A legacy built together

A leading plant hirer’s latest investment in JCB excavators, booms and rollers is only the latest instalment in a story that started four generations ago. 

Some business relationships are measured in years. Others span generations. 

For Ridgway Rentals, its connection with JCB stretches back more than six decades - beginning before the company itself existed. Today, with around 800 machines operating across the UK, half of them proudly wearing the JCB badge, that relationship remains as strong as ever, built on shared family values, innovation and an unwavering commitment to customer service. 

Still family-owned and operating from its purpose-built headquarters in Shropshire, Ridgway Rentals has become one of the UK's leading plant hire specialists. Founded in 1977 by Tim Jones, the business supplies machinery nationwide to sectors including housebuilding, quarrying, waste and recycling, infrastructure, agriculture, landscaping and major national projects. Supported by its own fleet of transport vehicles and dedicated workshop and mobile service engineers, Ridgway has built a reputation for delivering tailored solutions and exceptional support. 

Today, Tim's sons, Stuart and Rob lead the business, while his other son Adam runs the Marketing department and a fourth generation is already represented through Stuart’s son Oliver who recently joined the company. Tim himself still works from the office every day, continuing a remarkable family story that began more than 60 years ago. 

Where it all began 

The Ridgway story starts in 1961 when Bob Jones, affectionately known as RAJ, founded RAJ (Mechanisations) Ltd to sell and service JCB equipment throughout Shropshire, Herefordshire and Mid Wales. Having recognised the enormous potential of JCB's innovative hydraulic digger loaders, Bob approached Joseph Cyril Bamford about becoming the area's JCB dealer. 

Within weeks, the dealership had been established and the first JCB Hydro-Digger arrived in Shrewsbury. The business flourished almost immediately, earning JCB's prestigious Dealer of the Year award in 1961, 1962 and 1963 - an achievement that cemented the family's relationship with the manufacturer. 

Bob's son, Tim Jones, followed in his father's footsteps, developing experience across every aspect of the business before helping JCB establish its dealer network in the United States. Following the sale of RAJ (Mechanisations) Ltd in 1973, Tim founded Ridgway Rentals in 1977 with an innovative business model, supplying self-drive construction equipment to the plant hire industry. Those same principles of innovation, quality and service continue to underpin the business today. 

Since 1961, the Jones family businesses have purchased around 2,000 JCB machines, making the relationship one of the longest-standing in the construction industry. 

A fleet built around JCB 

Ridgway Rentals now operates one of the UK's most comprehensive JCB hire fleets, including micro excavators, X Series tracked excavators, Loadall telescopic handlers, loading shovels, site dumpers, rollers, backhoe loaders and powered access equipment. The company's 400-strong JCB fleet supports projects across virtually every sector of the construction industry. 

Alongside the quality of the machines themselves, Ridgway values the complete support package that comes with investing in JCB. Longstanding relationships with both Gunn JCB and JCB Finance give the business confidence that it has the backing needed as it continues to grow. 

Stuart Jones, Managing Director, values the nationwide support available to a business whose machines are working across every corner of the UK. 

"The nationwide service is great and we can trust JCB to sort out any issues quickly wherever our machines have gone to work. This is particularly important for hire companies like ourselves where a machine can be anywhere in the UK." 

As Ridgway Rentals Chairman, Tim Jones said: 

“We find JCB Finance to be a strong companion in our dealings with JCB. They’re very forward-thinking and by thinking outside of the box, they make many deals work which otherwise wouldn’t be possible.” 

The Perfect Pair 

One recent project perfectly demonstrated the capability of JCB equipment. Faced with a challenging concrete breaking application, Ridgway supplied a JCB 370X equipped with a JCB HM330T hydraulic breaker. The combination dramatically increased productivity on site.

As Stuart Jones explains:

"The 370X and JCB HM330T breaker combination completely changed the progress of the overall job and turned days of work into hours."

A Partnership Built on Service

For a national hire company operating hundreds of machines across the UK, responsive support is every bit as important as machine performance. Ridgway Rentals' long-standing relationship with Gunn JCB continues to provide the confidence that comes from working with people who understand the business and its customers. 

Robert Jones adds: "The service is the main reason we continue to buy JCB machines. We are very happy with the service. Gunn JCB listen to us and always find a solution." 

The company also relies on genuine JCB parts, with fast delivery and a straightforward ordering process helping its engineering team maintain the fleet to the highest standards. JCB Finance remains another important part of the partnership, as Tim Jones explains: 

“With JCB you get the full package. We find JCB Finance to be a strong companion in our investments in JCB equipment. They’re very proactive and by thinking outside of the box, they have made many deals work for us which may otherwise not have been possible.” 

As Ridgway Rentals Marketing Manager, Adam Jermaine-Jones concludes: "We have been doing this for a long time and JCB have been there with us throughout. It's been an adventure and we look forward to continuing that journey together for many years to come." 

Sixty-Five More

For Ridgway Rentals, JCB has never simply been a machinery supplier. Across four generations of the Jones family, it has been a trusted partner, supporting the business as it has grown from a pioneering dealership in the early 1960s into one of the UK's leading plant hire companies today. 

Some partnerships are built on contracts. The very best are built on trust. 

After 65 years together, the Jones family and JCB are proving that some relationships only get stronger with time.