Fairfax: Our Story

A Family Business Built on Trust and Hard Work

Explore our journey to becoming one of regions leading plant hire companies. For 40 years, Fairfax Plant Hire has grown through family values, dedication to service, and an unwavering commitment to supporting the construction industry across Yorkshire, Midland and beyond.

1985 – Where It All Began

Fairfax was founded, and the very first machine – a Kubota KH31 mini excavator – marked the start of our plant hire story. From a single piece of equipment, the foundations were laid for a family business built to last.

1990 – Building Connections & Expanding Services

Kenneth became a partner, bringing with him a wealth of civil engineering knowledge and the vital industry contacts to grow. That same year, Fairfax became an official Calor Gas dealer for the Selby district – a key part of our early success.
We began forging long-term relationships with manufacturers like JCB, Thwaites and Kubota. We proudly became one of the first in the North to operate a telehandler, setting the tone for our commitment to innovation and quality equipment hire.

1995 – The Next Generation Joins

Matthew Love, Kenneth’s son, joined the business full-time as a delivery driver, gaining hands-on experience under the watchful eye of his dad, and growing with the company. The second generation of the Fairfax family was stepping in, ready to carry the torch.

2000 – A Family Business Takes the Lead

Kenneth and Carolyn Love took full ownership of Fairfax Plant Hire. With a small but dedicated team of six staff, the business continued to grow guided by integrity, great service, and a personal touch that’s still at the heart of everything we do today.

2004 – A New Home in Hemingbrough

As demand for plant hire services in Yorkshire increased, Fairfax made a big move relocating to a larger site and purchasing our first official depot in Hemingbrough. It was a major milestone, giving us space to expand our growing fleet of plant machinery.

2005 – Scaling Up with Mark Love

Mark Love, Kenneth’s eldest son, moved back north from London to help take the business to the next level. With a fresh perspective and strong family backing, Mark began driving growth and pushing the business forward into new markets.

2015 – A Legacy Continued

With the solid foundation laid by Kenneth, leadership passed to Matthew and Mark Love, who continued to grow the company while keeping Fairfax’s core family values front and Centre. The business was thriving trusted for its plant hire expertise, customer service, and reliable equipment across the region.

2016 – West Yorkshire Expansion

Fairfax Plant Hire opened a new depot in Leeds, extending our reach across West Yorkshire. This expansion enabled faster delivery, more local support, and even greater flexibility for contractors in Leeds and surrounding areas.

2017 – Moving into Our 8-Acre Selby HQ

Outgrowing our Hemingbrough yard, we relocated to a purpose built 8-acre site in Selby, becoming our flagship depot while Hemingbrough became our vehicle maintenance depot. This move allowed us to significantly expand our plant fleet, staff, and service capabilities.

2024 – Reaching East Yorkshire and Hitting milestones

Continuing our growth journey, we proudly opened our third depot, serving East Yorkshire. With sites now in Selby, Leeds, and Hull, we’re able to provide responsive, reliable plant hire solutions across the entire region.

2024 also saw Fairfax hit two significate milestones buying our 750th Dumper and 1000th Excavator

2025 – 40 Years of Fairfax

Fairfax Plant Hire celebrates 40 years in business! We’ve grown from one digger and a dream to a company with:

Over 120 employees
A fleet of more than 2,000 machines
Three fully operational depots
A reputation as one of the most trusted names in plant hire across Yorkshire , Midlands and Beyond

From generation to generation, Fairfax Plant Hire has stayed true to what matters, hard work, honest service, and the power of family. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and even more excited about what’s ahead.

Our Story