Vp plc, the Harrowgate, United Kingdom-based rental company, last week acquired the businesses and assets of Pivotal Services Group Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary within the Babcock International Group, for about U.S. $7.9 million. The businesses acquired comprise ESS Safety Services and Pivotal Training, operating from locations in Wellingborough, Leeds, Brentwood and Glasgow.

ESS Safety Services is a major provider of safety products to the construction, civil engineering, utilities and industrial markets. Vp will merge ESS with its Hire Station subsidiary. The combined business will trade as ESS Safeforce.

Pivotal Training will continue to trade under its existing name, delivering a wide range of courses including confined space, health and safety, environmental and management development training.

“Hire Station’s specialist products and services business will be significantly enhanced as a result of this acquisition,” said Vp chairman Jeremy Pilkington.