Hewden makes new training and tools appointment

Hewden has appointed an ex-Speedy employee Stuart Langham to focus on Hewden's training offering and to look into opportunities in the tool hire market.

Mr Langham will be responsible for coordinating Hewden's training offering to customers, looking at providing training in environmentally friendly products as well as specialist training such as aerial platforms.

In addition, he will look at opportunities in the tool hire market. Hewden sold its tool hire business to Speedy several years ago and the three year ‘non-compete' agreement between the two companies has now expired.

A spokesman for Hewden said the study into tool hire was at a very early stage and that there was no decision on whether Hewden would make a major return to the tool hire market; "We're miles away from that", said the spokesman.

The company already works with outside tool suppliers to provide its customers with tools where required. Over the past three years Speedy has been its main provider.

Meanwhile, Hewden is using the Christmas period to launch a charity initiative with CRASH, a charity for the homeless. The company is holding a series of fundraising events over the 12 days of Christmas, including a Christmas dinner for homeless people and a charitable rental agreement called Home for a Home.

Under Home for a Home, Hewden is encouraging its customers to keep construction equipment on-site over the Christmas period. In return, Hewden will offset the avoided transportation costs and make a fixed donation per hire agreement to CRASH.

Jeff Schofield, sales and marketing director at Hewden, said: "At this time of year there is an increase in transport activity as equipment is often off hired only to be redelivered after the Christmas break. By encouraging our customers to keep kit safe and secure on-site, we can instead donate to a worthy cause, and also reduce the impact on the environment."

For more on Hewden's fundraising efforts, see www.hewden.co.uk/christmas