Dreams to reality

A JCB superfan has realised his dreams by setting up his own successful business with a JCB Pothole Pro.

For James Harper, JCB is more than just a machinery manufacturer. It is a brand that has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. Last year he was finally able to live out his boyhood dream of buying his first JCB.

Founded last year, HRP Contracting has quickly built a reputation for delivering pothole repairs, patching works, excavation, vegetation management and a range of other specialist services.

After securing its first contract with Leeds City Council in January, the business has gone from strength to strength and is now carrying out pothole and patching works for the local authority.

At the heart of the operation is a machine James knows better than most - the JCB Pothole Pro.

A lifelong passion for JCB 

James' connection with JCB began long before he entered the construction industry.

“I’ve always been a massive JCB fan,” he explains. “When I was younger my Dad took me around the countryside to see dancing diggers, it’s always been in my blood, the yellow. I always wanted my own machine.”

That passion has only grown stronger over the years.

“What JCB means to me - it might sound sad and corny - but it’s family. Whoever you speak to, we share a great feeling, it has more about it than other manufacturers. I have close ties with JCB, it’s that passion, that feeling when you buy a bit of yellow, you become part of the family, you feel like you’re part of something.

“When I’m driving up and down the roads in my JCB, young kids see it coming and start waving. It’s gone full circle because I was that little boy. I love seeing the next generation share my fondness of JCB and I want to use my machine to help cement it as the brand to use over others.”

Today, that childhood dream has become a reality, with James operating his own business and proudly running JCB machinery every day.

More than potholes 

While the Pothole Pro was designed to revolutionise road repairs, James is keen to highlight its versatility.

“I don’t just do potholes and patching with the Pothole Pro. I also do tree work, digging work, flail work - I like to maximise the machine to the best of its ability as it’s such a multi-skilled tool."

That flexibility allows HRP Contracting to maximise utilisation throughout the year and offer a wider range of services to customers. For James, this versatility is what truly sets the machine apart and the performance speaks for itself.

That versatility is invaluable for a growing business.

“I can go from fixing potholes in the morning to digging in the afternoon. No other machine can do that. When it’s wet and cold, you can be sitting in a nice warm cab with all those features and functions. You don’t need a separate planer or sweeper. With one machine carrying out multiple repair tasks, I can work more safely, in smaller spaces and with less disruption on roads. It’s quicker than traditional repairs as I can fix a pothole in under a minute.”