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Your Equipment Solutions invests in Kubota mini excavators

Your Equipment Solutions (Y.E.S.) is continuing to grow its presence across Scotland in response to increasing customer demand. Alongside its existing Dundee depot, the company opened new locations in Edinburgh and Glasgow earlier this year, before adding a fifth branch in Inverness in May.

To support this expansion, Y.E.S. has invested in more than 70 Kubota mini excavators supplied by local dealer HRN Tractors. The order includes a mix of 1.6, 1.8 and 3-tonne machines, significantly boosting its existing compact excavator fleet.

Founded in 2012 with just four employees, Your Equipment Solutions has grown into a major independent hire business, offering everything from mini excavators and site dumpers to generators, welfare units and more than 400 portable toilets. More than £3 million has recently been invested in new depots, additional staff and fleet expansion, with the company now operating over 150 mini excavators.

Managing Director David Johnstone said: "We strive to provide the complete service that customers expect. As an independent business, we can react quickly and offer a level of service that some larger companies simply can't match. We don't supply unique products, we just focus on delivering the best possible service."

Johnstone previously spent 24 years as a director of a national hire company before deciding to establish his own business. Initially employing just over 20 people, including six family members, the company has since grown to more than 70 staff.

Three years ago, Y.E.S. became an Employee Ownership Trust after Johnstone and the founding directors sold a 60% stake in the business to employees. He believes the move has strengthened the company's long-term future while maintaining its family-business culture.

"It gives our staff long-term security and helps everyone feel invested in the business," he said. "The key is retaining that family-business approach and ensuring people feel valued."

Community support also remains central to the company's ethos. Each depot works closely with local organisations, supporting sports clubs, schools, employment initiatives, gardening projects, dance schools and an annual Christmas Toy Appeal.

During the severe storms and widespread power cuts of 2024, the company also opened its depots outside normal hours, supplying more than 40 heaters free of charge to local residents.

"We're a sustainable business that tries to do the right thing whenever we can," added Johnstone.

Y.E.S. first introduced Kubota mini excavators in 2018 after listening to customer feedback, with operators consistently praising the machines' reliability, durability and ease of operation, alongside the support provided by HRN Tractors.

"Operators kept telling me to choose Kubota," Johnstone explained. "The five-year warranty was another major benefit, and the workshop team at HRN have always been on hand whenever we've needed support.

"I'd also like to thank Martin Norry at Kubota and Ian Burton at HRN for helping deliver this latest order in such a short timeframe."

While the business has evaluated larger Kubota models, its biggest machines currently remain the 3-tonne excavators, as they can still be transported behind a pick-up or van. However, with the company continuing to expand its fleet of larger delivery vehicles, heavier machines may become part of the fleet in future.

Looking ahead, Y.E.S. plans to continue growing through both acquisitions and organic expansion.

"We're seeing significant growth year after year," said Johnstone. "There are further opportunities in the pipeline, both geographically and in the range of equipment we offer."

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