EG Fencing Solutions Ltd, based near Liskeard in Cornwall, was formed in 2007 by friends Lewis Elliot and Dan Goodman. It supplies and installs fencing and gate entry systems across the country. Recent projects include fencing for Stanstead and Gatwick airports, Hinkley Point power station, and a number of major roads and motorways across the UK.

Building on its success, the company recently purchased two new trucks worth £50,000 with help from Ignition via a Hire Purchase asset finance package, expanding its growing fleet to six.

The company has also taken the opportunity to secure a CBILS loan (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) worth over £200,000, making the most of the chance to obtain funds interest free for the first 12 months.

Lewis Elliot comments: “Lockdown was concerning at first, and we did furlough some of our workers for a couple of weeks, but we were soon as busy as ever.  Most of our contracts are for key industries such as the road network and National Grid, so this work was essential and had to continue.  However, we’re well aware that these are challenging and uncertain times, so felt it would be sensible to obtain a loan to provide us with greater financial security in the coming months.

“We’re also keen to continue expanding and strengthening the business and are actively recruiting more workers to help us fulfil new contracts, so the loan will help us to achieve this.”

Over the years, EG Fencing has worked with Ignition a number of times to finance vehicles for the business.  Lewis Elliot continues:

“We have always found working with Ignition is painless, straightforward and hassle-free.  They offer us competitive deals and can arrange finance quickly.”

Paul Caunter, Managing Director of Ignition, comments: “Lewis and his team at EG Fencing Solutions have been clients for many years, and it’s great to see the business continuing to grow and thrive. We’ll continue to do all we can to support them.”

Plymouth based Groundworks and Civil Engineering company, XCAV8 (SW) Limited, has recently strengthened its business with the purchase of three new Doosan excavators worth over £200,000, financed through Ignition. 

Established over 10 years ago, the company is contracted for the groundworks / civil engineering aspects of building projects and developments across the South West working with various companies.  

XCAV8 has worked with Ignition frequently over the years, purchasing vans and various machinery.  According to Director, Matt Halligan, the company soon realised that it is much more cost-effective to purchase equipment on a finance package rather than hire in.  He comments: 

“For the last six years we have taken the view that if we ever need hire equipment for more than three months, we look to purchase instead.  The repayments are always cheaper than the hire cost, and then we own the equipment outright.” 

“The process is always very quick and easy with Ignition, particularly since they have our information to hand and know our business well.” 

Two of the three Doosan excavators were purchased using CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme), which provides loans interest free for the first 12 months. 

Matt Halligan continues: 

“Like most businesses, we were adversely affected by the coronavirus lockdown at first.  We stopped operating for a short time and furloughed our workers. But fortunately, we were soon approached to undertake work for hospitals and other essential projects and have been busy ever since.  All of our staff are back from furlough now and we are continuing to go from strength to strength.” 

P & G Eddy Plant Services Ltd is a family-run business based in St. Austell, Cornwall, providing plant and crusher hire, line boring and welding, repair and maintenance services for the construction industry in the South West.

Paul Eddy, company director, has been in the industry for over 40 years; he runs the business with his son, Graham. Paul and Graham started the business in 2006 after the death of Paul’s father in-law, Jock Smith who had his own plant hire and engineering business for many years.

Paul and Graham have a wealth of experience working for quarries for many years assisting with repairs, servicing and maintaining quarry machines in the South West. In 2012 they expanded the engineering side and decided to add a Plant Hire division. They bought their first Doosan excavator through Ignition.

The company has never looked back. It now has 15 machines which are majority financed through Ignition, and now whenever a contract or work comes in, they contact the Ignition team. The latest addition is a Bell B30E Dump truck purchased earlier this month which was required immediately for a new contract. The finance was approved, completed with delivery of the machine to start work within a week.

Paul Eddy of P&G Eddy Plant Services comments:

“Over the years Ignition has been absolutely vital in helping our business expand. Contracts come in quickly, so we need to ensure we have the right machines in place or risk losing out to competitors. We know Ignition will always respond swiftly and give us a good deal. We are so fortunate to have a local firm we can trust; we would not approach anyone else.

“Lockdown was a difficult time and we had to furlough some of our staff. Ignition immediately sent an offer of assistance in supporting us from a finance payment holiday to other business loans, Ignition was there to help us through this rough time.

“Now all the sites have reopened since lockdown, our company has experienced a steady increase in new business which has been welcoming in such uncertain times. This has led to the employment of five additional staff members now needed immediately for the start of a new contract, and work supporting major roadwork projects in Cornwall. The numerous companies we work for provide aggregates for the Cornwall roads and with the A30 and the link road starting, it will be busy for the foreseeable future.

“We’re very grateful to Ignition for their support enabling our business to grow and helping us to fulfil our contracts.”