Elevate and Celebrate with John Sutch Cranes — your partner in reaching new heights. Precision, safety, and excellence set the stage for our soaring success.

Welcome to the second edition of Elevate & Celebrate, John Sutch Crane's newsletter. We're thrilled to share exciting updates, industry insights, and a glimpse into #ourcraneworld.

From the Office Desk of John Sutch: Celebrating Our Team and Charting a Path Forward

As we reflect on a remarkable start to the year, I am immensely proud to acknowledge the heartbeat of John Sutch Cranes – our dedicated team. It's the hardworking individuals out in the field who bring our projects to life, and it's crucial to recognise the collective effort that goes into making our business thrive.

Our Unsung Heroes: The Back Office Team

Behind every successful operation, there's a team tirelessly working 'on the other side' of the yard – our unsung heroes in the back office. Their meticulous planning, coordination, and commitment to excellence do not go unnoticed. It's their dedication that allows us to navigate the complexities of the industry and execute projects seamlessly.

Apprenticeship Success Stories: Nurturing Talent for the Future

As we gear up for National Apprenticeship Week in February 2024, I am thrilled to share the success stories emerging from our very own talent academy. Frank Miller and his son Joe stand as living examples of the legacy we're building. Their journey, along with rising stars like Alex Griffiths and Thomas Meecham, embodies the spirit of our very own programme.

Our commitment to developing young talent extends beyond training; it's about fostering a sense of belonging and pride in the construction industry. This National Apprenticeship Week, we celebrate the achievements of those who've come through our ranks and look forward to nurturing many more aspiring individuals.

Marketing the Future: A Big Fleet, Bigger Opportunities

With a fleet as extensive as ours, we're embarking on a mission to keep it buzzing with activity. January has been excellent, thanks to the perseverance and dedication of our staff. As we market our business more actively, we want our clients to experience not just the size of our fleet, but the caliber of our service.

Finally, I want to share news of a potential new partnership with Ronald McDonald House, a charity which is going above and beyond for families very close to our depot in Liverpool. My daughter Hayley, Designate MD, and our General Manager, Paul Conneely, were moved by some of the stories they were told and we’ll be doing something to help those families whose children are undergoing hospital care at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

As we move forward, I express my gratitude to every member of the John Sutch Cranes family. Your hard work is the bedrock of our achievements, and I'm excited about the promising future we are collectively building.

Warm regards,

John Sutch

Owner & MD, John Sutch Cranes

Business Update . . .

John Sutch Cranes Secures Major Contracts

In a dynamic start to the year, John Sutch Cranes has marked a significant milestone with a series of achievements, firmly establishing the company as a leader in the crane operations industry.

Contract Wins and Extensions:

As we begin Q1 2024, the company has celebrated the realisation of goals set in the final quarter of 2023, securing notable contract wins. While specific details of some significant contracts remain confidential during ongoing due diligence, we can squarely say that a substantial North West contract is poised to make a considerable impact for our business.

Further enhancing our long-standing relationships, John Sutch Cranes can proudly announce a two-year contract extension with a national contractor. This extension reaffirms the trust and success derived from the collaboration over the years. Additionally, a 12-month contract extension with another customer in the North West highlights the strength of the partnership we’ve nurtured and we continue to work well together out on site.

Fleet Expansions and Utilisation:

The company's fleet has played a pivotal role in its recent successes. The Liebherr LTM 1450-8.1, a recent addition to the fleet, has been deployed on various projects, including the Isle of Man Ferry Terminal at Liverpool Docks. Meanwhile, the new Tadano HK4.050-1 showcases its versatility through consistent deployment on general hire projects, emphasising the fleet's efficiency and adaptability.

As John Sutch Cranes continues to thrive in a highly competitive industry, the company remains dedicated to innovation and excellence. Plans for ongoing investments in the fleet signal a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of clients and ensuring sustained growth in the future. Again, we’ll reveal more about the incoming additions in the forthcoming months.

Ex-Teacher chooses career with John Sutch Cranes

JOHN Sutch Cranes slinger Nile Harwood-Jenkins has swapped his career in the classroom for one in construction as he embarks on a new life in the crane industry.

Nile, 32, joined Sutch’s over six months ago after turning his back on a 10-year teaching career working across schools in Lancashire and Merseyside. And now, in his first year in the blue and yellow of John Sutch Cranes, he says he not regretted a ‘second of it’.

“I wish I had done it years ago,” Nile said.

“I just love working in construction and I feel like I’ve really found my place and home at John Sutch Cranes.

 “There’s guys here that have worked for John more than I have been alive and I’m picking up all that experience. Every day I am learning something new. The job just suits the way I think and the way I approached things in my teaching career.

“I enjoy problem solving and working through the safest methods to sling loads. You look at jobs you’re on and you think ‘I helped build that’.

It’s been a great start to his life at Sutch’s with Sales Director Paul Parry trusting Nile to work on one of John Sutch Cranes’ biggest North West jobs.

Nile, from Prescot, and enjoying life ’10 minutes away from the depot in Bootle’, spent four years of his life studying for a Professional Graduate Certification in Education.

That’s three years in at the University of Cumbria in the Lake District for a Foundation Degree in Outdoor Education and then a further 12 months at the University of Central Lancashire up in Preston.

While he says working with young people did have its moments, he just felt his calling was elsewhere.

Nile didn’t have to look far as being around construction work through his family and friends, he applied his teaching mind to becoming a slinger and potentially a crane operator of the future.

Nile threw all his weight behind reinventing himself; reading, studying and immersing himself in anything and everything to do with crane operations.

Accreditations soon followed for the Liverpool lad and soon he was on his path to crane life. He worked across a number of different agencies before landing at Sutch’s and he's not looked back.

It’s a far cry from what he was experiencing this time last year as he taught young people both inside and outside the classroom, including people in NEAT (not in education, employment or training).

“I’d done 10 years and it was really stressful,” he added.

“There are a lot of hours - as there is in construction, but I’m more freely available at home now than I have been in teaching. Because when I leave construction sites each day, there’s no planning or marking to do”. 

“When I look back I’m around for my family more now, than I was when commuting back and forth from a school in Preston, whereas the yard is only 10 minutes away.

“I’ve been away a few times to Immingham, Grimsby and Boston on jobs and I really enjoyed the crack with the team and just absorbing everything that goes on on site with different colleagues.”

There are other benefits, too.

He added: “I’ve not only found the right job for me and something I want to do for the rest of my career – hopefully for John Sutch – I’ve bettered myself. It’s made a big difference to family life.”

It’s moments like these when owner and MD, John Sutch, walks across the yard to see how his new recruit is doing and ‘to wish me well before Christmas’.

“I’ve got so much respect for John and what he’s done and the business he has created. The people make it, it’s like one big family here and everyone is looking out for you. John said as much himself to me. Stuff like that is not lost on me – you don’t always see it, you do here.”

Paul Parry added: “Nile is a credit to himself. He’s worked tremendously hard to get where he is today. It takes a lot for someone to change a job, nevermind a career. Working with cranes is the furthest thing away from what he was doing teaching students.

“We have been really impressed with his work, his enthusiasm and determination to succeed. He has a bright future here. The industry is lucky to have him."

National Apprenticeship Week 2024: Unveiling Our Future Leaders

As National Apprenticeship Week approaches, we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent within John Sutch Cranes.

Stay tuned on our socials as we celebrate the achievements of our apprentices and showcase the inspiring journeys of individuals like Joe Miller, Alex Griffiths, and Thomas Meecham.

Their stories reflect not only our commitment to nurturing young talent but also the bright future that lies ahead for our dedicated team. Check out our social media feeds for a week of insights, success narratives, and a glimpse into the thriving apprenticeship culture at John Sutch Cranes.

#NAW2024 #ApprenticeshipSuccess #BuildingFutures

Check out our brand new Drone Video Page

At John Sutch Cranes we’re committed to providing the very best service for our customers and now our followers can check out how we deliver that expert work out on site with our new Vimeo Page.

Click the link in the image to see our MP4 video.

John Sutch Cranes Ltd Designate MD Hayley Sutch and General Manager, Paul Conneely, had the privilege of visiting Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House Charities in West Derby, #Liverpool last week.

There’s some exciting times ahead for both organisations as we explore a new charity partnership to raise funds for ‘Mac House’.

For 35 years, our commitment to giving back has touched communities in the North West, and now we're making another meaningful impact in our beloved city, #Liverpool.

We were grateful to hear from Janet Pennington, Senior Corporate Partnership Manager at Ronald McDonald House, about the inspiring £2m fundraising campaign for the charity, supporting families during challenging times at Alder Hey.

Stay tuned for more details on our journey as we look to do our bit to help such a worthy cause. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

🏗️❤️ #JohnSutchCranes #CommunityImpact #LiverpoolCares 💛💙