History

The Bennie story dates back to the 1930s with Peter Bennie starting a contract ploughing company. The company invested heavily in a wide range of machinery at its conception, diversifying the approach to work and modernising the industry. During the Second World War much of the business’ early work was in aiding the war effort through the construction of air fields.

Over nearly nine decades the business has grown and evolved into a family of great companies which operate in multiple sectors. The Bennie Group is still a family run business today; now in its fourth generation of family management. We are an organisation that has our foundations and heritage laid in the last century, but with our vision and approach very much in the 21st.

A brief overview of our Group’s evolution:

1935 – Peter Benne enlarges his farming business to commencing operations as an agricultural and earthmoving contractor in Barton Seagrave.

1941 – Peter Bennie formally registers business. .

1960 – Roger Toseland (son in law of Peter Bennie) joined the business.

1965 – Roger Toseland succeed Peter Bennie as Chairman, on Peter’s early retirement from the business.

1965 – Ken Hall Ltd. is founded by Ken Hall.

1967 – Midland Fork Lifts Ltd. (now Bennie Equipment Ltd), is established.

1969 – Barton Plant Ltd (now Barton Contracting Ltd). was incorporated as an earthmoving & plant hire company as Peter Bennie Ltd. diverged into stone quarrying and heavy haulage.

1982 – Boughton Loam Ltd. originated at Boughton Quarry Northampton.

2006 – Emma Ayres (granddaughter of Peter Bennie) takes over running the business.

2011 – Premier Groundworks Ltd. joins the Group and relocates to Burton Latimer.

2012 – Premier Groundworks is rebranded Barton Civils.

2013 – Paramount Fork Trucks Ltd. joins the Group.

2014 – Bennie celebrated 75 years in business.

2017 – Midland Fork Lifts and Paramount Fork Trucks are merged to create Bennie Equipment Ltd.

2019 – Bennie celebrated over 80 years in business.

2020 – Matthew Ayres, the 4th generation of the family becomes Group Managing Director, & Emma Ayres becomes Group Chairman.

2021 – Bennie Plant Ltd founded to focus on Group’s plant holding and management.

2022 – Bennie becomes an approved sales and service centre of CAT & Bennie Haulage Ltd is founded to develop the Groups Transport and Haulage offering.

2024 – Bennie acquires 4k Systems Ltd, expanding Bennie Equipment’s operations into the South West.