Финская инвестиционная компания DevCo приобрела британский бизнес по аренде спецтехники Watson & Hillhouse

A specialist plant hire business has been acquired by a Finnish investment firm. Watson & Hillhouse Ltd, based on White House Road in Ipswich, has been purchased by DevCo. The £11m turnover company - which was founded in 1972 by Robin Watson and John Hillhouse - supplies piling and foundation equipment across the UK, Ireland and further afield. It employs 31 people. SIGN UP HERE FOR YOUR TWICE-WEEKLY BUSINESS DIGEST The Watson family has now fully exited the business following the sale. Phillip Bell, managing director and part owner of Watson & Hillhouse, will stay in post for the next three years. Mr Bell said: "Our primary objective when exploring a sale was to find a partner that shared our values and would protect our people. "DevCo’s unique long-term investment horizon provides our team with concrete employment security. "With our expert staff and DevCo's growth resources, we are perfectly positioned to build upon our legacy of customer service and technical excellence." Mr Bell has worked at the company for 46 years, having joined straight out of school in 1980. Watson & Hillhouse is known for its long-running apprenticeship programme, launched in the late 1970s, which aims to preserve and develop engineering talent in the piling industry. This scheme has supported the company’s growth and reputation as a trusted supplier of specialist equipment. The conversation around protecting staff was a core part of the sale process. The Watson family said preserving jobs and the future of the workforce was its absolute priority. DevCo is known for favouring long-term growth over quick returns. Watson & Hillhouse supplies the civil engineering, construction and marine sectors with modern piling equipment and technical expertise. DevCo, headquartered in Finland, specialises in supporting medium-sized companies with long-term capital and operational guidance.