Jake Waterman has joined the Plantforce team as our National Accounts Director, bringing his extensive knowledge and skills as we continue to become the supplier of choice for operated and self-drive hire solutions.
With 20 years of experience in sales, strategic partnerships and accounts, Jake’s appointment will strengthen and support our sales team. With a strong operational background, he’ll also help establish the frameworks and processes our team needs to deliver even more for major customers and projects.
Having first started his career in the construction industry with sales roles at Hewden, Jake then joined Garic, where he grew from account manager to strategic partnerships leader. Over six years, Jake helped grow the business from a single site into a leading nationwide supplier. Most recently, he has led strategic sales at Nationwide Platforms and Vp plc.
When asked why he’d decided to join our team, Jake said, “Plantforce is in a very unique market position. It has national coverage and has already become a go-to supplier for many of the UK’s biggest construction businesses and projects. My role is to help form and shape the team so we can continue this trajectory.”
Jake’s appointment also comes as our business has achieved PAS 2080 accreditation. This marks the quality of our compliance and governance processes. Achieving the RISQS Sentinel standard also showcases our ability to deliver high-quality operated plant hire solutions to major rail projects. Jake’s experience working with rail customers only supports and enhances this position.
Chris Matthew, Chief Commercial Officer for Plantforce, says, “The rail industry is one focus for us, so having Jake’s knowledge will be invaluable here. However, it’s his operational and strategic mindset that will really help join the dots between our teams and establish longstanding partnerships with key accounts.”
Although the opportunity to be part of our growth story has been a big attraction for Jake, it’s our culture that sealed the deal for him, too. “Plantforce is different,” he explains. “It’s a nationwide plant business but still has a family feeling. The fact that it’s a single, large organisation with intricate relationships is something I really like. There’s a refreshingly open, transparent feel to the business, where people aren’t afraid to have conversations at any level.
Plantforce has become verified on the PAS 2080 carbon management standard. A holistic carbon management process set by the British Standards Institution (BSI), it’s a marker of how hard our organisation and team is working to cut emissions across the whole lifecycle of our fleet. It’s an accolade that customers can trust in, knowing we’re meeting globally-recognised decarbonisation standards on the industry’s road to net zero.
James Smith, Plantforce SHEQ Manager, said, “Meeting this standard has been a thorough and intensive process. As one of only two plant hire businesses in the UK to have PAS accreditation, this is evidence of our genuine commitment to cutting carbon across our entire supply chain. Proving that this is a part of our day-to-day culture, and not just token soundbites.”
PAS 2080 is a BSI standard for whole-life carbon management and reduction in buildings and infrastructure. Last updated in 2023, it recognises the role of all construction value chain members in achieving the UK’s 2050 net-zero goals. It’s also a practical framework, setting out the roles and responsibilities for each part of the supply chain.
For plant hire businesses like ours, this means working closely with manufacturers, operators and partners to create effective carbon measurement and reduction systems across the whole lifecycle of our fleet. By achieving PAS 2080, organisations put themselves ahead of net-zero requirements rather than reacting to them.
To meet the PAS 2080 standard, we had to prove:
To prove the above points, we ran a whole lifecycle carbon study of one vehicle in our fleet, the Kobelco SK210 excavator. This included examining carbon production at every stage of the vehicle’s life, from the extraction of minerals for production, through to its import onto site, its operational life and its end-of-life auction.
These findings were applied to every machine on our fleet to complete the PAS audit. Studies for other models in our fleet are also underway to make our carbon reporting and standards even more accurate. From this, we were able to run due diligence on our carbon tracking, reporting and monitoring systems.
Beyond our own processes, we collaborated and engaged with our whole supply chain (both customers and suppliers) to help them meet PAS requirements on their route to net-zero. We also demonstrated a commitment to wider industry decarbonisation with our involvement in the Element1 and HyConstruct projects, including the hydrogen conversion of an articulated dump truck.
Gaining the PAS 2080 standard means all our customers can have confidence that we’re an environmentally responsible and compliant supplier. A well-established standard for Tier 1 construction businesses, it’s a marker that customers can trust and feel confident in when completing their environmental due diligence.
James says, “The PAS accreditation shows we’re no longer just a supplier of low emission machines. We’re a carbon-aware partner that actively helps customers and partners reduce the carbon footprint of projects and reach sustainable outcomes. By taking our responsibilities seriously and mentoring our supply chain, we hope to start a trickle down effect that will help everyone reach net zero.”
Our North West Plantforce team and customers made a step towards the future at Tech Day on 26th March. The event marked the opening of our new Wigan depot and gave businesses the chance to explore the latest industry innovations.
A wide range of customers attended the day, where our market-leading partners exhibited technologies which will add value to their businesses. This included hands-on demonstrations of sustainability, efficiency and safety systems and software across different zones.
The zones included:
3D machine control and GPS: Leica Geosystems and SITECH shared their Trimble systems, which connected modelling and field software.
Advanced safety: FTC Safety Solutions, Safety Shield Global and Spillard Safety Systems showcased their human form recognition systems, including AI-enabled technologies and 3D avoidance zone system.
Site safety and operational limit: integrated and connected systems from XWatch and Prolec, including smart-site technology and rated capacity indicators.
Data and efficiency: real-time machine performance insights and integrated telematics from the experts at fleetCMD and PLINX, as well as productivity-focused attachments available from the Plantforce Attachments division.
Alongside efficiency and safety, sustainability was a big conversation at the event. With guest exhibitor and project partner ULEMCo showcasing the latest HyConstruct project, a van with a mobile hydrogen refuelling cell. A converted Ford Ranger was also on site to raise awareness of the project’s technology, which aims to reduce tailpipe emissions on an articulated dump truck (ADT) with hydrogen/diesel dual fuel technology.
Area Sales Manager, Neil Wilson, said this event marked an exciting step forward for Plantforce. “It didn’t just give us the opportunity to connect with our customers, but show how our team and partners can boost their business’s performance,” he explains.
“By exhibiting cutting-edge technologies in our purpose-built Wigan site, we showed how Plantforce can introduce knowledge and the latest technology innovations that can add real benefit to our customers. The feedback from both customers and our supply partners has been fantastic, with many commenting on how much knowledge they have gained, allowing them to now make the possible a reality.”
Last month, we were pleased to recognise Fleet Coordinator Rachael Paige-McLean with the Above and Beyond Award. This recognition celebrates her unwavering reliability, her proactive approach and the consistently high standards she brings to the business every day.
Rachael is one of those people whose impact is felt not through one single standout moment, but through the steady and dependable excellence she brings to her role. No matter what is asked of her, she is always helpful, always willing to step in and always committed to finding a solution. The team often describe her as someone you can rely on completely, whether it is a routine query or an urgent request.
In her role as Fleet Coordinator, Rachael manages a wide range of responsibilities, many of them behind the scenes. She takes initiative wherever possible, especially when dealing with drivers’ phones, system issues or day to day operational challenges. Rachael consistently tries to work things out for herself before asking for support. This approach shows her strong problem-solving mindset and saves valuable time while helping operations run smoothly.
Her dedication is also clear in the way she supports the insurance side of the fleet. Rachael does far more than simply process information. She actively looks for opportunities to improve procedures, reduce claims and minimise avoidable issues. Her proactive thinking and close attention to detail help reduce risk and improve efficiency across the business.
Rachael performs at such a consistently high level that it can be easy to overlook just how much she contributes. Rachael, we’d like to say thank you. Your hard work, reliability and quiet excellence do more than keep the fleet moving. They help the entire business succeed.
We are pleased to announce that we have successfully achieved the Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, a nationally recognised certification that demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of cyber security.
Cyber Essentials Plus is a government-backed scheme designed to protect businesses against a wide range of common cyber threats. Unlike the basic Cyber Essentials accreditation, the “Plus” certification involves rigorous external testing and verification to ensure that security measures are not only in place but also working effectively.
This achievement represents more than just a security milestone, it’s an important step in protecting our business, our team, and our customers. In an increasingly digital and data-driven industry, cyber security plays a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring business continuity.
The certification also strengthens our position when it comes to tendering and working with major contractors and partners, where this accreditation is increasingly becoming a requirement.
As technology continues to evolve, so do the risks and we believe in staying ahead of them. Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus reflects our ongoing investment in robust digital infrastructure, ensuring that we’re ready to meet both current and future security expectations.
This accreditation is evidence of the hard work of our internal teams and partners, who have helped us reach this important milestone. It’s another way we’re reinforcing trust with our customers and partners and demonstrating our commitment to doing business the right way.
This month, we’re celebrating two standout members of our transport team. Darren Berry and Jerry Taylor whose dedication, leadership, and teamwork have made a real difference to how we recruit, train, and develop our drivers.
Both Darren and Jerry have been instrumental in shaping and implementing a new strategy for driver recruitment and training, helping us continue to build on the strong foundations of our transport division. Their professionalism and commitment ensure that every new driver joining Plantforce is given the tools, guidance, and confidence they need to succeed from day one.
From supporting candidates during their initial working interviews to offering one-to-one mentoring once they’re on the job, Darren and Jerry take a hands-on approach to training that reflects their genuine investment in people. They go beyond just teaching the technical aspects of the job, they pass on our company values, safety standards, and the teamwork that defines the way we operate.
Their efforts haven’t just strengthened our onboarding process, they’ve also enhanced the sense of unity and pride across the entire transport team. By sharing their knowledge and experience, they’ve helped new drivers feel part of something bigger, while ensuring our customers continue to receive the reliable, first-class service we’re known for.
Beyond their mentoring roles, Darren and Jerry consistently set the example through their own day-to-day work, demonstrating professionalism, reliability, and a can-do attitude, no matter the challenge. Their commitment to excellence and willingness to help others grow make them a true asset.
Darren and Jerry, thank you for always going the extra mile, both on and off the road.
