Star ups investment and depots

UK-based Star Platforms has invested £2 million ($2.6 million) in new working at height equipment to support the opening of its fifth depot.

Adding to its branches in Luton, Leicestershire, Berkshire and Kent, the rental company has recently opened a fifth depot in Thetford, enabling it to serve all parts of Anglia.

Increased demand has also led to the company investing £2 million in 400 new units of equipment, which will be shared across all five sites. This brings the total number of hire equipment in the business to 1,500 - double the amount the company had two years ago.

Managing director Richard Miller said, “We have a large demand from existing customers to supply equipment in the Anglia region, and, with no Access Alliance member covering the area, we were compromising the service we offer with no managed supply chain. We therefore took the decision to open a depot in Thetford which has excellent road links to all parts of Anglia including Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Essex and beyond.”

The site has resulted in the creation of five jobs, with Stephen Carman at the helm as general manager. Carman has more than 20 years’ experience in the rental sector and previously worked in positions for Hewden and Nationwide Platforms.

He said, “I worked with the senior management team of Star Platforms during my time with Nationwide Platforms and watched with interest as this quality business was being built. When Richard approached me about working with Star Platforms at the brand new Thetford depot it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. We are now open for business and I look forward to supplying our customers with quality equipment and a first-rate service across the Anglian region.”

The company, which has 64 employees across the five sites, also offers a range of IPAF accredited training courses. Miller added, “With a dedicated training room at each of our depots, we’ve been able to help more than 700 people pass their IPAF courses over the last year alone. Our Thetford training room is now open for business.

“We will also be looking for more engineers and drivers to work at the Thetford depot over the next year, and plan to invest in even more platforms, delivery vehicles and service vehicles dependant on demand.”