The Award Criteria

Rental Company of the Year (10 depots or more)

Can you demonstrate an excellent and improving performance in all areas of your business during 2007? For example, how have you improved your levels of customer service? Are the training needs of your employees being met, and what investment have you made in your fleet? How are you performing financially?

Who can enter? Open to all rental companies in Europe. You do not need to be a member of ERA to participate.

Rental Company of the Year (under 10 depots)

Same judging criteria as above.

Who can enter? Open to all rental companies.

After Sales Service Award (for suppliers to the rental sector)

How are you meeting the after sales service requirements of your rental company customers? Are you making it easier for rental companies to deal with you? What new services did you introduce in 2007? Have you improved parts availability, and have you invested in your parts and service operation?

Who can enter? Any supplier to rental companies in Europe.

Best Rental Promotional Campaign

This award will recognize a rental company that has made successful attempts to promote their services to customers and who has had a wider impact in developing the equipment rental market in 2007 The judges will be looking for details of specific campaigns as well as evidence of their impact.

Who can enter? Open to all rental companies in Europe.

The Rental Safety Award

Rental companies can have a significant impact on safe work practices by promoting equipment or work practices that prevent injuries and lower the risks of accidents. We are looking for a proactive approach to safety – both for a rental company‘s own employees and its customers – that could include both specific safety campaigns as well as innovative approaches to promoting health and safety more generally.

Who can enter? Open to all rental companies in Europe.

The Rental Environment Award

The winner of this category will be able to demonstrate a real commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its operations as well as that of its customers. Judges will be looking for specific work practices as well as initiatives such as environmental audits, investment in ‘cleaner' equipment, and promotional campaigns to customers.

Who can enter? Open to all rental companies in Europe.

Rental Product of the Year

Has your company offered rental companies a truly innovative product during 2007? Has it created a genuinely new rental market, or significantly enhanced an existing rental sector, and has it been taken up successfully by rental companies in Europe?

Who can enter? Applies to products introduced during 2007. The award is open to any supplier to rental companies in Europe.

Rental IT Innovation of the Year

What new Information Technology has made a significant contribution to rental company performance in 2007? The technology must have been successfully applied and to have demonstrably improved performance.

Who can enter? IT specialists can nominate themselves for the award, with supporting information, or rental companies can nominate themselves. A rental company and its IT supplier can jointly submit an entry.

The ERA/IRN Rental Person of the Year

This award will recognize an outstanding contribution to Europe's rental industry. Perhaps this person led a company that made significant progress in 2007, or maybe he or she should be rewarded for a career dedicated to excellence in rental.

Who can enter? Any company or individual in Europe can nominate one of their own employees or colleagues, or individuals in other companies.

What to do next

See these pages for details on how to enter. See also details soon on www.khl.com.

Recognising and rewarding excellence is a sure way to raise standards. We hope that the entire industry participates in the first European Rental Awards, and look forward to receiving your entries.