Four generations of ambition and growth at Fox

Established in Blackpool in 1932, Fox Brothers is a fourth generation family business whose humble beginnings have created a core ethos and culture that is still evident throughout the company today even as it has grown far beyond the ambitions of its founder.

Originally founded by Jack Fox, the company soon established itself as a prominent local name and began growing when Jack’s son Harold took over operations.

Known to many as Barney, Harold Fox - who’s initials still feature across the company’s striking fleet today - was a driving force in the company’s progression as a small family business to an ambitious, growing company.

After the passing of Harold Fox in 2007, Paul Fox took over operations. Paul was determined to continue driving the business further in a similar style to HF.

2018 was a pivotal year for Fox Brothers as the company received recognition, winning Construction Business of the Year at the BIBAs business awards.

The following year saw the company move premises to a new transport yard located at Squires Gate Industrial Estate in Blackpool, catering for the increased fleet size.

Most notably in 2020, Fox Brothers acquired Hurt Plant Hire, combining two of the North West’s biggest aggregate haulage companies and creating the Fox Group.

Building an empire

Today the Fox Group is a collection of companies which specialises in the supply and haulage of aggregates, recycled materials, muckshift, earthworks, plant hire, demolition, civil engineering, street lighting, highways and waste solutions.

Collectively it offers services to a range of customers across the house building, civils, infrastructure, highways and wider construction sectors.

The Fox Group of companies consists of Fox Brothers, Hurt Plant Hire, CMP Plant Hire, Bacup Clay Company, Fox Properties, Celplas PVC and JJ O’Grady.

Each company brings its own dimension to the group allowing for greater service provisions and spanning across a wider service area, with the Fox Group now able to compete for contracts across the UK.

The core values instilled by Jack Fox are still at the heart of the business today, including working closely with the local community.

The Fox Group is in the final stages of setting up an academy within HM Prison Service, whereby they will train soon-to-be released offenders and then support them into employment with the group on their release.

Plotting a bright future

This is the first time that Fox Brothers has appeared on Lancashire Business View’s Hot 100 list, but they intend to become a regular fixture in the years to come, already announcing additional acquisitions and continuing their expansion plans.

The plan for the Fox Group is to continue to grow both organically and through selective acquisitions that assist and strengthen the group’s current services.

But no matter how far and wide the business expands its reach, it will all be built on the foundations first laid in 1932, continuing the legacy of the generations that have gone before.

RECENT KEY PROJECTS

• A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool bypass around the village of Little Singleton for main contractor Kier

• Enabling works to prepare development plots within the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone site for Lancashire County Council

• Subcontractor for John Sisk as part of the first phase civils package for infrastructure works on the Port Salford inland freight terminal

• Subcontractor for Lagan Construction providing aggregate haulage as part of extension works to Ronaldsway Airport in the Isle of Man