History Timeline - Rawley Plant Limited, Basildon

Welcome to Our Timeline

Since before 1961 The Rawley family have been prominent business people in South Essex. With an ever growing pride in their family business they are as strong and as focused on their customer service since the day the company was incorporated in 1961.

Now with over 55 years in the construction and event hire markets, Howard Rawley is taking his long serving team into the future.

A lot has happened in the last few decades, however no matter what challenges they face the Rawley team are always there, reliable, trusted and offering the best customer service possible.

Take a moment to browse through our timeline.

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1960 ~ 1970

1961 Colin Rawley and his father Jim establish J H Rawley Plant Hire Ltd as a Hirer of Small Tools and Plant to the Construction Industry in Laindon and Surrounding Areas.

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A Rawley Staff Outing 1965

Rawley Outing

England Wins the 1966 World Cup

World Cup 1966

Rawley Begin to Hire Out Diggers and Dumpers to the Growing Post War Construction Industry in Laindon and Basildon New Towns.

Dumper on site

1970 ~ 1980

Boom Time as South Essex is Heavily Developed and Rawley’s Supply the Burgeoning House Building Industry.

Hireco Shop

Big Business - Bus Side Advertising

Bus Advert

1972 Bryan Lance Joins the Business as Managing Director with Plant Hire Management Experience. Retiring in 1993.

1973 Tragically Jim Rawley dies in an Accident and Colin Rawley Takes over the Running of the Family Business.

Mid 1970's - Expansion into Watford as the company acquires R J Williams Plant Hire Ltd.

Brochure Cover from 1976

Brochure Cover 1976

Business Expands with Another Hire Shop

Basildon Hire Co Shop

1980 ~ 2000

1980's - Malcolm Hodges Joins the Business as Plant Manager. Invicta Plant Hire Ltd of Grays acquired. Rawley Plant Ltd now a Major Plant Hire Business in Essex Offering Plant, Power Tools, Scaffolding, Site Accommodation and Toilet Hire, Work Wear Sales and ‘Hireco Services’ Hire Shops Operating in Laindon, Benfleet and Wickford.

Rawley Expands its Products to Offer Portable Site Accommodation

Brochure Cover Hirespace

Fleet Expansion with the Addition of Bedford Vans to the Fleet

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Rawley Wins it's Reputation for Excellent Customer Service

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Hirespace Gets a Mention in Local Press

Traditional service providers news 1

Sponsored Bed Push Along Southend Sea Front

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Carnival Time - Rawley Loans Out A Truck for The Day

Basildon Carnival Float

1990's Colin’s Son Howard Joins the Business as a Management Trainee After Leaving the Royal Marines. Success Continues Despite Increasing Competition in Plant and Tool Hire.

1991 Lynhire of Godstone Surrey Purchased and Incorporated into Rawley Plant.

1992/93 - Brian Lance Retires. Malcolm Hodges Appointed as Managing Director.

1996 Godstone Branch Sold. Rawley Become Essex Wildlife Trust Members.

Essex Wildlife Trust - Gold Corporate Members

The New Millenium - Rawley Enters the Next Century

2001 - Rawley Event Toilets Created and Company Buys into the Convenience Company Franchise for Luxury Toilet Hire.

2002/2003 - Strategic Review Leads to Decision to Focus on Site Accommodation and Toilet Hire. Realigning of the Company to Cater for Construction Site Accommodation and Toilet Hire, and Event Toilet Hire, in London and the South east. Company Supplies Site Accommodation and Toilet Hire to the Building of the New A130 Road Between Chelmsford and the A13.

2003 Howard Rawley appointed as Operations Director

Howard Rawley

2004 Change of Strategy Completed. Company Moves to new Premises in Harvey Road, Burnt Mills, Basildon now Employing 25 People.

2005 Sale of Contractors Plant & Tool Hire Division Completed. Complete Focus Given to Developing Site Accommodation and Toilet Hire and Event Toilet Hire Products.

2005-2010 Company Wins Major Contracts with Balfour Beatty Widening Projects on the M1 and M25.

2010 - Rawley wins Environmental Awareness Award at the Basildon Business Awards

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2011 - Winners of Best Business in the Community at Basildon Business Awards

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2012 Howard Rawley Becomes Managing Director as Malcolm Hodges Retires.

2011 Rawley Plant Ltd Celebrates 50 Years of Trading and Makes a Legacy Donation to Help Fund an EWT Project at Langdon Hills Nature Reserve to Provide a Community Classroom for Children.

Essex Wildlife Trust Community Classroom

2012 Winners of Essex Countywide Business Award – Best Business In the Community. Rawley Plant are Named finalists of the Excellent Customer Service Award in the Basildon Business Awards.

2012 The Company Adds Bronze Level FORS (Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme) to its List of Awards Gaining Access to More Work in London and Access to Crossrail.

FORSLogoBronze_UD2

2013 - Company is Successful in its bid to Become Crossrail Compliant.

Crossrail

2012 - Rawley Plant Upgrades its Involvement with EWT by Becoming an Investor in Wildlife and Gold members of the EWT

2013 - Company wins Essex Countywide Business Awards for Excellent Customer Service

Excellent Customer Service Award Pic

2014 Rawley Plant Ltd Achieves ISO 9001 & 14001 Standards

2013 - Rawley Confirms it's Commitment to Corporate and Social Responsibility

Organisation for Responsible Business and Low Carbon Business

2016 - FORS Silver Achieved

2016 - Rawley Become Members of Essex Chambers of Commerce

2016 - CLOCS Award Achieved