SCOTTISH plant sector stalwart Harry Denholm joined Broxburn-based Field and Forest Machinery earlier this year.
Boasting several decades’ experience in the industry, Harry took up the role of construction equipment specialist, primarily involved with Yanmar machinery. Field and Forest is a dealer for Yanmar Compact Equipment for central Scotland. The growing company made a name for itself as an equipment supplier to the groundcare and forestry sector – particularly in regard to forestry attachments – and recently added Magni telehandlers to its portfolio.
Harry spoke to Project Plant about his varied career in the plant industry, Field and Forest’s expansion plans, and the importance of always telling the truth.
Q) What’s your background? How did you break into the plant industry?
A) My dad was a machine operator. He used to drive Caterpillar D8s and D9s and, when we were young, he took us along to work with him. That’s where I got the interest from.
After my apprenticeship I started working for Akerman for about 13 years until Volvo took us over in 1991. Akerman had taken me down to Chepstow to set up a depot in south Wales. After the takeover, I decided to start my own business and for almost 20 years, I repaired Akerman excavators all over the world.
For family reasons, we decided to come back home, and I joined TDL Equipment in Newhouse in 2008, where I worked as a customer and technical support manager for 11 years. After they gave up their position in Scotland, I moved onto Hamilton Brothers, a Wacker Neuson agent. I worked there for six years.
Tom Brown, MD of Field and Forest, kept asking me to come on board to work with Yanmar machines and that’s what I’ve been doing for the past ten months.
Q) What does your current role entail?
A) My day-to-day role involves looking after anything to do with Yanmar construction equipment – parts, sales, service. I’d also deal with breakdowns but we haven’t had any!
Q) What are some of the latest products and innovations provided by Field and Forest and how does the business stand out?
A) We’ve just taken over the Magni telehandler range of machines. The rotary telehandlers have taken off very well and we’ve already sold two 30-metre Magni RTH 6.30 rotating models to Gordon Bow Plant Hire in Broxburn as well as three into the forestry sector.
We stand out through service, backup, and the way the company is run. We do very well with repeat business from customers.
Q) What do you look for in the brands you work with?
A) Reliability. You’re looking for a good product with competitive pricing. So far, so good. The products we provide are very reliable, which gives us a lot more confidence as well.
Q) What can you tell us about the company’s future plans?
A) At this moment we’re refurbishing a new unit in Broxburn, which is probably about five times bigger than our current base. That’s the next step in the expansion programme. The unit is about 800 yards away from our current premises.
Q) We saw you exhibiting at ScotPlant earlier this year. How important do you think these kind of trade exhibitions are?
A) ScotPlant was absolutely brilliant. It was a first opportunity for us to show the products and they were received very, very well. Out of that I think we sold 15 machines.
Q) Most memorable moments from your career?
A) There’s many, many stories that could be told. I think it’s the people that you meet and become friends with over the years. I’ve also been able to travel to some amazing places including throughout Scandinavia, many regions of Germany, and Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean.
Q) Best piece of advice you’ve received?
A) Don’t have any friends in business! And always tell people the truth. I once went on a car journey with someone to Aberdeen and he spoke to a customer constantly on the phone the whole way there. When he came off the phone, he said, ‘Harry, you should do my job’. I told him I couldn’t do his job because I’d just heard him telling this man a whole load of rubbish! ‘I only told him what he wanted to hear’ was the reply. That’s not my motto.
Q) Any funny anecdotes from your career?
A) Whilst working with TDL, I was heavily involved in bringing the Chinese brand of excavator SANY to the UK market. We would often host R&D teams from the factory in China and take them to customers around the UK and Ireland so they could learn more about the requirements in the market.
On one of their first trips to Scotland, I was keen to give them a good impression and visited a customer in the north of Scotland. On previous nights, the Chinese visitors had been introduced to haggis and whisky, but were now keen to try Asian food. Little did I know they crossed Jimmy Chung’s Chinese buffet in Inverness. They certainly got a bit of Scottish/Chinese hospitality that night where they sampled chips with curry sauce for the first time!
Q) How do you relax when you’re not working?
A) I used to build hot rods for my son. I like mixing with people and going out at weekends with family. I’ve got three grandchildren now, so they keep us entertained. We do a lot of babysitting and taking them places. That’s my relaxation now.
