About Us

The UK’s largest hire provider, with the widest range of power

tools, plant and specialist equipment.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

Our mission is to provide safe, reliable hire equipment and services to enable the successful delivery of customer projects. Our commitment to our customers is always underpinned with health, safety, the environment and community at the forefront of our mind, ensuring that we remain a responsible business.

OVER 40 YEARS OF DELIVERING EXCELLENCE

Over 46,000 customers
More than 300,000 itemised assets available for hire
1,060 vehicles
More than 3,700 employees
200+ depots across the UK and Ireland
International operations in the Middle East and Kazakhstan
Safest hire provider in the industry
Serving 85% of the top contractors in the UK
Industry-leading digital capabilities - across the Website and App

TOOL HIRE

Our 3,500+ product lines include everyday power tools and equipment, through to more specialist lifting, survey, powered access, rail and power generation equipment. Plus, through our extensive network of partners, we can source the right solution for every job, no matter how large or specialist your requirement.

Our industry leading promise guarantees 4-hour or same-day delivery on our 350 most popular products.

CONSUMABLE & EQUIPMENT SALES

You can purchase any of our products, including tools, equipment, fuel, PPE and on-site consumables.

Over 8,000 core products and 36,000 extended range products
Access to a central, managed procurement team to source everything from specialist kit through to bulk purchase of materials

INDUSTRY LEADING SAFETY AND SKILLS TRAINING FROM SPEEDY

Whenever you're working at height or operating a crane at Speedy Training we provide exactly the right training to enable you to operate efficiently, and above all, safely.
By providing the correct training you require we help you to ensure you or your employees are not injured or made ill by the work they do and go home safe every day and also meet your legal duty to protect the health & safety of your employees.

With the use of bespoke, blended or eLearning offerings we can design your training around your needs and our training courses cover a range of safe use and awareness topics. This equips your employees with nationally recognised qualifications and transferable skills, allowing them to work more effectively and safely than ever before.

TESTING INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION

Over 200 years’ experience in testing inspection and certification services delivered through our Lloyds British business.

We help manage your lifting systems and the complex regulations that surround them, efficiently and safely
A wide range of extended services available

Awards and Accreditations

Company History

1977

Speedy opens its first depot in Wigan
John Brown forms Livesey Hire in Wigan

1982

John Brown purchase Speedy Fixings Power Tools Ltd

1987

First Speedy depot opens in London, with Graham Neave, Ian Gibson, Kevin Everett and Shane Coil joining the company

1993

Speedy buys Hire-a-Tool and Kendrick Hire
Including first depot in Wales and splits the two companies to form Speedy Northern and Speedy Southern
Speedy launches ‘Hire Direct’, the first centralised, national call centre operation in the hire sector

1996

Acquisition of Tidy Hire to create Speedy Midlands

2001

Name change to Speedy Hire Plc

2002

Speedy celebrate 25 years in hire
Speedy makes biggest acquisition to date, acquiring Jewson’s 37 standalone depots

2005

Speedy launches its landmark apprenticeship scheme
Speedy launches its ‘Safety from the Ground Up’ (SFTGU) initiative to help tackle the construction industry’s poor health and safety record at site level. The first campaign targets deaths and injuries caused by falls from height.
Awards
Growth strategy of the year award (National Business Awards)
Hire company of the year award
Hire person of the year award – John Brown

2006

Speedy launches its second SFTGU campaign to raise awareness of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (white finger) – an occupational disease affecting thousands of workers
Speedy launches its corporate responsibility report.
Speedy contracts with Royal Navy to provide an on-site depot and full asset management support services at the MOD dockyard in Portsmouth.
Ground-breaking agreement reached with OPERC requiring all tools supplied to Speedy to be independently tested

2007

Speedy becomes the only UK hire company to offer bio-fuel generators
Speedy opens its first true on-site facility, providing on the ground access to essential tools, equipment and consumables to operatives, while minimizing deliveries to and from site. Customers now include Carillion Bovis, Costain and Balfour Beatty.
Speedy becomes the first company to trial and use electric vehicles for delivery.
Awards
National Business Awards
Business in The Community

2008

Speedy launches its first Multi Service Centre (MSC), an 8 acre logistics and distribution centre to bring the groups entire products and services under one roof.
Speedy works with equipment manufacturers and customer to develop and launch a new range of environmentally friendly site accommodation (EnviroCabin)
Speedy delivers its 100,000th ‘Toolbox Talk’ – training sessions run on construction sites to help raise awareness and understanding of health and safety best practice
Speedy launches its third SFTGU campaign to raise awareness of dust pollution
Speedy signs a five year contract with Exxon Mobil to install and operate an on-site facility providing hire products and other asset maintenance and support services
Speedy forms the Construction Site Solutions Consortium and successfully bids to provide the on-site retail and materials facility at the Olympic Park north in Stratford
Awards:
No. 1 in the Observer’s Good Companies Guide (FTSE 350) of ethical companies
Hire Association Europe Award for ‘Best Contribution to Environmental Issues’

2009

Speedy launches its Greener from the Ground Up program – a package of measures and innovations designed to help customers reduce waste and improve energy efficiency
Speedy as part of the Construction Site Solutions (‘CSS’) consortium won the contract with the Olympic Delivery Authority (‘ODA’) to provide rental equipment, building supplies and training to firms working on the 2012 Olympic Games
Southern Electric Contracting (‘SEC’), one of the country’s largest mechanical and electrical contractors, signed a £6 million sole supplier agreement, building on a successful five year relationship
Awards:
Hire Association Europe Award for ‘Best Contribution to Environmental Issues’
Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice
Green Hero Award
British Safety Council International Safety Award

2010

Three-years sole supplier agreement with WysePower, a leading provider of site enabling services for generators and associated fuel
Two year sole-supplier agreement with Tube Lines, the company upgrading three of the busiest lines on the London underground
Three-year contract extensions with Exxon Mobil and Osborne and the renewal of a five-year preferred supplier agreement with Galliford Try
Three-year sole supplier agreement with Works infrastructure UK, a leading engineering group operating in the infrastructure, facilities management, civil engineering and rail sectors
Awards:
Hire Association Europe – Environmental Initiatives Award
Green Apple Award
Green Hero Status

2011

Two-years sole supplier agreement with Tesco plc the UKs largest and one of the world’s leading retailers, working on its refurbishment and build programs for all new and existing stores throughout 2011 and 2012
24 month renewal of a preferred supplier agreement with Interserve with £4.5 million.
Three-year deal with the nuclear decommissioning authority to supply lifting consumables to the nuclear processing sites Sellafield, Magnox, Dounreay and the remaining NDA estate
One Plan – new sustainability programme launched
Awards:
Winner of the Hire Association Europe – Excellence in Training
Winner – BITC Big Tick for Sustainable Supply Chain
Winner of the Green Apple Silver Award for Environmental Best practice and awarded Green Hero Status
Towerlight UK win the Speedy Environmental Award for its VB9 lighting tower at the 2011 Speedy Supplier Awards

2012

Awards:
Green Apple Award
HAE Health and Safety Award Winner
Workshop Manager of the Year – Gary Joseph

2013

Launch of National Grid ‘Fully Managed Service Plant and Equipment’ contract in April 2013 Awards:
BITC (Business in the Community) CR Index Platinum Ranking
Construction News Sustainable Company of the Year
BITC (Business in the Community) responsible Business regional Award for The Marketplace And Sustainability Leadership

2013

Speedy revolutionizes the market with the integrated services concept – designed to optimize our client’s assets, reduce their risk and enable delivery of their projects

2014

New Chief Executive Officer Mark Rogerson MBE is appointed Awards:
Speedy scoops a host of safety awards for the safety of its vehicle fleet

2015

Russell Down appointed as CEO in June 2015

2015

New optimized property network is completed, incorporating a new pioneering National Distribution Centre, 8 Multi-Service Centres and 38 Superstores

2016

Speedy acquire rail overhead line equipment specialist, OHP, significantly enhancing their offering in the rail sector
Speedy awarded the RoSPA Gold Medal for the second year running
Speedy lead the industry in the launch of new Smart Device technology
Speedy become the first company in the sector to achieve the ISO 50001 accreditation for energy saving

Jump to year:

2016

Speedy acquire rail overhead line equipment specialist, OHP, significantly enhancing their offering in the rail sector
Speedy awarded the RoSPA Gold Medal for the second year running
Speedy lead the industry in the launch of new Smart Device technology
Speedy become the first company in the sector to achieve the ISO 50001 accreditation for energy saving
2015

New optimized property network is completed, incorporating a new pioneering National Distribution Centre, 8 Multi-Service Centres and 38 Superstores

2015

Russell Down appointed as CEO in June 2015
2014

New Chief Executive Officer Mark Rogerson MBE is appointed Awards:
Speedy scoops a host of safety awards for the safety of its vehicle fleet
2013

Speedy revolutionizes the market with the integrated services concept – designed to optimize our client’s assets, reduce their risk and enable delivery of their projects

2013

Launch of National Grid ‘Fully Managed Service Plant and Equipment’ contract in April 2013 Awards:
BITC (Business in the Community) CR Index Platinum Ranking
Construction News Sustainable Company of the Year
BITC (Business in the Community) responsible Business regional Award for The Marketplace And Sustainability Leadership
2012

Awards:
Green Apple Award
HAE Health and Safety Award Winner
Workshop Manager of the Year – Gary Joseph
2011

Two-years sole supplier agreement with Tesco plc the UKs largest and one of the world’s leading retailers, working on its refurbishment and build programs for all new and existing stores throughout 2011 and 2012
24 month renewal of a preferred supplier agreement with Interserve with £4.5 million.
Three-year deal with the nuclear decommissioning authority to supply lifting consumables to the nuclear processing sites Sellafield, Magnox, Dounreay and the remaining NDA estate
One Plan – new sustainability programme launched
Awards:
Winner of the Hire Association Europe – Excellence in Training
Winner – BITC Big Tick for Sustainable Supply Chain
Winner of the Green Apple Silver Award for Environmental Best practice and awarded Green Hero Status
Towerlight UK win the Speedy Environmental Award for its VB9 lighting tower at the 2011 Speedy Supplier Awards
2010

Three-years sole supplier agreement with WysePower, a leading provider of site enabling services for generators and associated fuel
Two year sole-supplier agreement with Tube Lines, the company upgrading three of the busiest lines on the London underground
Three-year contract extensions with Exxon Mobil and Osborne and the renewal of a five-year preferred supplier agreement with Galliford Try
Three-year sole supplier agreement with Works infrastructure UK, a leading engineering group operating in the infrastructure, facilities management, civil engineering and rail sectors
Awards:
Hire Association Europe – Environmental Initiatives Award
Green Apple Award
Green Hero Status
2009

Speedy launches its Greener from the Ground Up program – a package of measures and innovations designed to help customers reduce waste and improve energy efficiency
Speedy as part of the Construction Site Solutions (‘CSS’) consortium won the contract with the Olympic Delivery Authority (‘ODA’) to provide rental equipment, building supplies and training to firms working on the 2012 Olympic Games
Southern Electric Contracting (‘SEC’), one of the country’s largest mechanical and electrical contractors, signed a £6 million sole supplier agreement, building on a successful five year relationship
Awards:
Hire Association Europe Award for ‘Best Contribution to Environmental Issues’
Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice
Green Hero Award
British Safety Council International Safety Award
2008

Speedy launches its first Multi Service Centre (MSC), an 8 acre logistics and distribution centre to bring the groups entire products and services under one roof.
Speedy works with equipment manufacturers and customer to develop and launch a new range of environmentally friendly site accommodation (EnviroCabin)
Speedy delivers its 100,000th ‘Toolbox Talk’ – training sessions run on construction sites to help raise awareness and understanding of health and safety best practice
Speedy launches its third SFTGU campaign to raise awareness of dust pollution
Speedy signs a five year contract with Exxon Mobil to install and operate an on-site facility providing hire products and other asset maintenance and support services
Speedy forms the Construction Site Solutions Consortium and successfully bids to provide the on-site retail and materials facility at the Olympic Park north in Stratford
Awards:
No. 1 in the Observer’s Good Companies Guide (FTSE 350) of ethical companies
Hire Association Europe Award for ‘Best Contribution to Environmental Issues’
2007

Speedy becomes the only UK hire company to offer bio-fuel generators
Speedy opens its first true on-site facility, providing on the ground access to essential tools, equipment and consumables to operatives, while minimizing deliveries to and from site. Customers now include Carillion Bovis, Costain and Balfour Beatty.
Speedy becomes the first company to trial and use electric vehicles for delivery.
Awards
National Business Awards
Business in The Community
2006

Speedy launches its second SFTGU campaign to raise awareness of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (white finger) – an occupational disease affecting thousands of workers
Speedy launches its corporate responsibility report.
Speedy contracts with Royal Navy to provide an on-site depot and full asset management support services at the MOD dockyard in Portsmouth.
Ground-breaking agreement reached with OPERC requiring all tools supplied to Speedy to be independently tested
2005

Speedy launches its landmark apprenticeship scheme
Speedy launches its ‘Safety from the Ground Up’ (SFTGU) initiative to help tackle the construction industry’s poor health and safety record at site level. The first campaign targets deaths and injuries caused by falls from height.
Awards
Growth strategy of the year award (National Business Awards)
Hire company of the year award
Hire person of the year award – John Brown
2002

Speedy celebrate 25 years in hire
Speedy makes biggest acquisition to date, acquiring Jewson’s 37 standalone depots
2001

Name change to Speedy Hire Plc
1996

Acquisition of Tidy Hire to create Speedy Midlands
1993

Speedy buys Hire-a-Tool and Kendrick Hire
Including first depot in Wales and splits the two companies to form Speedy Northern and Speedy Southern
Speedy launches ‘Hire Direct’, the first centralised, national call centre operation in the hire sector
1987

First Speedy depot opens in London, with Graham Neave, Ian Gibson, Kevin Everett and Shane Coil joining the company
1982

John Brown purchase Speedy Fixings Power Tools Ltd
1977

Speedy opens its first depot in Wigan
John Brown forms Livesey Hire in Wigan