How Hayley 24/7 has become one of the most efficient mechanical engineering solutions providers in the UK today
A fast and effective mechanical engineering solutions provider, Hayley 24/7 specialises in providing a comprehensive range of reactive and planned mechanical engineering services to a broad and diverse range of industry sectors, including aerospace, automotive, chemical and pharmaceuticals, construction, energy and utilities, facilities management, food and beverage, metal making and processing, mining, paper, and transport.
Mark Brady, Managing Director, shares the company’s story: “My father Raymond Brady & I established the business in April 2009 as 24/7 Engineering Services Ltd. Within the first trading year, Hayley Groups Joint Managing Directors, Lee Willitts and Bernie Noakes became shareholding directors and in 2013 we renamed the company Hayley 24/7 Engineering Services Ltd. This was so we had a synergy with the Hayley Group branch network and customer base. French giant, Descours & Cabaud, the industry and construction supplier, purchased the business at the end of 2017.
“At the end of 2018, Hayley 24/7 acquired the predictive maintenance specialist, Drive Management Services Ltd, and the following year, an additional workshop facility for the repair and overhaul of rotating equipment, such as electric motors, pumps and gearboxes, was set up in Kings Lynn, UK. During the same year, the holding company, Nova Acquisitions Ltd, acquired Scotland’s leading industrial precision gear manufacturer, Lamond & Murray Ltd. Further acquisitions followed in early 2020 when we added WMH Transmissions Ltd and Apex Transmissions Ltd. Since these acquisitions, we have enhanced our market leading position as linear products specialists with a collaborative robot offering. We are proud to share that the forecasted combined sales for 2023 are £25 million.”
Hayley 24/7 continues to invest heavily in its people, equipment, and technology to stay ahead of the game. Located in a modern 35,000-square-foot engineering facility in Dudley, West Midlands, the company’s purpose is to work with customers to maintain operations, reduce costs, and secure asset performance gains by providing quality, round-the-clock coverage for both planned and active maintenance repairs. Its team of highly regarded and experienced engineers, working with cutting-edge equipment, can deliver a range of mechanical engineering services, including gearbox refurbishment and overhaul, pump services, machining, fabrication, and electric motor repairs and rewinds.
People first
“No matter the time of day, you can be certain that Hayley 24/7 is there to help,” explains Mark. “We deliver exceptionally high service levels 24/7. The business is never closed and always has highly trained, skilled engineers ready to support a customer in need. This is backed up by large, well equipped and accredited facilities. We constantly monitor customer feedback as a guide to help us achieve even better service levels. This is achieved through regular team briefings which benefit from our employees’ ideas and engagement. The business has recently implemented training plans at all levels, aiming to upskill, support leadership and create strong succession plans. Our people are at the forefront of our business, and we transparently share data with all the teams to drive through measured improvements.
“Our culture is a caring one,” he continues. “We have retained a family feel where everybody is able to talk openly without any fear. Our businesses are run with entrepreneurial freedom that enables teams to create value added solutions for our customers and we recognize our successes by sharing and celebrating them. Something as simple as breakfast sandwiches or pizza lunches always helps to keep our teams motivated to deliver the next successful result!”
Growth trajectory
The business was named the first SKF-Certified Gearbox Builder. To gain accreditation from SKF, Hayley 24/7 repair facilities had to satisfy a set of stringent criteria to meet the high work processes and specifications required. “Staff also underwent additional training as part of the programme,” he elaborates, “upskilling in areas such as root cause failure analysis and condition monitoring. The highly experienced Hayley 24/7 team are delighted that their hard work in continually improving the reliability and lifespan of gearboxes passing through their facilities, has been officially recognised.
“Our Dudley business also won the Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) Workshop of the Year award in November 2022. This was great recognition for every single person in the team and very special as the award is voted for by the industry and our peers within our field of operations.”
Business relationships are as critical to the company as its strong reputation among industry peers. “As a 24/7 service business,” Mark continues, “we find great value in building long-term working relationships with our supply chain. Many suppliers provide us with 24/7 support. Access to materials and specialist processes, such as heat treatment, enable us to get things done and maintain our exceptional customer service levels.”
Looking to the future, Mark shares his vision for the year ahead. “We hope to continue our growth trajectory, in terms of market share, facilities, equipment and the further development of our people. We are also always looking to enhance our teams with highly driven service-oriented engineers. As the undisputed UK market leader of rotating equipment in repairs and predictive and prescriptive maintenance, we hope to continue being recognised for the delivery of reliable assets, for increasing equipment lifetime and reducing energy consumption required for its effective operation,” he concludes.