Business Action August / September 2019

Lilley Precision Engineering,
based in Barnstaple, is celebrating
its 15th anniversary.
The company was started by
Darrian Lilley, who has worked
in North Devon manufacturing
for 30 years after training at
Ayers and Grimshaw, when he
decided he wanted to run his
own business.
The company specialises in
engineering plastics, including
thermoplastics, vulcanised
fibre and high-performance
composites and laminates.
“We offer a competitive
sub-contract CNC milling and
turning service, both locally
and all over the UK, as well as
abroad,” says Darrian.
Lilley Precision supplies
products to electrical and
general engineering, electronics,
transport / rail,
packaging, domestic appliance,
lighting, medical, switchgear,
safety critical parts and other
markets. Its products range
from aircraft components to
musical instrument parts.
The company has seen many
changes including a move to
Anyone thinking the familiar
name of William C. Hockin
will disappear from vehicles
travelling up and down
the Link Road is being put
straight by Bill Hockin. While
his tanker business has been
acquired by Greenergy, Bill
continues to own and manage
the main William C. Hockin
(Transport) Ltd haulage business
established in 1974.
The sale of the tanker business
was a logical step after
the two businesses worked
together successfully for more
than a decade.
Commenting on the sale,
Bill Hockin says, “We have
worked with Greenergy for
over 10 years, and with their
support have grown our
business into where it is today.
Greenergy has always been
reliable and respectful to do
business with, and I have every
confidence that they are best
positioned to explore further
opportunities for our business.”
Andrew Owens, chief executive
of Greenergy, explains,
“William C. Hockin has been
a valued Greenergy logistics
provider for many years,
providing exceptional levels of
support for speciality movements
such as bioethanol and
super gasoline trunking, as well
NEWS
Engineering firm’s 15 th anniversary
The Lilley Precision Engineering team:
(from left) apprentices Jacob Bartynski and Nathan Green, administration
and quality manager Suzanne Lilley and managing director Darrian Lilley
as providing regional support
services for third parties. We
will build on the great work of
Bill, and we look forward to
expanding our capabilities with
an excellent team.”
Hockin’s tanker operations
in Barnstaple will be integrated
into Greenergy Flexigrid
operations and continue
to service existing clients.
a new unit in 2014, which
quadrupled its space, as well
as becoming one of the first
precision engineering firms in
the UK to receive certification
for the more stringent ISO
9001:2015 standard.
Suzanne Lilley, administration
and quality manager, adds:
“Having the quality management
system in place has
benefited us in so many ways.
Customer growth has been one
of them, as we are now recognised
as being able to provide
a robust quality product and
service, meeting our clients
requirements.”
Since 2019, Darrian
and Suzanne have also run
Outboard Motor Loc Ltd.
Darrian explains: “We
manufacture, assemble and
market outboard engine security
products, selling privately as
well as to many trade customers
throughout the UK and abroad,
and exporting to Canada, USA,
Australia, Sweden, France and
South America.”
■■Details 01271 370601 or
lilleyprecisionengineering.co.uk
Road haulage company is here to stay
Greenergy is an established
supplier and distributor of
transportation fuels and
Greenergy Flexigrid, its
in-house haulage operation,
employs more than 500
drivers and staff throughout
the UK. Bill Hockin will maintain
his interest in the operation
by joining the Greenergy
Flexigrid board of directors as
a non-executive director.
Bill wanted to drive from
an early age and has worked
in the transport industry since
obtaining his driving licence.
He started William C. Hockin
Transport with Irene, his wife,
in 1974 with a tractor unit
and two trailers. The company
now has some 50 vehicles
that service the UK from
Barnstaple. It remains a family
business and Bill is proud that
it retains the personal touch.
■■Details 01271 372945 or
williamchockin.co.uk
2 business action | August / September 2019 | business-action.co.uk