Main Content
Press Releases & Latest News
Latest News
HIRE TAKES OFF AS HSS ANNOUNCES NEW MAJOR CONTRACT WIN
HSS Hire has teamed up with BAA in an innovative partnership agreement for tool and equipment hire at Heathrow Airport
Manchester, 14th June: HSS Hire, the UK's award-winning tool and equipment hire company, has secured a multi-million pound contract with Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) to be a preferred supplier for the hire of all tools and equipment.
In an innovative 'through the line' approach, HSS Hire will become a vital supply chain partner to HAL and all of their associated contractors with the key aim of driving competitive and consistent rates as well as ensuring rigorous service levels. HSS will offer one point of contact and a 24 hour service to any and all onsite contractors at Heathrow Airport for the provision of reliable, safety-compliant tools and equipment at centrally pre-agreed, competitive rates.
HAL will also be using HSS' revolutionary online business management system, 'HSS LiveHire', which will provide them an unprecedented level of transparency and control over their equipment portfolio.
Announcing the contract, HSS Chief Executive Chris Davies, commented: "We are delighted to be working with Heathrow Airport Limited on this exciting new agreement. We believe firmly in helping our customers to save time and money and this new collaborative partnership model is a pioneering approach that will do just that by promoting price transparency and operational efficiency. It will also encourage the cross-hire of equipment between contractors which will help reduce both any potential downtime and the number of deliveries to site."
Dennis Darwent, Senior Category Specialist Logistics at BAA added: "We needed a supply partner that could not only satisfy all of our equipment needs but that could do so in such a way as to promote operational excellence. Partnering with HSS Hire has offered us an innovative solution to ensuring our own supply chain is as effective and as efficient as possible and that, by consolidating deliveries to site, will also help us achieve our environmental objectives."
HSS CEO NAMED ‘EUROPEAN RENTAL PERSON OF THE YEAR'
Manchester, 2nd June 2010: Chris Davies, Chief Executive of HSS Hire, the UK’s awardwinning tool and equipment hire company, has been heralded as the ‘European Rental Person of the Year’ by the European Rental Association.
The judges said they wanted to recognise his contribution in making HSS "one of the most modern and innovative companies in the industry" and one that is "at the forefront of using the internet to market its services”.
Chris comments: “HSS has always led the way when it comes to hire, perhaps never more so than over the past few years. We’ve pioneered some great initiatives and hire related services; we’ve been resolute in always putting the customer at the very heart of what we do and in making hire easy for them and all of this has helped us to outperform the market despite some very challenging times.
“I’m delighted that these achievements have been recognised - it’s a reflection of the efforts of the great team we’ve got at HSS. I am lucky and genuinely honoured to be the leader of the company at this time and I am very proud to receive this accolade on behalf of everyone in the business.”
HSS was also one of the three finalists to be Highly Commended in the ‘European Rental Company of the Year’ category.
HSS TRAINING EXPANDS INTO IRELAND
Manchester, 24th May 2010: HSS Training, the specialist training division of HSS Hire, the UK’s award-winning tool and equipment hire company, has announced it will be expanding operations to now also offer training courses throughout Ireland.
The announcement comes just days after HSS confirmed the acquisition of the Hydrex Training business, adding specific rail and plant training capabilities to their portfolio.
HSS Training offers over 100 industry-recognised technical and safety courses, delivered in more than 20 locations around the UK by a team of trainers that are expert in their field. For the past 10 years, they have been dedicated to enhancing and developing the skills, knowledge and safety of delegates all around the country and helping organisations of all sizes aspire to the highest levels of health and safety. Now, they will be taking that expertise to delegates in the Republic of Ireland too.
HSS Training will deliver courses in Ireland through a network of purpose built ‘centres of excellence’ including Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway as well as Belfast in Northern Ireland. Courses will also be offered at customer locations.
Mark Winfield, HSS Training Director, explains: “Over the past 18 months or so, we’ve been really concentrated on growing the training part of the HSS group. By investing in new training centres, in new courses and in our fantastic team of trainers, we’ve enhanced our reputation as a leading provider of health & safety and technical training courses.
“I’m delighted that we can now extend our training provision into Ireland. We’ll be offering the same broad curriculum of courses that we do in the UK and will also be able to deliver training in bespoke areas too. We now have a network of locations throughout Ireland and training can also be offered onsite at the customer’s location if they prefer”.
HSS TEAMS UP WITH JLG TO LAUNCH LIFTPOD
April 2010: HSS Hire, the UK’s award-winning tool and equipment hire company, has announced an exclusive partnership with JLG Industries, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of access equipment.
Together, they will offer JLG’s new LiftPod portable work platform to the UK market for the first time in an exclusive agreement that means it will only be available – to hire or to purchase – from HSS.
The LiftPod promises the ‘portability of a ladder with the freedom and functionality of
a work platform’. It is the first portable lift of its kind, enabling users to work handsfree
at heights of up to 14ft and with a 360 degree range of motion. The sturdy
basket offers improved safety and comfort whilst the integrated tool tray ensures
optimal working efficiency, with tools and materials readily to hand. 
The LiftPod also offers increased portability – not only do the base wheels make it easy to move around but, consisting of three connecting sections, it can be carried by one person and assembled in less than 30 seconds. It is even compact enough to be transported in a small van.
HSS has invested more than Ł250k in the initial consignment, with further deliveries expected to follow shortly, ensuring that they can meet the predicted high demand for this revolutionary new working at height application. As with all HSS equipment, there is a range of HSS Training courses designed to support product knowledge and promote safe working practices.
Category Manager for HSS, Ian Webber said: “At HSS, we always strive to offer our customers the safest and most innovative products to suit their needs; to find ways to make life a little easier and safer for them. JLG are one of the most respected manufacturers of innovative access solutions that help to do just that and so we are delighted to be working with them to offer this new product to the UK”.
Alan Hall from JLG added: “We already have a great working relationship with HSS and, with their nationwide network, their enthusiasm for innovation and progress and their commitment to health and safety and training, they were the obvious choice to take our new product to the whole of the UK market”.
The LiftPod is the IAPA New Product of the Year 2009 and is available exclusively from HSS.
HSS DOES THE DOUBLE AT HAE AWARDS
HSS Hire scoops two prestigious awards at the 2010 Hire Awards of Excellence
May 2010: HSS Hire, the UK’s original tool and equipment hire company, has been heralded for its unsurpassed approach to both innovation and customer service at this years Hire Awards of Excellence, hosted by the HAE and EHA.
Shortlisted in more categories than any other company, HSS went on to pick up both the Excellence in Customer Care award and the Industry Website of the Year award for their revolutionary online ‘LiveHire’ system.
The judges praised HSS’ all-encompassing approach to customer care, noting how they put customers at the heart of everything that they do in all areas of the business. Graham Arundell, managing director of HAE, said: “HSS were deserved winners of two awards this year. They took home the Excellence in Customer Care Award, with one of our judging panel commenting that ‘excellence in customer care is written through this company like a stick of Blackpool rock’.
“They also won the Hire Industry Website of the Year Award and the judges were absolutely unanimous in their decision - probably the first time ever for any category. This site puts HSS way ahead of its rivals in how they work with their customers, and the self-management that it gives to the customer of their hire account.”
CEO Chris Davies said: “Our customers are why we do what we do and I’m delighted that this has been recognised by the industry. Over the past few years we have been leading the way in bringing a more customer-centric focus to hire, aligning our business model to the needs of our customers and making sure we are best placed to work with them, wherever and whenever they need us. We’ve been busy opening new branches to consolidate our nationwide network and we’ve also invested heavily in expanding and updating our equipment fleet to ensure that it is easy for our customers to find us and to get what they need from us.
“As part of this dedication to customer care, we developed and launched our LiveHire system to give our customers better management of the equipment they have on hire. Saving time and money are always important factors for any business but, now more than ever, our customers need us to help identify efficiencies and drive out unnecessary costs and we believe LiveHire helps deliver against those needs in a way that no other system can do.” At the end of the month, HSS will also find out if they’re the European Rental Company of the Year.
HSS OPENS SECOND NEW SUPERCENTRE OF THE YEAR
HSS Hire continues to invest in branch network with the opening of a new Supercentre in Oxford
March 2010: HSS Hire, the UK’s award-winning tool and equipment hire company, has opened a new Supercentre in Oxford. The official opening was presided over by Catherine Stratton, author of the renowned Plant Hire Investment Report.
The new branch opens only a few weeks after the new Brighton Supercentre opened its doors and just months after HSS launched a number of new Supercentres in Camberley, Liverpool and Leeds in the latter part of 2009.
Chris Davies, CEO at HSS Hire says: ““We’ve basically been investing in a series of new branches and Supercentres at strategic locations throughout the country in order to complement our nationwide presence and consolidate a spine of logistical capability throughout the country. Despite the difficult economic conditions of 2009 we felt it was important to keep investing in our branch network, opening 12 new locations in as many months, and we’re now carrying that momentum into 2010. We’re very focused on being accessible to our customers and making it easy for them to work with us.
“The new supercentre will help us to deliver an improved scale and scope of service for customers in the heart of the country. It offers much more floor space, allowing for an extended product range including specialised Powered Access and Lift & Shift equipment and has increased parking in a much better location.”
The new Oxford Supercentre will be open from 7.30am – 5.30pmpm on weekdays and 8am - 1pm Saturdays. The new centre is located at Oxford Business Park North, Sir Alec Issigonis Way, Oxford OX4 2JZ. Phone 01865 205 055. See www.hss.com or visit the branch for more details.
HSS STARTS THE NEW YEAR WITH NEW SUSSEX SUPERCENTRE
HSS Hire continues to invest in branch network with the opening of another
new Supercentre
January 2010: HSS Hire, the UK’s award-winning tool and equipment hire company, has opened a new Supercentre in Newtown Rd, Hove.
The new branch opens only a few months after HSS launched a number of new Supercentres in Camberley, Liverpool and Leeds in the latter part of 2009, complementing their nationwide network and with particular emphasis on securing a spine of logistical capability throughout the country.
Chris Davies, CEO at HSS Hire says: “The new Sussex Supercentre will help us to deliver an improved scale and scope of service for customers across the Southern region. It offers much more floor space, allowing for an extended product range, including Powered Access and Lift & Shift as well as increased parking in a much better location.
“We’ve been investing in a series of new branches and Supercentres at strategic locations throughout the country in order to consolidate our nationwide presence. We’re very focused on being accessible to our customers and making it easy for them to work with us.”
HSS Property Director, Kurt Mather, confirmed that another new Supercentre is due to open in Oxford in the next few weeks continuing the company's programme of network investment. The new Sussex Supercentre will be open from 7am – 7pm on weekdays and 8am - 5pm Saturdays.
The new centre is located at Units 1 & 2 Newtown Trade Park, Newtown Road, Hove, BN3 7BA. Phone 01273 329838. See www.hss.com or visit the branch for more details.