Rival swoops for stricken Hawk’s Hinkley Point plant

Plant hire firm Plantforce Rentals has snapped up over 100 machines in use on Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant that previously belonged to Hawk Plant (UK), which collapsed into administration earlier this week.

• Carillion fallout drags Hawk Plant into administration

South West-based Plantforce struck a deal with Hawk’s administrator EY to acquire the machinery on what is Europe’s largest construction site.

The deal means that work on the site continues as normal.

Plantforce already has 186 items of plant on the site and worked alongside Hawk for the last four years. It is taking on all site-based machinery, contracts and infrastructure and has secured the employment of over 100 full-time plant operators.

Claire Trott managing director of Plantforce Rentals said: “This is a sad outcome for a company which has dominated the plant hire world for many years and a company we have very much respected. This is a strategic decision with our main priority being to secure the continued employment of the workforce on site and minimize the impact on the Hinkley Point C project. 

“It has taken the last four days to secure the contract, works and staff. Plantforce’s fast reaction and ability to adapt has been key in making this deal happen but it could not have been done without the input of Peter Carney and Alastair Lomax from TLT and all the team members from administrators EY and venture capital group BGF, who have worked tirelessly through the weekend and this week to achieve what is a good outcome for all parties.”