History of Speedy - 5
<<<Read the Part IV<<< April 2000. Speedy Power commences trading, successfully supplying into new markets, where we previously had little exposure, as well as our existing markets.
January 2000. The acquisition of Construction Instruments leads to Speedy Survey becoming an independent specialist business. This enables Speedy to maximise the utilisation of survey related products and to better service the primary clients for this most specialised equipment.
1998. John Brown, later to become Speedy Hire Plc Chief Executive, is named Hire Association Europe's Hire Person of the Year and outlines his vision for the continued growth of the business.
March 1997. Launch of Speedy Hire Direct, a call centre operation established to provide a single port of call for contractors working on a national basis.
May 1996. Acquisition of Midlands based Tidy Hire, boosting coverage in the UK's industrial heartland.
1995. Beskab Ltd changes its name to Speedy Space.
December 1995. Speedy moves into Scotland for the first time, with the purchase of depots from John Cummings who joins Speedy. Speedy begins to make its presence felt in Scotland, offering services to the Scottish construction, transport and utilities industries.
September 1994. The acquisition of Kendrick Hire's 41 branches was the deal that really put Speedy on the UK hire industry map. The two companies are split to form Speedy Northern and Speedy Southern and Speedy is on the way to providing full geographic reach a cross the UK.
February 1993. Speedy buys Hire-A-Tool, boosting the number of hire centres to 30, and the well-established team joins the Speedy group. Speedy announces that the company will continue to expand through strategic acquisitions.
November 1990. Steve Corcoran, later to become Chief Operating Officer, joins the company as a member of the sales team.
1989. Allen Plc, the parent group for Speedy Hire, was floated on the London Stock Exchange.
October 1987. First Speedy depot opens in London establishing a base for the company in the South and the foundations for Speedy Southern are laid. The now famous Speedy chevron logo was first introduced at this branch.
1983-1987. Speedy steadily opens a number of Greenfield depots.
April 1982. John Brown purchases Speedy Fixings Power Tools Ltd. In addition to the fixing business, it operated 3 hire outlets in Prescot, Manchester and Llandudno. The depot network started to grow. It was here he adopted the Speedy name.
April 1977. John Brown became Managing Director of Livesey Hire in Wigan, later to become Speedy Hire Plc. The Speedy vision begins with one depot in Wallgate, Wigan.
