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.
