This week we officially opened the doors to our latest, purpose-built depot in Newport, South Wales. Located 10-minutes from M4, M5, M49 and M32 junctions the depot will extend the hirers reach into South, West and Mid-Wales as well as Worcester, Gloucester, Swindon and surrounding areas in the South West.

Director, Patrick Flannery explained “It is really important to us that we can support our national contracts at a local level. Investing in a permanent base ensures that we can deliver the high standard of service our clients expect. It also supports our expectation to have delivery capability to 96% of the UK-mainland within 2-hours. The 12-members of staff are appropriately accredited hire professionals, working with operators who are fully inducted by our training department – ready to deliver whatever the job requirements.

The site has 2-acre of hardstanding with a further acre that is set to be developed as a specialist GPS training facility. The depot itself has a triple roller shutter workshop – this bespoke plant workshop is capable of housing the full range of Flannery equipment. With 5 fitters working from the depot all service issues will be coordinated by the experienced hire desk, while transport will be scheduled using the Scania Fleet Management program. This enables planning of the most efficient routes, with real time changes based on traffic information and manages driver performance and behaviour.

Jon Davies, Depot Manager in Newport said, “This is a really exciting time for the team here in Newport, alongside the other individual Flannery depots we have been awarded FORS Gold, are committed to Constructing Better Health and have been busy rolling out the Flannery BuildUp Mental Health Awareness campaign.”

Leading the operator training is one of Flannery’s inhouse CPCS trainers whose role is to undertake competency checks and familiarisation training on day one of an operator’s engagement. They then provide ongoing technical support throughout operators’ placements. We work closely with the CITB and it’s clients to ensure the plethora of internal courses developed by the inhouse training team are suitable and compliment industry recognised schemes.

The new depot is committed to recruiting 5 apprentices this year, Patrick said “Aside from the investment in facilities and equipment we are absolutely committed to inspiring, recruiting and most importantly retaining the next generation of plant operators and mechanics. If anyone in the Newport area is looking for a career change or knows someone who is willing to learn then they should contact us, a career in construction as part of the Flannery team awaits them.”