A Blackburn family-run plant hire business restores independent ownership, with £3.5 million of funding.

B&W Plant Hire & Sales Ltd, which operates from four depots in Blackburn, Keighley, Northwich and Southampton, successfully utilised a £3.5 million invoice discounting facility from Skipton Business Finance to support with their demerge from a corporate group that acquired a stake in the business in 2022.

Bill and Mary Whitwell founded Whitwell Plant Hire in Barrow, Lancashire, in 1963. After their separation in 1975, Bill continued in the industry, briefly venturing into the hotel business before returning to plant hire in 1994 and establishing B&W Plant Hire. His son, William, now managing director, joined in 1998 when the fleet had reached around 50 machines.

Today, B&W operates over 2,500 machines, from micro excavators to 50-tonne models nationwide.

“I’m thrilled to be leading the business once again, with renewed motivation and optimism for the future,” said MD William. “Thanks to the exceptional support from Skipton Business Finance, we’ve not only regained full ownership of our business but also unlocked exciting new growth opportunities. Their invoice discounting facility empowers us to expand our team, invest in state-of-the-art machinery, and embrace digitalisation - enhancing efficiency and ensuring long-term sustainability."

While Adam Bradbury, regional sales director at Skipton Business Finance added: "We support businesses across various industries, but helping a family-run business back into family ownership and put in place the foundations for long-term growth brings us real satisfaction. The finance solution we provided has equipped them with the right financial tools to move forward, invest in their fleet and operate independently with confidence."