A famous name in the plant hire industry, Chippindale Hire & Sales, is celebrating its 75th anniversary on April 26th 2024. Founded in 1949 by Wilfred Chippindale with £100 of his savings, the company has grown from Chippindale’s home in Leeds, selling concrete and scaffolding, to become one of the UK’s most significant construction equipment hire and sales companies.
At its inception, Chippindale Hire & Sales was a modest venture operating from Wilfred Chippindale’s Leeds home, specialising in concrete and scaffolding sales. By 1955, Brian and Gordon, Wilfred’s two sons, were part of the business and eventually his grandsons, Nigel and Peter Chippindale, took the reins in the 1980s and which is where the driving force behind the company’s major expansion and growth across the North of England began.
“There have been many changes to the industry and the company over the years, but the family service values and ethos we were built on are still core to our business,” says Peter Chippindale, Joint Managing Director.
“We will be celebrating our Diamond Anniversary year in style with some exciting plans for the future in place as we start a new chapter in our history. April will see a large company-wide celebration, especially as many of the team have been with the company for decades, including some staff with over 30 years’ service. We would like to thank all our past and present employees for their service.”
The last 75 years have seen the company build on its customer-focused service and growth through the adoption of new technology – in 1972, it was one of the first UK companies to equip its entire truck fleet with radio phones, and a decade later, the company went electronic, installing computers throughout – almost unheard of in 1982.
Today, the company continues to invest in technology and innovation to improve its service, consolidating its position as a leading dealer for Atlas Copco, Volvo, BOMAG, Stihl, Belle, Mecalac and Epiroc, with nine depots stretching across the north of the UK. The company’s achievements have been recently recognised, including BOMAG Dealer of the Year, which the company has won three times and Hire Awards of Excellence (Hire Association Europe) award nominations for best hire manager and best website.
Although the 75th Anniversary celebrations will be a great chance to reflect upon its achievements, the company also has some exciting plans for the years ahead, now part of the AER Rents group with new MD Paul Blake at the helm, the future looks bright with new equipment, branch expansions, SHEQ and e-commerce firmly on the agenda.
“Our commitment to sustainability and innovation is evident in our investments in full emissions compliance for our fleet, an expanded nationwide attachments division and the continuous enhancement of Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality (SHEQ) policies. We are aiming for ISO 45001 accreditation at all depots within the next 12 months,” says Paul Blake, Managing Director.
“Chippindale Hire & Sales ethos, based on the foundations laid by Wilfred 75 years ago, is to offer customers quality equipment and exceptional service, always delivered with an emphasis on reliability and safety. That hasn’t changed and we are fit and ready for the coming decades ahead!”
For more information on Chippindale Plant visit: www.chippindale-plant.co.uk
