FALKIRK-headquartered Your Equipment Solutions (YES) has doubled its number of depots to four after opening new premises in Glasgow’s east end and Loanhead, near Edinburgh, following a solid year of growth in 2025.
The hire firm, which also has a base in Dundee, is looking to further extend its ‘rapid and reactive’ service to customers in Scotland’s two largest cities and along the M8 corridor. To support the move, YES has invested £3 million in its fleet, including almost 80 Kubota mini and micro-excavators, a significant volume of Alloy towers, more than 50 Genie push-around material lifts, scissor lifts, general tools and equipment, as well as additions to the portable toilet and welfare portfolio.
The business has also made a number of senior appointments, with Kevin McDade and Douglas Smeaton joining as branch directors in Glasgow and Edinburgh, respectively, Colin Inglis joining as commercial director, and John Monaghan being appointed as director of products and assets.
“Being situated in Falkirk means we’re halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and were already supplying an existing customer base before the opening of the new depots,” MD David Johnstone told Project Plant. “The openings, however, have enhanced the ability for YES customers to hire more locally.
“Hires are often unplanned events; something happens on site and equipment is needed right away. You need to have that flexibility to be able to react to unplanned events.”
The new depots are located in the Dennistoun area of Glasgow and Loanhead, Midlothian. The sites are well known to Colin Inglis as they previously belonged to Eagle Plant Hire, a business Colin led from 2005 until its sale just over two years ago.
David Johnstone heralded the new appointments at YES as ‘crucial’ to the company’s growth plans.
The business has been offering Kubota machines since 2017. The latest models in the fleet – ranging from micro to three-tonne diggers – will be spread across all four depots, with the firm aiming for fluidity and flexibility to ensure rapid solutions for customers.
“Reliability,” Colin replied, when asked why Kubota proved to be a sought after manufacturer at YES and also at Eagle prior to the MBO. “Over the years they proved extremely reliable and, when required, their back-up service is very, very good – so our customer is able to experience a reliable product that gets the job done.”
While new recruits Kevin McDade and Douglas Smeaton will lead the new depots, long-term YES employees Gregor Mabbott and Ryan Johnstone will continue to head the Falkirk and Dundee sites, respectively, and have been instrumental in driving the company’s recent growth. David Johnstone stated that with the experience the firm has across the whole company, the aim is to replicate the success of these two depots in the new ones.
“Kevin and Douglas have both been in the industry for over 35 years,” David added. “It’s a nice balance between Gregor and Ryan, who have youth on their side. There’s a nice mix of real experience with youthfulness, ideas, and freshness.”
YES credits its standing as an independent business as being a major factor behind its success, allowing it to stay true to its founding principle of being run to the benefit of customers – particularly in the event of emergencies, where processes and authorisation limits can often slow down transactions with some national competitors.
“There’s something we’re doing that (customers) like,” David explained. “People like dealing with independents because they get that consistent service.”
To mark the opening of the new depots, YES plans to host a series of opens days this year to give new and existing customers the opportunity to tour the sites, have a look at the latest machines, and meet the team. The firm has also vowed to replicate the community work it is involved in around Falkirk and Dundee within the new locations.
Partnerships have already been launched with children’s hospitals and grassroots football teams in Glasgow and Edinburgh, with David adding that the size of the two cities won’t stop YES from giving back to the communities in which it serves.
