6-Up for JAO Groundworks

As part of their continued business expansion plans, Somerset based JAO Groundworks Ltd has taken delivery of six new Develon DX140LCR-7 hydraulic excavators from main dealers Kellands Plant Sales.

Owner and Managing Director Jake Oaten had previously gained a wealth of experience working for a number large groundworks contractors across Somerset and Devon and in 2019 he decided to form JAO Groundworks Ltd.

Having initially been given the opportunity to price up a couple of schemes with long established local builders Notaro Homes and Davies Homes SW, Jake secured the contracts and quickly learnt a number of key qualities that he could provide to clients to add value to their projects. The company now works predominantly on new housing projects within a 50-mile radius of their base in Taunton, Somerset.

After sucessfully completing these contracts the company was given the opportunity to price for a large house builder Allison Homes SW which enabled JAO Groundworks to further accelerate their growth.

JAO has grown rapidly in its first five years, forming good working relationships with their clients, providing a high-quality level of service, which in turn leads to repeat business. The company is on track to achieve a turnover of circa 9m and the workforce has expanded to well over 50 employees.

The ambition is to continue to grow and to add more clients/projects to the order book and to further build on the excellent reputation they have gained over the past 5 years.

Talking about the future Jake said, “We have built a strong management team that supports our fantastic workforce out on site. We plan to make key appointments as necessary to continue to provide to our clients a best-in-class level of service.

We continue to update our machinery to provide top class efficiency for our drivers to be able to carry out the work in a safe and effective manner.

We also have an established supply chain that partners us in delivering high-quality materials and contracting. This ensures we can deliver projects on programme and within budget”.

Pictured Above: Jake Oaten JAO Groundworks Ltd (Left) & Richard Davis Kellands Plant Sales Ltd (Right)

This latest investment in Develon excavators is a significant move in the expansion plans for the business. Jake said, “We really rate the Develon product for our excavators from 14-tonne and above and we always get the very best service from the team at Kellands Plant Sales, who just go that extra mile to make the deal work for us and to offer the back-up we require”.

A full in-depth report on JAO Groundworks Ltd will feature in a future edition of Earthmovers Magazine in due course.