Entrepreneur acquires A Mini Crane Hire in seven-figure deal
National firm, A Mini Crane Hire, has been acquired by entrepreneur, Mark Davenport, in a seven-figure deal.
Founded in 2009, Knowsley-based A Mini Crane Hire boasts a fleet of 90 mini-cranes, providing innovative solutions for short and long-term construction projects across the UK, with depots in London and Liverpool.
Davenport, a qualified engineer with more than 20 years’ multi-sector experience at managing director level, has ambitious growth plans for the company over the next four to five years.
This includes expansion of its operations across the UK, job creation, establishing a strong management team, and a £1.5m investment to refurbish the existing fleet and introduce new equipment, including nine all-electric cranes, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to sustainability.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Davenport says the business has fought its way through lockdown, with sales now back to where they should be, and annual turnover still expected to be in excess of £5m.
The company has also recently recruited two new experienced sales people to further grow sales, and a new depot manager at its Liverpool depot, bringing the firm’s total workforce to 33.
Mark Davenport said: “A Mini Crane Hire is a very capable business, with a strong reputation in the market.
“We have a highly-skilled, experienced and knowledgeable team who are passionate about safety, customer service and getting the job done.
“My vision is to build on this, strengthen the team further, invest in sales and marketing communications, expand the fleet, and improve our information flows and communications to drive growth.”
He added: “We also remain fully committed to sustainability and will continue to make incremental changes that will serve our community and benefit the planet.
“With that in mind, we will welcome nine new electric-powered cranes to the fleet later this year, plus our first electric car for one of our new sales employees.
“As part of this investment we are also in the process of refurbishing the existing fleet, ensuring that we are maintaining the high standard of customer service that we are known for.”
His short-term priorities include overcoming delays caused by the coronavirus lockdown: “We have battled through lockdown to full recovery in August and I am glad to report that sales are now back to where they should be.
“Our short-term priority remains to get existing projects that were delayed because of lockdown over the finishing line.
“By the end of the year we expect most of the fleet to have been refurbished, and we will be taking delivery of the new equipment.
“Our new sales people will be fully trained and operational, supported by a new website and better systems and communications – 2021 will be very interesting.”
As well as the electric cranes, the company has also ordered one conventional larger crane and other additional equipment, such as vacuum lifters, small cranes, glazing robots, and products that are new to the firm, such as tracked carriers, and a new truck-mounted crane.
Prior to the acquisition, Davenport was owner and managing director of Preston-based polythene converters, Flextex, where, despite the 2008 financial crisis, he developed a management team that placed the business at the forefront of the conversion marketplace.
Other MD positions include SGB Rovacabin, suppliers of portable accommodation and secure storage, with 100 employees, 10 branches and a turnover of £20m, and Arquest, a manufacturer of own-label nappies for supermarkets where, under Davenport’s leadership, the company, with 250 employees, was turned around, increasing sales from £16m to £25m and securing long-term contracts.
