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Flannery Newsletter: February 2026

27 February 2026

Welcome to February's edition of the Flannery Plant Hire LinkedIn Newsletter!

It's been a Fantastic February for Flannery, with some huge announcements - Here are the Highlights!

Warrington: A new Northern Superhub for Flannery

We’re excited to officially open our brand new Warrington Depot, marking a major milestone for Flannery and a significant investment in our Northern operations.

Designed as the Northern Superhub for plant hire, the Warrington depot is three times the size of our Irlam facility, providing increased space, enhanced infrastructure and expanded capacity to support our customers and partners across the region. The site has been developed to meet the growing demands of major infrastructure and construction projects, with the scale and capability required to deliver safely, efficiently and at pace.

The new depot offers greater room for an extensive and diverse fleet, specialist equipment and modern operational facilities, enabling us to continue raising standards across plant hire, logistics and service delivery. This investment reflects Flannery’s ongoing commitment to innovation, long term capability and sustainable growth – ensuring we are well positioned to support projects of all sizes, now and into the future.

It was a pleasure to welcome customers, partners and industry colleagues to our open day, providing an opportunity to explore the site, view the fleet and learn more about how the Warrington Superhub will strengthen our ability to support the construction sector across the North

Bigger. Smarter. Ready for anything.

Investing in the Next Generation: National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week in February gave us the opportunity to shine a spotlight on something that sits at the heart of Flannery – our commitment to developing future talent and creating meaningful career pathways within the construction and plant hire industry.

At Flannery, apprenticeships are about more than qualifications. They are about real experience, long term progression and supporting individuals to build sustainable careers through high-quality training and hands-on-learning.

During National Apprenticeship Week, we shared an overview of our Land-Based Service Engineer Apprenticeship Programme, hearing from our apprentice mentor, Paul Beard, who plays a key role in supporting apprentices throughout their journey.

Our programme is designed around the principle of earning while learning, combining structured college education with practical, real-world experience in our depot workshops. Apprentices gain hands on exposure to hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical systems, working alongside experienced engineers while developing the technical and professional skills needed to succeed in the industry.

This blended approach ensures our apprentices don’t just learn theory, but build the confidence and competence required to progress into long term roles within Flannery and the wider sector. It’s a clear reflection of our investment in people – and the future of our business.

We also shared a dedicated Apprentice Fitter episode, highlighting the personal journey of Kristen Moody, whose story shows that it’s never too late to take a new direction.

Through the Flannery Apprenticeship Programme, Kristen has been able to work, learn and earn – gaining practical experience while developing new skills in a supportive environment. His story reflects the strength of our apprenticeship model: structured training, day to day learning on the job, and a culture that encourages growth and progression.

As Kristen explains, the trust and support available at Flannery make a real difference, with mentors and colleagues always on hand to provide guidance and direction.

If you’re considering a career in plant engineering or maintenance, our apprenticeship pathway offers a practical, supported route to build your future with Flannery.

Find out more and apply HERE

Flannery Achieves PAS 2080:2023 Certification

Flannery has achieved PAS 2080:2023 certification, becoming the first operated plant hire company in the UK to be awarded this internationally recognised standard for whole-life carbon management.

PAS 2080 is the leading global framework for managing and reducing carbon emissions across the built environment. It sets best practice for how organisations measure, manage and reduce carbon across the entire value chain – from early decision making and design through to delivery and long term operation.

Achieving this certification marks a significant milestone for Flannery and reflects the strength and maturity of our approach to carbon reduction. It recognises the work we have undertaken across our business, including targeted fleet investment, operational efficiencies and the robust processes embedded to support more sustainable delivery for our customers.

Our strategy focuses on practical, measurable action – investing in more efficient equipment, alternative fuels, digital solutions and collaborative working practices that help clients reduce whole-life carbon on their projects. PAS 2080 independently validates that approach, providing confidence that sustainability is a structured, accountable part of how Flannery operates.

Patrick Flannery, Managing Director, commented:

PAS 2080 certification is a major milestone for us. It independently verifies the work we’re doing to measure, manage and reduce carbon across our operations, and it gives our clients confidence that we’re supporting them with the highest standards of sustainability in the industry. This is a fantastic achievement for our team and a really positive step forward for our sector. Many of the clients and contactors we support already hold this certification and expect the same standards from their supply-chain partners. If it’s important to our customers, it’s important to us.

Looking ahead, Flannery will continue to build on this achievement by embedding carbon management into decision-making, operations and long-term investment planning. PAS 2080 provides a clear framework to support continuous improvement – ensuring lasting environmental value for clients, communities and the wider construction industry.

This certification reinforces Flannery’s position as a leader in sustainable operated plant hire, and underlines our commitment to supporting a lower carbon future for the built environment

Women In Construction Day: Expanded due to Exceptional Demand

With just days to go until Women in Construction Day on 7 March, we’re pleased to share an exciting update – due to the level of interest and strong response we’ve received, the event has been expanded to include an additional location.

Alongside the original venues, Women in Construction Day will now also take place at our Needham Market Depot, allowing us to welcome more attendees and ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to take part.

The demand we’ve seen for this event highlights a growing appetite for accessible, practical routes into construction – particularly within plant operations and site-based roles. It’s encouraging to see so many individuals interested in learning more about the industry, meeting trainers, and experiencing the Operator Skills Hub environment first-hand.

Women in Construction Day has been designed to provide insight into the real career pathways available through training, showcasing hands on learning, supportive progression routes and the opportunities that exist across the sector. The addition of a fourth location reflects the importance of the day and reinforces our commitment to widening access and supporting greater representation within construction.

As the event approaches, we look forward to welcoming attendees to all locations and continuing to support those taking their first step into the industry.

Behind the Fleet: Flannery Fitters in Manchester

In this edition of Flannery Fitters, we head to Manchester to highlight the skilled team working behind the scenes to keep our fleet performing at it’s best.

Our fitters play a critical role in supporting projects across the region, carrying out hands on maintenance, fault finding and problem solving to ensure machines are safe, reliable and ready for site. Their expertise helps keep operations moving efficiently, even in the most demanding environments.

Being a Flannery fitter means working with industry leading equipment, supporting major infrastructure and construction projects, and being part of a team that takes real pride in maintaining high standards every day. It’s a role that combines technical skill, responsibility and teamwork – with clear opportunities to develop and progress.

This episode offers an insight into the people who help underpin our operations and demonstrates the importance of fitters in maintaining the UK’s largest operated plant hire fleet.

For those looking to build a career in plant maintenance and engineering, the opportunities are available across the business.

Apply HERE

A Legacy that Stands the Test of Time

As we look ahead to the future of skills, sustainability and innovation, it’s also important to reflect on the projects that have helped shape Flannery’s history.

In the late 1990’s, Flannery was proud to support the major redevelopment of the Royal Albert Hall, one of the world’s most iconic and recognisable venues. The works involved extensive below-ground excavation beneath the south side of the building, carried out while world-class performances continued above ground – a true demonstration of precision, planning and engineering expertise.

The project delivered the South Steps (South Porch), new basement areas beneath the existing Victorian structure, strengthened foundation sand modern backstage and artist facilities that remain in use today. Working alongside Sir Robert McAlpine as main contractor, the redevelopment required specialist plant, experienced operators and a careful approach within a constrained, heritage-sensitive environment.

More than 25 years on, the work carried out beneath the Hall continues to support its ongoing operation – preserving it’s heritage while enabling it to function as a modern, world leading venue. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact well-planned infrastructure can have, and of the importance of engineering expertise, collaboration and long-term thinking.

Projects like this reflect what Flannery has always stood for: delivering complex work safely and professionally and creating solutions that endure long after the job is complete. It’s a legacy we’re proud to build on as we continue supporting the industry today – and shaping what comes next.

That’s a wrap for this month’s newsletter! Stay tuned for more updates and industry insights from Flannery Plant Hire. If you’d like to learn more about our Skills Bootcamps or our latest investments in fleet and training, visit our website.

Innovation. Everywhere.

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