Member Article

Jones Bros announces biggest ever investment

A leading Welsh civil engineering contractor today announced a record single investment of £9.8m in new heavy plant.

Jones Bros Civil Engineering has placed orders for more than 50 vehicles, including 35-tonne excavators, bulldozers and articulated dump trucks.

The company, which already boasts the UK’s largest heavy plant fleet, will take delivery during 2017.

Its owner and chairman, Huw Jones, said the order reflected the company’s busy forward order book, including projects on its home turf.

The firm is on standby to start construction of the £90m Caernarfon by-pass, in a joint venture with Balfour Beatty.

It has also won a place on the framework for contractors to deliver the highway work for Wylfa Newydd.

It is the biggest single investment in the company’s 60-year history.

The investment was welcomed by Welsh Government Economy Secretary Ken Skates, during a visit to the firm. He said:

“The need for innovation and ambition in Welsh businesses is higher than ever before.

“I am delighted that Jones Bros is investing £9.8m in new civil engineering heavy plant equipment here in North Wales. This is a great sign of the company’s confidence in the economy and its own expansion plans, and we will continue to explore ways of working with the company to support their ambitions for growth.”

Jones Bros employs 350 and works on infrastructure and highway projects across the UK. In recent years, it has forged a reputation as the UK’s leading constructor of wind farms.

It is currently completing construction of the 76-turbine Pen-y-Cymoedd wind farm in S Wales, which is the biggest on-shore wind farm in Wales and England.

Unlike many civil engineering and construction firms, Jones Bros employs its workforce of construction operatives and heavy plant drivers directly on its payroll.

Mr Jones said: “Almost half of the new plant we are buying will be additions to our fleet, to give us capacity to fulfil new orders.”

Founded in the 1950s, Jones Bros operates across the UK in sectors including construction of waste management facilities, highways and renewable energy projects such as wind farms.

The £90m turnover company runs an award-winning apprenticeship programme. In the last two years, it has recruited a total of 60 apprentices – a record for the growing family firm.

For more information visit www.jones-bros.com.

Video: Economy secretary Ken Skates welcomes Jones Bros’ £10m investment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBusNwyNJUc&feature=youtu.be

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .