At Plantforce, we pride ourselves on the commitment and talent of our team members, who drive our success and innovation every day. Among these remarkable individuals, Ellie Talbot stands out as a key figure whose contributions as our Management Accountant go far beyond her job title. Ellie’s impact is deeply felt across our organisation, particularly through her leadership in our Continuous Improvement (CI) program—a crucial initiative that is transforming Plantforce into a safer, faster, and more efficient business.
Ellie’s role as Management Accountant is pivotal, but her influence extends well beyond financial management. She plays an essential part in the planning, execution, and monitoring of our CI projects, ensuring that each initiative not only meets its objectives but also contributes to the overarching goals of the company. Her diligent monitoring of project progress is critical in keeping these initiatives on track, and her ability to identify and address potential issues early on has been a key factor in the program’s success.
What truly sets Ellie apart is the combination of her technical skills with her outstanding interpersonal abilities. She is known throughout the company for her excellent communication, which ensures that all stakeholders are kept informed and engaged throughout the lifecycle of each project. Whether she is working with senior management, collaborating with colleagues from other departments, or guiding her team, Ellie’s professionalism and clarity of communication are invaluable.
Beyond her technical expertise and communication skills, Ellie brings a great sense of humour that makes her an absolute joy to work with. Her positive attitude and approachable nature have helped to foster a collaborative and supportive work environment, where team members feel valued and motivated. This positive atmosphere has been a driving force behind the success of our CI program, as it encourages creativity, problem-solving, and a collective commitment to continuous improvement.
The impact of Ellie’s work is evident in the tangible improvements we’ve seen across the company. Thanks to the CI projects she helps to oversee, Plantforce has become a more streamlined operation, with enhanced safety protocols, faster processes, and greater overall efficiency. These achievements are a testament to Ellie’s hard work, dedication, and the high standards she upholds.
In Ellie, we see the embodiment of the values that Plantforce strives for: excellence, innovation, and a commitment to continuous improvement. We are incredibly fortunate to have her as part of our team and congratulate her on being our August Above & Beyond awardee.
On the 3rd of August 2024, we had the pleasure of attending the Wessex Water and YTL Group’s annual football tournament, a day filled with excitement, companionship, and community spirit. The event was a resounding success, with teams and supporters coming together to enjoy the day while contributing to several important causes.
This tournament wasn’t just about football and fun; it was about making a difference. The event supported many charities, with proceeds going towards causes that are close to the hearts of the participants and organisers alike.
Chris Bruce, Sales Director said “On behalf of our entire team, I would like to thank to Wessex Water for kindly hosting us at this year’s football tournament. I also want to thank our team for their enthusiasm and commitment throughout the day. It was more than just a game, it was an opportunity to come together for a greater cause, and I’m incredibly proud of the role we played in supporting the various charities.”
Supported charities: Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Children’s Hospice South West, Lupus UK, Andy’s Man Club, The Grand Appeal, Mind in Somerset, Spurgeons Children’s Charity, Bath Cats & Dogs Home, Maggies, ManUp?, Water Aid, Bone Cancer Research Trust, Great Western Air Ambulance, Dorothy House Hospice Care, National Autistic Society, The Daniel Baird Foundation, St Margaret’s Hospice Care, The Honeypot Children’s Charity, Mates In Mind
In the plant hire industry, maintaining high welding standards is just as crucial as the upkeep of depot standards. This commitment to organisation is why we have chosen Dave Richards to receive our Above & Beyond employee award. Dave’s exceptional skills and dedication to quality have significantly contributed to our company’s success, setting a standard for others to follow.
Dave’s commitment to excellence extends beyond his daily welding duties. His proactive approach to maintaining a safe and pleasant working environment has set him apart and earned him this well-deserved recognition.
While all team members contribute to the upkeep of our depots, Dave has embraced this responsibility with dedication. His efforts in ensuring waste and vegetation are promptly cleared have significantly improved the accessibility and safety of our yard areas.
Dave’s dedication is evident in his attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond his regular duties. By taking the initiative to enhance the depot’s environment, he has made a lasting impact on the standard of our depot and the overall efficiency of our operations.
His remarkable efforts inspire us all to strive for excellence in our roles. As we continue to recognize the extraordinary contributions of our team members, we are reminded of the collective strength and dedication that drive our success.
Congratulations, Dave Richards! Your hard work and dedication are deeply appreciated and genuinely represent the essence of the Above & Beyond Employee Award.
We are proud to announce the employees of this months Above & Beyond Award, recognising outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication. This month’s awardees, Jamie Lang and Bruce Martin, have demonstrated exceptional commitment and performance beyond their respective divisions.
Jamie Lang – Engineer
The Attachments Division plays a crucial role in our business operations, ensuring timely delivery of products to our customers is essential.
Jamie Lang, an engineer in our Attachments Division, has been honoured for his tireless efforts to ensure our customers receive the best possible attachment solutions. Jamie’s dedication has seen him going the extra mile, quite literally, to ensure that equipment arrives on time and is ready for immediate use. His professional and positive attitude is an asset to the team and greatly contributes to our customer satisfaction.
Bruce Martin – Operator Coordinator
At times, employees must extend beyond their designated roles to lend a helping hand, and that’s precisely what Bruce did.
Bruce Martin, our Operator Coordinator in the Operators Division, is being recognised for his willingness to step in and help wherever needed. Recently, during a period of high demand and coinciding with many team members on annual leave, Bruce was the first to volunteer his support to the Finance team. His attention to detail and efficiency have been invaluable and greatly appreciated by all.
Both Jamie Lang and Bruce Martin have set a high standard for excellence and commitment within Plantforce. We want to congratulate Jamie and Bruce on their well-earned awards. Their remarkable contributions reflect the dedication and hard work of all our employees, who strive every day to achieve our mission and deliver exceptional service to our customers.
We believe it is important to regularly take time to reflect on and recognise the outstanding contributions of our employees who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service as well as adding to our positive culture. Our team’s dedication and professionalism are a huge part of what makes Plantforce stand out in our market. With that, this month, it wasn’t possible to whittle it down to just one individual to award, so we have decided to present four members of our team with the coveted ‘Above & Beyond’ award.
Matt Bryant, Operator
Matt has received glowing feedback from an appreciative customer, Liam McGrath of EJ McGrath, who emailed us to let us know: “Not only did Matt possess excellent technical skills as an operator but also had an in-depth knowledge of groundworks, the procedures, methodology and overall goals of the project. Matt’s consistently calm and helpful demeanour meant we could rely on him without hesitation to carry out the difficult machine work, and any challenge was met with a positive responsive, quality workmanship and an excellent end result.”
Ashley Walker, HGV Driver
Ashley is known for his reliability and going the extra mile to get the job done. Recently, he was collecting a machine from a customer site. However, the machine track was off, and a fitter was needed. Ashley stayed to assist the fitter get the track back on and made sure the equipment was safely loaded and delivered back to depot. He is a great ambassador for Plantforce’s Transport division.
Ryan Nicholas, Digital Installation Engineer
Ryan is great team player and always happy to support where he can – as demonstrated recently when, despite being in the middle of a digital installation job, Ryan spotted that an HGV driver in the yard was struggling to load a piece of plant. He immediately stopped what he was doing and went to assist his colleague, so that the driver could get underway, and the load was delivered on time.
David Coles, HGV Driver
David Coles has recently received excellent feedback from Dave Hobday of Hobday Solutions, who frequently relies on David for deliveries and collections from various sites. Dave appreciates David’s proactive approach of calling the night before to confirm site details and provide approximate delivery/collection times. Additionally, Dave commends David for his positive and polite attitude when visiting his sites. David takes immense pride in meticulously maintaining the appearance of his equipment, ensuring it presents a stellar first impression upon arrival at our customers’ sites.
Congratulations to Matt, Ashley, Ryan, and David on their much-deserved “Above & Beyond awards”. Their actions not only uphold the standards of Plantforce, but also strengthen our reputation as a trusted partner in the industry to so many.
Bristol-based Plantforce, the highly successful plant hire company, has announced changes to its Executive Leadership Team: former COO Sam Mercer will be stepping up as the new CEO, as founder Claire Trott moves into a new role as Founder Executive Director.
The changes are significant as the company enters another phase of planned growth. Claire founded Plantforce 25 years ago with a yard in Yatton, three machines and two staff, serving local contractors in the Southwest and has taken it to a Tier 1 national plant provider, winning some of the UK’s largest major projects. Claire will continue in an important ambassadorial role, focusing on relationships with clients, mentoring the Plantforce team, and continuing to share her many years of experience. “The time is right for me to hand over the reins. I have achieved what I set out to achieve, and there is no better person than Sam to take over my life’s work. I look forward to being part of what comes next!” Claire said.
Sam Mercer has worked at Plantforce for over twelve years, working his way up through the business, from the workshop to the C-suite. He is excited to take the business to the next level, aiming to consolidate Plantforce’s position as a trusted Tier 1 and ‘major projects’ supplier, whilst retaining the family feel of the company. “We have ambitious plans for Plantforce, continuing the path set out by Claire. I feel lucky to be taking over when the business is already in such a strong position. We have an excellent reputation for being innovative, solutions-focused partner to our customers, delivering what we say, when we say, with integrity.
Bill Caplan, chair of the board at Plantforce commented that “the timing is right for Sam to succeed Claire at the helm. Sam is extremely capable, and highly respected in the industry and within business. I have every confidence he’s going to achieve great things for Plantforce in this new phase of growth. And he will have Claire at his side, supporting the business, spending more time with key customers, and mentoring team members. The next chapter of Plantforce’s journey will be an exciting one. Watch this space.”
Plantforce is a national supplier of technologically advanced plant hire machinery to the construction, rail, major project and energy industries. Established as a regional plant hire company in 1999, Plantforce has grown year on year and now provides one of the largest and most diverse ranges of machinery and skilled operators in the UK. Through its divisions, which include Plantforce Compact, Attachments, Digital, Heavy Haulage and Crushing and Screening, Plantforce can supply customers with industryspecific equipment. Plantforce is the only plant hire provider to be awarded Tier 1 status on the two largest civil engineering projects, Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station and High Speed Rail 2.
