bamford in 1967, when he came to present the JCB 6C which was the first in the South of England. A model Peter was proud to Operate, a time when the pads had pins! Peter continued explaining his construction journey where he operated a number of JCB machines including a JCB 1,JCB 2B, JCB 3C, JCB 4C, JCB 6C, JCB 6D, JCB 110 Track Shovel and many others. This cannot be simply read as catalogue of JCB machinery, this is a representation of the skill and experience that Peter is able to bring to a very competitive industry, where he certainly holds his own. Peter is committed to offering best in practice, which is supported by a fleet renewal programme across all brands. His plant machinery Fleet includes a large range of JCB’s: JCB 18Z, JCB 260-120 Rollers, JCB Backhoe Loaders, JCB Telescopic Handlers, JCB Site Dumpers, JCB Loading Shovels and JCB Excavators. Recently his Operator positioned “A JCB 220X is like driving a Rolls Royce of Excavators”.

Since joining Holt JCB I have learnt a great deal about construction, in terms of product, job roles, companies, key terms and generally about the workings of the industry. However, hearing how knowledgeable Peter is, from clientele to application with much of this information he can recollect easily from memory. Peter holds a mesmerising amount of product, project management and scheduling in his mind. Peter describes it as a large jigsaw of information. Chris has developed the skill of successfully pulling pieces of the jigsaw to future proof the business. Chris has been keen to be part of the business from Primary school a sentiment now replicated by his two sons. Charlie and Alex, currently Primary School age, are keen to get involved during school holidays and weekends. Chris has the full portfolio of Operator licences. Chris has full engagement in the business; project managing from the office, visiting the site to operate a machine when needed and collecting and delivering plant where necessary. Chris also plays a key role within the Devon contracts. Peter speaks with pride when discussing Daniels natural operative skills and Chris’ key role with the Devon contracts, all supported by their dedicated team.

Peter is a complete work acholic, he loves what he does and the people he works with. Why would he want to stop? He calls his Operators every morning at 6.30am to consult their day, and continues to play a fundamentally inspiring role within this incredibly thriving business.

Peter talks about his progression and experience in the industry, along with projects his company has been involved with in such a natural engaging way that you can feel his passion and fundamental desire that Customer service and hard graft are key. The portfolio of varied projects he has managed places him as a “centre of excellence” which is a term he personally would have no regard for, in his mind they are simply doing right by their customer. Earth works, civil engineering projects, plant hire, haulage and contracts works. These literally don’t scratch the surface when one considers all the multiple facets that these require. This has made me realise how much more I have to learn and understand. Andrews Plant Hire and Haulage has a range of sectors within the business having many applications, which has enabled both Peter and his family to be extremely knowledgeable on all of these. Their reputation proceeds them and their “business model” (again, not a term of phrase Peter would ever position) is one of 90% repeat business, and every year 10% new business. They are getting on with it.

When one considers that Peter began as a young man, on his own, with no financial security, where lines of credit were minimal, no internet to spread “the word”, no database, no mobiles, who was let down by the education system and yet independently grew a business that manages huge earth moving, civil engineering, plant hire and haulage projects….. it is astounding. Let’s not forget that this business also gives a stable income to so many. Peter is respectful of how his 6 sons have all at some point played their part, migrating in and out of the business and how successful they have all become. He speaks fondly of his wife Sue who he has loved since the age of 16yrs. At the very beginning of his business, he was reliant on Sue to write the invoices from their kitchen table. Peter is proud of his whole team, which he knows he can rely upon and who also respect the Customer.

Thank you, Peter and Chris for talking with me about your construction journey and progression that has led to Andrews Plant Hire and Haulage being as successful as it is today. Peter you are an inspiration and no article could truly represent your journey.

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