Working-at-height specialist swallows platform firm
High Access, the Manchester-headquartered working-at-height expert, has acquired premium truck-mounted platform business AA Access, based in East Lancashire.
High Access, established in 2005 by chief executive Niel Bethell, offers a maintenance and cleaning service to the commercial, industrial and high-end or high-level residential property sectors, counting the likes of Allied London, Savills and CBRE among its clients.
The firm secured £3.3m investment from the Business Growth Fund in July last year to pursue further growth across the UK. The value of the acquisition has not been disclosed.
The business has focused on providing outstanding customer service, a strategy that has seen it continue to grow, establishing a solid client base.
The acquisition will allow High Access clients to reap the benefits of the business now having an enhanced fleet of fully-owned top of the range machinery, and will support the company’s objective of moving into new sectors while delivering growth through high service levels.
Andy Ainsworth established Rossendale company AA Access in 2003 with the intention of providing a superior rental service for access platforms.
The company offers hire of a wide range of machinery from the smallest 10m machines through to the Bronto 70 XDT at 70m. A large proportion of the firm’s work comes from the supply of access platforms to the film industry and for the set-up of large-scale events.
Ainsworth will remain within the business, working closely with Niel and Adam Bethell, who joins as director for AA Access. The AA Access team will also transfer over to the business.
Ainsworth said: “I’m very proud of how AA Access has grown.
“Our client base says it all, with events including The Open, Glastonbury, the Queen’s Jubilee and Wimbledon trusting our team to supply machinery for the set-up of these world-class events.”
Bethell said: “We’re focused on further expanding the business, particularly in Birmingham, Leeds, Scotland and London, and the AA Access acquisition was part of this long-term strategy.
“High Access was built on strong customer relationships and standing out in the sector for quality and, because of that, the AA Access acquisition was the perfect deal for us. Clients can rely on us to provide everything they need for any job under one roof – plus, access to an expanded fleet of machinery will further enhance response times and coverage.”
