A nationwide vehicle rentals business has stepped up investment in its Yorkshire and Humber operation with a move to a new 3.5-acre site next to the A1.
Dawsongroup plc has agreed a 10-year lease with Barnsdales chartered surveyors to set up a northern hub for its truck and trailer sector and its vans business at the site at Harworth, near Doncaster.
The company will commit substantial further investment to expand its team at the depot to more than 30, and its fleet of vehicles above 1,000.
John Fletcher, Managing Director of Dawsonrentals Truck and Trailer Ltd, said: “We are extremely excited about the move to our new purpose-built facility. We have developed a strong presence in the Yorkshire and Humber area as a provider of truck rental services for many years and we aim to continue to build on that.
“This is an important area for commerce within the UK as a whole, and it is important for us to be able to serve it both effectively and efficiently. Our business offers everything from 7.5-tonne trucks to 44-tonne tractors, along with dry freight and refrigerated trailers. The group’s investment in Harworth gives us and our colleagues in the vans business everything that we need to offer a first-class service alongside one of the most diverse and modern rental fleets in the country.”
Craig Gooddy, [correct] an associate in Barnsdales’ commercial agency team, said the move is significant for a site which last year saw major investments by Persimmon plc and by GRCUK, part of Laing O’Rourke.
Craig said: “GRC, a specialist in bespoke architectural glass reinforced concrete, leased nearly 43,000 square feet of space in January 2016 and Persimmon acquired nearly 15 acres in April 2016 to create a manufacturing plant that will eventually produce bricks, roof tiles and timber frames for its core housebuilding business.
“Dawsongroup plc has made a long-term commitment to the site and to the future of its own business and we expect their arrival to generate further interest. We have been marketing Harworth since late 2013. More than 40 acres of land have been disposed of but there is still nearly 10 acres available across three areas of the site.”
Facilities at the new premises include hard standing for hundreds of vehicles, all housed securely with electric perimeter fencing. The site also provides dedicated workspace, office accommodation and employee resting facilities as well as a parts storage facility and two wash bays.
A modular body-shop enables repairs to be carried out quickly, and the site will also be the base for a mobile maintenance unit, further ensuring that customer vehicle downtime is kept to a minimum.
Simon Ridley, Dawsonrentals Vans Ltd Managing Director, said the investment is a sign of confidence in the Doncaster vans team, who have the taken business from a standing start to over 800 vehicles in less than five years.
He said: “In 2016 our Doncaster site was the fastest growing business unit within the vans national network of seven locations. The team here have done a fantastic job and this development recognises their hard work and efforts.
“In addition to the investment made in facilities, the business will also spend hundred thousand pounds on new vehicles to support this latest period of expansion.
“We wanted a site where we could invest and, when required, scale even further without the need to relocate or cause disruption. It’s great news for our customers in the area and for our national network of customers, and we expect to see the site grow further in the coming months”
Group Property Director, Freya Dawson, added: “We have been a strong contributor to the region for many years through our Dawsonrentals Truck and Trailer Ltd brand just outside Doncaster town centre. The Dawsonrentals Vans Ltd brand was introduced there back in 2012 and we quickly realised that we would outgrow our existing facilities.
“We identified the Harworth site as an up-and-coming facility with excellent transport links which enable us to provide continued support to our expanding customer base and enhances our trade and retail sale aspirations.”
