Conference

Welcome to a new chapter for Executive Hire Show. For the first time, the show has a fully dedicated conference programme, built around the topics hirers and buyers told us matter most.

Before we look at the detail, we look at the big picture. This keynote reviews UK construction output and the forecast ahead. It covers the demand indicators hirers should be watching and the cost and policy pressures squeezing the sector. It also looks at where the real growth is likely to come from. Expect a clear, data-led view of the market, followed by audience Q&A.

Every hire business reaches a point where the owner has to decide what comes next. Whether you’re looking to grow, acquire, sell or plan for succession, this session sets out the options open to you and our panel’s top tips for each. They’ll explain what really drives the value of a hire business, the routes to growth and succession, and how to get the best from your fleet along the way. The session finishes with an open Q&A tackling the most common questions and myths about valuation.

Plant theft and hire fraud cost the industry millions every year, and the criminals are getting more organised. This session looks at the true scale of the problem and how organised crime groups target hire fleets. It explains the layered security measures that actually work and what insurers now expect from hirers. You'll leave with a practical checklist to strengthen your defences straight away.

As pressure grows to decarbonise construction plant and equipment, the industry faces increasingly difficult decisions about which technologies can be deployed at scale. This session examines the practical realities behind future fleet transitions, starting with today's diesel-powered construction site and exploring the opportunities and constraints associated with various future powertrains.

Everyone is talking about AI, but what is it actually doing for hire businesses today? This session skips the hype and focuses on real applications already in use. It covers how AI is boosting productivity, improving customer service, supporting sales teams and driving operational efficiencies. Come away with a grounded view of where AI can add value in your business and where to start.

Utilisation is one of the most widely used measures in equipment hire, but it is not always interpreted consistently. This session looks at the difference between physical and financial utilisation, compares performance against UK hire market data, and explores how utilisation can inform fleet planning and decision-making. Delegates will see how dashboards and benchmarking data can be used to understand fleet performance, identify trends and support decisions around fleet size, mix and deployment, followed by audience Q&A.

This session gives a no-nonsense update on the safety issues that matter most to hirers and buyers. It covers the latest regulatory developments, working at height and access equipment, operator competence, and where duty of care really sits. The panel will then answer the questions you're most likely to face during an HSE inspection.

In November 2024, HSS announced it was walking away from the traditional hire model, no more owned trucks, depots, or engineers, to become a fully digital marketplace connecting buyers and sellers across the hire industry. A year on, Huseyin Jones, CRO at HSS, gives a raw and unfiltered account of what that transition has actually looked like from the inside: the strategic thinking behind the move, the surprising alliances it's created with former competitors, and the lessons learned along the way. Expect an honest, conversational session, not a pitch, from someone who has lived through both sides of the industry.

The hire and construction industries need a new generation of skilled people, but attracting, training and keeping them is harder than ever. Our panel shares what's working, from apprenticeships and training routes to engaging young people and retaining talent, and the practical steps employers of every size can take now to build the workforce of the future.