Watling JCB, a renowned JCB dealer, has successfully expanded its operations into the West Midlands, enhancing its service territory.
- The acquisition includes Midlands JCB depots, allowing Watling JCB to operate from Smethwick, Hereford, and Stoke-on-Trent.
- The expansion does not affect existing Watling JCB depots, ensuring continuity of service in established areas.
- Watling JCB’s managing director Richard Telfer emphasises the opportunity to provide exceptional customer service in new regions.
- JCB UK sales director Gareth Lumsdaine highlights the professional and expert reputation of Watling JCB.
Watling JCB, a well-established dealer for JCB machinery in the East Midlands and East Anglia since 1976, has expanded its reach by acquiring Midlands JCB. This strategic acquisition enables Watling JCB to extend its services into the West Midlands, specifically from the key locations of Smethwick, Hereford, and Stoke-on-Trent. Importantly, this move preserves the existing network of Watling JCB depots, ensuring uninterrupted service for its current customer base.
The restructuring follows Midlands JCB’s separation from Gunn JCB, initiated when Paul Hartshorn, the former owner and managing director, sold the company through a management buyout. Subsequently, Hartshorn sold the remaining parts of Gunn JCB to TC Harrison, JCB’s neighbouring dealer, a transaction concluded in July. In this significant reshaping of regional dealership territories, Watling JCB emerges as the appointed dealer for Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.
Richard Telfer, the managing director of Watling JCB, expressed his commitment to expanding the company’s footprint while maintaining its core values, stating, “It has been my life’s mission to create a business providing world-class customer support while maintaining our core family values. This new development creates an opportunity to bring these industry-leading service levels to a whole new customer base, and I really look forward to working closely with our new customers.”
Meanwhile, JCB UK sales director Gareth Lumsdaine welcomed the expansion, remarking on the strength of Watling JCB’s reputation for professionalism and expertise. He noted, “We are delighted to see Watling JCB expand its remit into the West Midlands as we further strengthen the dealer network in selling and supporting JCB equipment across the UK. It is a superb family business, renowned for its professionalism and expertise, and it is exciting that JCB customers across Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire will now benefit from the team’s exceptional customer service.”
Financially, Watling JCB remains robust. In 2023, the company reported a pre-tax profit of £6.9 million on a turnover of £154 million, underscoring its strong market position and effective operational strategies.
The expansion of Watling JCB into the West Midlands solidifies its commitment to excellent service and strategic growth in the UK market.
