Executive Hire Show - the exciting benchmark exhibition for the tools, plant and equipment hire industry

Awards

Honouring hire excellence

The first part of the Executive Hire Party, during the evening of the first day of the Show, was devoted to presenting The Passionate Hirer Awards. For 2013, in celebrating 40 years of Hire Shows, the Awards recognised the Most Impressive New Outlets opened in 2012, highlighting the hirers that have had the vision and courage to keep moving forward when so much of the national media continues to spread gloom and doom.

A first list of 40 new outlets was selected from 456 throughout the UK and Ireland which members of the Show team visited in the lead-up to the exhibition to mobilise hirers to attend our industry’s national event. Following an initial series of checks and ‘mystery shopper’ enquiries, a shortlist of eight depots was announced, divided into two categories of Small to Medium Hire Centre and Large Hire ‘Super Centre’.

70 points are available in each category. Hirers are judged on their premises, the quality of their staff and equipment fleet, added value and innovation, delivery times, handover, cleanliness of vehicles, website, green credentials - right down to customer parking, depot signage, availability of free refreshments and, even, accessible customer toilets.

The Winner in the Small to Medium Hire Centre category was The Hireman London for its Leytonstone depot, achieving 61 points. The citation noted that, “Building on its success as a runner-up in the 2012 Passionate Hirer Awards, The Hireman has completed its strategic coverage of London with an imaginative and functional location serving the north and east of the capital. The Judges were impressed by the enthusiasm and support evident in comments made by its customers. This is a well-motivated and clearly focused hire operation that is proof of the value of independent local service.”

The Hireman’s Neil Graham (centre) and Phil Wright receive their Award from Matthew Hill of sponsor Obart Pumps.

Achieving 62 points, the Winner in the Large Hire ‘Super Centre’ category was WHC Hire Services’ new Tewkesbury depot. The Judges commented, “Embracing a wide inventory of plant, non-mechanical equipment and tools, WHC has achieved an impressive level of service supported by innovative measures in safety, noise, vibration measurement and training facilities. Its new depot features rain water harvesting and re-use, an impressive HAV test facility, as well as a full range of customer support services. The Judges also found a clear level of customer satisfaction and praise for service levels achieved.”

WHC Hire Services’ Heidi and James Clutterbuck (second from right) and Marcus Walker accept the company’s Award from Dan Thompstone of
sponsor JCB.

This year, a Special Award for the Most Impressive Newcomer was presented to Your Equipment Solutions (YES) of Grangemouth, which scored 55 points in the Small to Medium category. The Judges said that, following successful careers in our industry, “founders David and Alex Johnstone have gone back to basics and started their own hire business from scratch. They embody the pioneering spirit that was so evident throughout our industry in earlier decades. A true passion for hire and customer service has already driven YES into the mainstream market in its home territory, and this young company is delivering a quality of service to its community that will stand comparison with any competitor.”

YES’ David and Lisa Johnstone receive their Most Impressive Newcomer Award from Paul Bentley of sponsor Youngman Group.

The other Small to Medium category finalists were Artisan Hire Centre’s depot at Staverton in Gloucestershire, and Total Tool Hire’s central Derby outlet. The three other nominees in the Large Hire ‘Super Centre’ category were Alide Hire Services’ Bristol depot, Nixon Hire’s Dundee outlet and Smiths Equipment Hire’s Warrington depot.

During the Awards, Gordons Ford was announced as the Winner of the Exhibitor Excellence Award, presented to the exhibitor that has worked most proactively with the Show organising team in the months before and during build-up, and which produces an imaginative stand display highlighting innovation.

Paul Turner of Gordons Ford receives the company’s Exhibitor Excellence Award from Executive Hire Group Operations Manager Ali Rogers, and Tim Smith from sponsor Brandon Hire.