Groundhog will have three reasons to celebrate when it returns to the 2027 Executive Hire Show, marking 40 years since its first welfare unit left the production line, 20 years of exhibiting at the show and a milestone for Marketing Director Peter Beach, who joined the company on the very first day of the event.

On the opening day of the first Executive Hire Show, Peter (pictured) began his career with Groundhog. Twenty years later, he is still part of the business, and Groundhog remains one of the show's longest-standing exhibitors.

The company's story stretches back to 1987, when the first Groundhog mobile welfare unit left the production line in South Wales. Four decades later, the company has become an established name in the construction and equipment hire sectors, manufacturing a wide range of mobile and static welfare accommodation.

An important chapter in Groundhog's history came in November 2024, when Groundhog UK acquired its sales partner, Genquip. Established in 1993 by the late Dennis Hughes, Genquip had worked alongside Paul Ratcliffe CEO  of  Groundhog for more than 30 years, handling sales and customer service while Groundhog concentrated on manufacturing. The acquisition brought the two businesses together under the Groundhog name, with operations based at the company's headquarters in Aberdulais, South Wales.

Over those 40 years, both the equipment and the expectations of the hire industry have changed considerably. Site welfare has developed from relatively basic facilities into increasingly sophisticated, energy-efficient accommodations, with customers placing greater emphasis on running costs, reliability, environmental performance and ease of maintenance.

Groundhog has continued to develop its product range in response to those demands, with hybrid power, solar technology and battery systems becoming an increasingly important part of its offering.

The Executive Hire Show has provided a regular platform for many such developments. At the 2025 event, Groundhog introduced its genuine replacement parts offering, while the 2026 event saw the launch of the e360 diesel-free mobile welfare unit.

For Peter, the anniversary brings together two decades of personal involvement with the show and a period of significant change for the business.

“It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since I joined Groundhog on the very first day of the Executive Hire Show. A lot has changed since then, both in the hire industry and in the equipment we're producing," he said.

“The show has always been an important event for us. It's a chance to catch up with customers, hear what they think and find out what they need from us. We've had some great times at the show over the years, and I think 2027 will be a particularly special one.

Executive Hire Show Publishing & Event Director, Chris Moore, added: “Groundhog has been part of the Executive Hire Show from the very beginning, and it's fantastic to see the company celebrating three milestones alongside our own 20th anniversary.

“The fact that Peter joined Groundhog on the very first day of the show is a great part of the story. Groundhog has been a loyal supporter of the event over the years, and its continued commitment says a lot about the relationship between the show, its exhibitors and the hire industry. We're delighted to be celebrating these anniversaries together in February.”

https://www.groundhog.co.uk/