SALES director Rob Kennerley sought the advice of a Higher Whitley firm to help his Wincham-based firm to secure one of the biggest contracts in its 13-year-history.

Mr Kennerley is the area sales director for North Western Materials Handling Limited, which was formed in 2002 by Mr Kennerley and Nigel Griffiths, who are both from Northwich.

The company specialises in sales/service and the hire of all types of material handling equipment, mainly industrial fork lifts, and is also an authorised Caterpillar dealer.

One of the firm’s major customers is Scottish Southern Energy, which had initially ordered various Caterpillar fork lift trucks for its site at the Fiddlers Ferry power station.

However when it wanted tractors, trailers and other similar equipment to operate at the Warrington-based plant it turned to Mr Kennerley at North Western Materials Handling.

“Although I am aware of tractors and water bowsers and how they are operated within the agricultural industry, I felt I needed some help in specifying the correct equipment, particularly for such a safety conscious site,” said Mr Kennerley.

“So I decided to give Andrew Dutton, who is one of the owners of Cheshire Farm Machinery at Higher Whitley, a ring.

“His knowledge of the product that I was looking for was essential to the deal, and there was no room for error with £750,000 at stake.”

With the help of Mr Dutton North Western Materials Handling delivered six new tractors and 14 other pieces of equipment - water bowsers, lighting towers and a salt spreading gritter and snow plough, trailers and a tractor unit.

Mr Kennerley and Mr Dutton attended Leftwich High School, and both are actively involved in supporting the local community.

Mr Kennerley coaches Goostrey Juniors under 11s football team and Mr Dutton runs Knutsford under 11s rugby team.

North Western Materials Handling has sponsored local sports teams and events over the years, and both companies recruit locally.

North Western operates an apprenticeship scheme, which is currently giving 16-year-old local teenagers Tom Williams from Byley and Ben Trowell from Rudheath the chance to learn their skills within the fork lift industry.