Arvill Plant and Tool Hire, an Airdrie-based family business, has shown its commitment to age diversity with the appointment of a 79 year old construction industry veteran on the sales executive position.

Eddie McLean, who was born in the same year as the Battle of Britain, is the oldest salesperson in plant hire in Scotland, and possible the UK. He is working closely with Commercial Director Hayley Shevill and has already brought in a slew of new clients to the innovative business.

“At my age and having worked in the sector for so long, I know most of the people in the business and am delighted to bring my connections to a firm which has long set the pace in plant hire across Scotland,” commented Eddie.

Eddie was brought into the team by owner and managing director Arthur Shevill, who founded in company in 1985 and ran it in its early years from his home and garden shed.

“The whole team is delighted that Eddie has agreed to come on board. He has an unrivalled track record, he keeps his word, he has an excellent reputation in the industry and he knows how everything works,” said Arthur.

“To indicate how valuable his contribution will be, he has already secured deals with Fankerton Plant, RJ McLeod, Marshall Plant, CM Steel, Front Line Construction, Advance Construction and Dem-Master,” he continued.

Eddie left school in 1955 and went straight into working in the oil shale mines that have been operating in Scotland for more than a century. As well as the shale mines, he worked in construction on motorway projects including the M8, the M73 and the M74. He also gained a heavy goods licence and travelled the country as a lorry driver.

“It’s great to have a fount of knowledge like Eddie on the team. We have all ages, including a trainee fitter who is just 16. Eddie has certainly brought the average age up by a few years,” said Hayley Shevill.