Victoria Poolman travels to Peterborough to meet Marcus of Plant Fencing Contractors

Not a scruffy porter-cabin for Marcus Plant and co. No, far from it, as he shows me his brand new office based opposite his father’s house in West Deeping, not far from Peterborough.

“It’s only just been finished and we’re currently in the process of putting up some pictures, but it’s important to us to have somewhere professional to work.” Indeed, given the flooding and mud I passed on my way through Cambridgeshire, he must be pretty pleased the new development is on stilts!

Although, despite the posh new premises, Marcus won’t be spending too much time there, given how well his company, Plant Fencing Contractors, is doing.

“We started up eight years ago,” Marcus tells me, “I was about to go on a fifteen-month round the world trip, when someone asked me to erect some nearby fences.” No, he didn’t sell his ticket and start a fencing business there and then, but as soon as Marcus returned from his travels, he set about starting up his own company, and Plant Fencing Contractors was born.

As with many in the same line, Marcus began in the private sector, with agricultural fencing, decorative home and garden fencing and gates, but has since expanded onto the trade side of the industry, with the latter now taking up almost 100% of his workload.

“We now cover the whole of the United Kingdom. Today, the lads are working on the current job at Jewsons in Cardiff, but our fencing takes us all over the place – including a fair few contracts in London.” Quite a modest response, given the company’s associations with many big names such as Costain, for whom Plant is fencing ten roundabouts in Corby, and Lindum Construction, which has the company fencing new builds and offices, as well as schools. Plant has also done work for the London borough of Waltham Forest, which Marcus tells me is one contract of which he is particularly proud.

Perhaps one of the less glamorous jobs, but still for a very exciting project, is Plant Fencing’s recent work for C.A.Blackwell of Essex, where Marcus and his team took on the job of fencing to relocate travellers that had chosen to settle on a site of development for the 2012 Olympics. Despite having a pair of gates stolen in the process, Marcus felt privileged to be working on such a job: “That kind of work can be high pressured, as you’re dealing with some important people who need things done quickly, but we worked hard and they were very pleased with the end results.”

Despite the big names and associates, Plant Fencing Contractors employs just five full-time members of staff, as well as hiring sub-contractors too. And for anyone interested, Marcus tells me “we are hoping to expand our client list much further in the coming years and take on more work, so are always looking for a reliable list of sub-contractors around the country.”

Plant Fencing is a well respected company, being members of Construction Line and CHAS accredited, so Marcus’ company is certainly not a bad one to be working for.

Indeed, driving around the area in search of Marcus’ office at Lolham House, I couldn’t fail to notice that on every sign swinging in the wind, somewhere, was the name Plant. And when I arrived, it was unusual to be greeted by a herd of cattle as opposed to the usual piles of timber and mesh. Marcus explains, “My Dad owns the Lolham Herd of Pedigree Fresians - he currently has four-hundred for dairy and beef. He was one of eleven and was born in Lolham Mill, just behind us.” That explains the abundance of Plants around this neck of the woods. Marcus continues, “My brother, Edward Plant, shares the role of contracts manager with myself and we also have my Dad’s cousin, Mick, living nearby in Lolham Hall.” Indeed, Marcus is obviously keen to keep his name going, as this family-man has just fathered his third new baby, who weighed in at 8 pounds 3, to keep him busy at home... when he isn’t busy in the office.

But despite having a lot going on at once with a baby on the way, a house renovation in process and the recent developments of the new office, Marcus has high hopes for the future of his business. He tells me, “Moving into the industrial and commercial sectors was the best move we have made so far and we’re finding all sorts of exciting projects, contracts and opportunities are coming our way.” Good news indeed and even better; there’s bound to be stiff competition for who gets to help Dad erect the palisade.

For more information, visit www.plantfencing.com or give Marcus a call on 01780 740940