17.07.2023

Hirepro acquires Upward

UK rental group HirePro Holdings has acquired Upward Powered Access from Paul Johnson and Tim Ward, in a deal brokered by The Hire Exchange.

HirePro, which also owns Liftright Access and Surrey Hire was incorporated in 2021 and is owned by Roland Llewellin and Mathew Williams who acquired Liftright Access just over a year ago.
Paul Johnson established Upward in 2008 with the support of Tim Ward, after Johnson’s previous employer Higher Platforms, was acquired by the Lavendon Group. For the first 10 years or so Ward was merely an investor, joining the business on a more active basis in 2019. The company now operates from three locations - Oxford, Nottingham and Slough and runs a fleet of scissors, boom lifts, trailer lifts and Telehandlers. It is a member of the Access Alliance association of independent regional rental companies.

HirePro Holdings has also appointed Matt Fisher as managing director, he joins the company from Riwal UK where he was operations manager. He began his career in 2006 on the hire desk at Hewden, moving to AFI in 2007 as operations controller at its Bolton depot. He remained with AFI for more than 13 years, followed by a short spell with APL before joining Riwal in 2022.

Tim Ward said: “Paul and I have recently decided that it’s time to hand over the reins of our company to new owners who can add more energy and financial investment to drive it forward. And so, we join the HirePro group of companies. Paul will be leaving quite shortly to spend more time with his Jaguar whilst I will be staying on as director and ‘consultant’ and look forward to working closely with Matt Fisher the MD of HirePro in this venture.”

"I would like to take this opportunity to say something about my business partner Paul Johnson, all I did 16 years ago was invest in Paul who I’d only recently met, in this time he, ably assisted by my friend of almost 40 years Andy Bradbery, built a solid profitable company with 20 percent year on year growth and I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for me. Most people I know moan about their business partners, but I can’t think of a bad thing to say about him, yes occasionally he can be a bit grumpy but working with me that’s no surprise. We have had disagreements however the next day we sit down over a cuppa and decide Paul was right all along.”

“Paul’s clarity of perspective, financial prudence but most of all his total honesty have made him a joy to be in business with. If at the end of the year there was one pound left Paul would ensure I’d get fifty pence and revel in giving it me. My compliment to Mr Johnson is this, someone asked me recently if I’d get into business with Paul again? My answer was simple.. ‘in a heartbeat!’”