Page 74 • The HERALD • 7th August 2025 v WE’VE BEEN YOUR LOCAL SINCE 1994 v ASK A PROFESSIONAL Elliotts Builders Merchants Acquires New Forest Hire to Expand Tool and Equipment Offering Elliotts, the South’s leading independent supplier of building materials, continues its strong growth trajectory with the acquisition of well-established tool and plant hire company, New Forest Hire. e acquisition of Totton-based New Forest Hire is signi cant as it allows Elliotts to expand its existing product o ering by providing its customers with the ability to hire a wide range of tools and plant equipment, which will help them deliver build projects large and small. New Forest Hire will retain its current trading name and people, with day-to-day operations remaining unchanged, whilst being welcomed into the wider Elliotts portfolio of businesses, which also includes; Elliotts Builder’s Stuart Long, who has owned New Forest Hire for the last 10 years said, “I am proud of what we have achieved at New Forest Hire and today marks an exciting new era for the company to be joining the Elliotts family of businesses. I am sure the business will go from strength to strength whilst retaining the high level of service that our customers are used to.” Elliotts, which was named Employer of the Year at the Solent 250 Awards in 2024, supplies a wide range of building materials to the trade and the public across the South. e business has been family owned and run since it was founded in 1842, with its head o ces still operating from the founding site at Millbank Wharf in Northam, Southampton. Tom Elliott, CEO of Elliotts said, “Our long-term aim is for Elliotts to become a complete ‘one-stop shop’ to help our customers build. Acquiring New Forest Hire marks a significant step in expanding our product offering and gives us the flexibility to offer our customers additional value through an easy to access hire option for any equipment or plant machinery that they may need. New Forest Hire’s strong local reputation and specialist expertise complement our 183-year foundation of customer service and industry knowledge. I am really excited to welcome them to the group and look forward to working together to build an exciting future together.” For more information visit: elliotts.uk (Left to right) Stuart Long, New Forest Hire and Tom Elliott, Elliotts Merchants, Elliotts Living Spaces, Elliotts Premier Roo ng and the recently acquired Futuremost Group. Connect It Welcomes Dan Collins as Head of Sales and Marketing Connect It Utility Services (CIUS) based in Southampton has welcomed Dan Collins to its senior management team as Head of Sales and Marketing. Dan brings with him a wealth of experience in the utility sector, joining CIUS from Utilita Energy, where he was Head of Sales Operations. In his new role, Dan will focus on aligning the company’s commercial strategy with its broader vision for sustainable growth and innovation. Dan said: “I’m delighted to be joining Connect It, which is a true leader in its field. I’m looking forward to bringing to the new role my focus on building a connected, agile sales and marketing function that anticipates client needs and adapts to evolving market trends. I’m passionate about leading through collaboration, delivering commercial success and driving forward Connect Its position as a trusted partner in the utilities sector.” Laban Giles, Managing Director at Connect It, said: “We are so pleased to welcome Dan on board. We’ve recently enjoyed a period of significant growth and we want to build on the great work that our shareholders, directors and employees have done to strengthen our commercial and operational position. Dan joins us to help shape and deliver our ambitious expansion plans as we look to grow our regional presence and deliver industry-leading infrastructure and utility solutions to an everexpanding customer base.” Dan Collins
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=