Experienced business owner and manager, Mark Davenport has acquired Knowsley-based A Mini Crane Hire and has pledged a £1.5m investment into jobs and new equipment. Tony McDonough reports

A national crane high company based in Merseyside has changed hands in a “seven-figure sum” deal.

A Mini Crane Hire, which has its headquarters in Knowsley and a second depot in London, was founded in 2009 by Peter Piekarus, who will remain as a director of the business following the sale.

Experienced business owner and manager, Mark Davenport, has acquired the business for an undisclosed sum. He has unveiled an expansion plan for the company which will see him invest £1.5m in new cranes, equipment and people.

Operating across the UK, A Mini Crane Hire comprises a fleet of 90 mini-cranes, and is a supplier to short and long-term construction projects. Sales have returned to pre-COVID-19 lockdown levels with annual turnover projected to exceed £5m. It currently employs 33 people.

Mr Davenport, who is also a qualified engineer, said: “A Mini Crane Hire is a very capable business, with a strong reputation in the market. We have a highly-skilled, experienced and knowledgeable team who are passionate about safety, customer service and getting the job done.

“My vision is to build on this, strengthen the team further, invest in sales and marketing communications, expand the fleet, and improve our information flows and communications to drive growth.

“We also remain fully committed to sustainability and will continue to make incremental changes that will serve our community and benefit the planet. With that in mind, we will welcome nine new electric-powered cranes to the fleet later this year, plus our first electric car for one of our new sales employees.”

Prior to the acquisition, Mr Davenport was owner and managing director of Preston-based polythene converters, Flextex, where despite the 2008 financial crisis, he developed a management team that placed the business at the forefront of the conversion marketplace.

Other managing director positions included SGB Rovacabin, suppliers of portable accommodation and secure storage, and Arquest, a manufacturer of own-label nappies for leading supermarkets.

He added: “We have battled through lockdown to full recovery in August and I am glad to report that sales are now back to where they should be. Our short-term priority remains to get existing projects that were delayed because of lockdown over the finishing line.

“By the end of the year we expect most of the fleet to have been refurbished, and we will be taking delivery of the new equipment.”