One of plant hire¡¦s best-known figures is to retire after nearly 60 years in the industry. Roger Search is stepping down as executive chairman of William G Search Ltd ¡V the company that his father founded ¡V although he will continue in a non-executive capacity for the immediate future.
The company will continue to be run by Roger¡¦s sons Richard and Jamie who have been joint managing directors for several years.
¡§Stepping down has been made easier in the knowledge that we will continue to be a family business and our traditions of friendly, professional and flexible service will be maintained. In that sense it will be business as usual,¡¨ said Roger Search.
¡§Since making it clear some time ago that I wanted to retire at 65 I¡¦ve tried to give Jamie and Richard the opportunity to develop the business in their own way,¡¨ he added.
¡§This has been the most difficult aspect of the whole thing. For more than ten years, I was the only full-time working director of the company and I made all the decisions. But for the past few years I have tried not to make a single management decision off my own bat.¡¨
Roger¡¦s tenure has seen a number of significant milestones for the Leeds-based company. These include opening new depots in Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool and Nottingham, launching Search¡¦s toilet hire business, moving into the event hire market and initiating a long-standing relationship with BBC TV to supply equipment for its golf coverage.
Asked about his plans for retirement, Roger said: ¡§Whilst I¡¦ve always enjoyed going to work in the morning, I must admit I¡¦m quite looking forward to a lot more gardening, golf and cooking ¡V but not necessarily in that order! There is also a lengthy list of jobs that my wife has been producing over the last 30 years or so,¡¨ he added.
ENDS
Photo caption: Roger Search (left) pictured with his sons Jamie (centre) and Richard (right).
For more information please contact:
Sam White, Simon Mountford Communications Tel: 01347 844844
Notes to editors:
William G Search, which was founded in Leeds in 1946, currently employs 165 people at its sites in Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham and Liverpool. Its operating divisions are:
„h Hire ¡V one of the largest independent hire specialists in the north of England providing a full range of plant and equipment to construction and industry. It is also one of very few businesses with the facilities to modify electric personnel carriers to meet clients' individual specifications.
„h Fluid Sealing ¡V providing industrial fluid sealing, hydraulic/pneumatic seals and maintenance products. Search is an approved UK distributor for A W Chesterton, one of the world¡¦s leading manufacturers.
„h Compressed Air ¡V supplying and maintaining compressed air and process equipment from supply only through to total turnkey installations.
„h Power Products ¡V specialising in the supply of power solutions in the field of industrial and marine engines, and power generation.
„h Leisure industry ¡V the largest supplier of hire equipment for outdoor events in the UK. It specialises in sporting and music events.
