UK hire award winners celebrate in London

GAP Group, A-Plant and InspHire were among winners at the recent UK Hire Awards of Excellence, organised by the Hire Association Europe (HAE) and held in London in early May.

Both GAP and A-Plant won two awards - GAP was large rental company of the year and also won the catalogue of the year award, while A-plant came out top in the product of the year category for its Auto Tool Hire Unit and was also named as the best website of the year.

HSS won the customer care awards and Speedy was presented with the training company of the year award.

The HAE awards is an event for the UK and Irish rental industry and is not to be confused with the IRN/ERA European Rental Awards, which take place in Amsterdam on 8 June.

The full list of winners was as follows:

Tool, Equipment and Plant Hire Company of the Year (more than five outlets):
GAP Group - Winner

Tool, Equipment and Plant Hire Company of the Year (up to five outlets):
WHC Hire Services of Worcester - Winner
(Blythewood Plant Hire Ltd - Highly commended)

Product of the Year:
A Plant for its Auto Tool Hire Unit - Winner
(GT Trax for its Megasol - Highly commended)

Supplier of the Year:
inspHire - Winner
(Youngman Group Ltd - Highly commended)

Excellence in Customer Care:
HSS - Winner

Excellence in Training:
Speedy Hire - Winner

Excellence in Health and Safety:
WHC Hire Services - Winne

Catalogue of the Year:
GAP Lifting - Winner
(Astley Hire - Highly commended)

Website of the Year:
A Plant - Winner
(Hirebase - Highly commended)

Event Hire Company of the Year (single outlet):
Allen's Catering Hire - Winner

Event Hire Company of the Year (multiple outlets):
Event Furniture Hire - Winner

Hire Achiever of the Year:
Nicola Laws of Hubbway in Cramlington - Winner
(Kevin Betts of Speedy Hire Colchester - High commendation )

Graham Arundell, managing director of HAE, said: "The Hire Awards of Excellence 2011 honoured the outstanding achievements made by the members of our industry. Judging was particularly difficult this year with so many great entries.

"For me the awards are so important as they showcase how good our industry is and the commitment that our industry shows in enabling other industry sectors to perform. I would like to say congratulations to all of the winners, highly commended and shortlisted companies."

This year's event attracted more than 300 guests - almost a 66% cent increase on last year - for the ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.