When Doyle Group went into administration last year, David Hazell, Paul Gaitely and Stephen Harvey initially tried to buy the Blythewood Plant operation. Now they are making a go of their new business instead, with a comprehensive range of equipment.
David Hazell says: “Our first reaction at the collapse of the Doyle Group and Blythewood Plant was to attempt a management buy-out, but unfortunately this proved unsuccessful – as did an attempted purchase. We knew we could keep the plant side of things going so the three of us decided to go it alone and so CPH was born,” says David Hazell.
CPH set up shop in September 2012 at Cole Green near Hatfield, Hertfordshire, not far from Blythewood’s old premises.
“It was important to stay close to our existing customer base and as such we’ve managed to retain a core of key customers as well as suppliers such as Volvo CE who have supported us through this metamorphosis,” he adds.
Volvo has supplied rollers and compact excavators ranging from 1.5 to 8.8 tonnes. In addition, CPH has been helped by Volvo CE’s utility dealer Capital Plant Solutions in sourcing young second-hand Volvo utility equipment.
“Within a short space of time we’ve now amassed some 150 items of mobile plant all of which are available for self-drive hire and to be honest, as we see things right now, we could do with a good deal more,” says Mr Hazell.
“Our turnover is increasing dramatically each month and we are now looking to recruit additional personnel to complement the original team that showed the courage to come with us when we set up. The light is definitely in view at the end of the tunnel.”
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