JCB's next chapter: what it means for Holt JCB and our customers.

“We have never been a company that stands still.” JCB Chairman, Lord Bamford.

That commitment to looking ahead matters not just to JCB, but to the businesses that rely on its machines and the people at Holt JCB who support our customers every day.

With George Bamford taking on the role of Joint Chairman alongside his father, Lord Bamford, (news released from JCB on 28/09/26) JCB has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in the future. 

For Holt JCB, that means combining the strength and heritage of the JCB brand with our local knowledge, expertise and the long-term relationships we build with customers across the South West and South Wales.

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A new generation, with the same long-term outlook.

George Bamford's appointment comes at a time when JCB is making significant investments in its future. The figures give some sense of the scale of that commitment:

• £100 million: Investment in transforming JCB's Staffordshire headquarters, including a new automated powder paint plant and modernised production facilities.
• 8,000+ UK jobs: The Staffordshire investment is expected to help secure the future of more than 8,000 jobs.
• 116 new recruits: Apprentices, undergraduates and graduates joining JCB in 2026, selected from more than 6,300 applicants.
• $1 billion: Investment in JCB's new factory in San Antonio, Texas - its largest manufacturing facility in the world.
• £100 million: Investment in developing hydrogen combustion technology, with hydrogen-powered machines now in production.

For us at Holt JCB these figures are a powerful demonstration of JCB’s continued investment in its manufacturing, technology and people, at a time when the next generation of the Bamford family is becoming more closely involved in shaping its longer-term future.

Read more about the announcements and figures in JCB's full article here.

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The strength of the JCB brand. The value of a local dealer.

For someone operating a JCB machine, the ownership structure of the manufacturer might seem a long way removed from their day-to-day business. But these decisions do have a direct impact on the products, technology, parts, support and expertise available to them.

And there is an important part of that relationship: us, the dealer.

With over 45 years’ experience of selling JCB equipment and providing after-sales services we’re proudly one of the oldest and longest running JCB dealers in the world. 

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Local expertise. Long-term relationships.

That relationship between manufacturer and dealer is an important part of what our customers are actually buying into.

JCB's heritage, scale, stability and investment provide the strength behind the products. The company’s long-term family ownership provides continuity and a clear connection between its past and its future.

Holt JCB's role is to bring all of that closer to our customers. We deliver that through local knowledge, unmatched technical expertise and, above all, people who take the time to understand the businesses they support.

It's a combination that works particularly well in our region where personal relationships matter.

We know our customers need people they can rely on when their JCB machine is working hard, when it needs replacing, when it needs maintenance, or when something goes wrong. They also want to know they have access to the very latest technologies that can have a real impact on their on-site operations.

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Investing in our future.

As JCB announces its latest investment commitments across the UK and further afield, at Holt JCB we continue to invest in our own infrastructure and people to ensure the very best service for each of our customers.

Developing skills, supporting career progression and bringing new people into the business all contribute to the level of service our customers consistently experience.

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As Andrew Shields, Managing Director of Holt JCB says, 

“The strength of the JCB brand is hugely important, but it’s our people who bring that relationship to life for customers.  As a family-owned business, we understand the value of investing in our people because they are our biggest asset. Their knowledge, commitment and understanding of our customers’ businesses are what turn a great product into great customer support and successful long-term customer relationships.”

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From sales and parts to service and engineering, Holt JCB's teams across our seven depots and head office are the people our customers turn to when they need advice, support or simply someone who understands their business and equipment.

The equipment industry is changing quickly, with new technologies, increasingly sophisticated machines and changing expectations from customers. Having knowledgeable, capable people who can keep pace with those changes is essential.

The strength of JCB gives our customers confidence in the machine. The people of Holt JCB give them confidence in the relationship that comes with it. Read more about Holt JCB.

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