HSS Hire
Encyclopedia
HSS Hire Service Group Limited is a supplier of tool
and equipment hire in the UK and Ireland
, as well as being a logistical and technical partner to businesses of all sizes. Operating under the banner of HSS Hire, the Group has a network of over 250 outlets. HSS Hire originated in Kensington
, west London
in 1957. Today it employs over 2,300 workers and has a fleet of over 800 vehicles.
Bert Taylor opened a further 5 shops during the 1960s across the West Central London area, and towards the end of the 1960s, The Hire Service Company was acquired by scaffolding
conglomerate SGB, who owned 8 tool rental shops under the name “Hire Shops Ltd”. These company names were merged to create “Hire Service Shops Limited” or “HSS Hire” for short.
saw further expansion of the company across the central and northern parts of the United Kingdom
. The first branch opened outside of London was in Birmingham
, West Midlands
. There was also the first branch opened in Wales
, in Cardiff
.
. Shortly after, HSS were acquired by The Davis Service Group Plc
. The remainder of the 1990s saw international expansion with growth gained through global franchise
agreements.
. The sale was completed in early 2004 and HSS Hire Group became an independent organisation.
Throughout 2004, to enable the company to concentrate on its core tool and equipment hire in the UK, the Event Hire division was sold to Johnson’s Hospitality Services and the German operation to Dutch company Pierre Boels. A new retail partnership was also signed with Dulux
Decorator Centres, and the first major acquisition
since the change of ownership took place with the purchase of A1 Hire and Sales in Bournemouth.
HSS were awarded the Safe-HIRE quality mark by the Hire Association Europe
(HAE), in 2006 they were awarded with the HAE's ‘Hire Company of the Year’ award.In the same year the training solutions division secured accreditation for one of its courses from City and Guilds.
In 2007, after 3 years of investment, 3i sold HSS Hire to Och-Ziff Capital Management
and Aurigo, the investment vehicle headed by ex-Asda
CEO Archie Norman
.
The company holds a 4* British Safety Award. In addition, HSS are ISO9000:20, ISO 14001
, Safe-Hire accredited and holders of Investors in People
status. HSS Hire also work with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
(ROSPA) and the government's Health & Safety Executive to promote safety in the hire industry.
HSS Hire have also contributed to community support efforts, with youth training schemes set up for disadvantaged youths in London.
Tool
A tool is a device that can be used to produce an item or achieve a task, but that is not consumed in the process. Informally the word is also used to describe a procedure or process with a specific purpose. Tools that are used in particular fields or activities may have different designations such...
and equipment hire in the UK and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, as well as being a logistical and technical partner to businesses of all sizes. Operating under the banner of HSS Hire, the Group has a network of over 250 outlets. HSS Hire originated in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1957. Today it employs over 2,300 workers and has a fleet of over 800 vehicles.
History
The company was founded in 1957, by Bert Taylor on Baron’s Court Road, Kensington. Initially known as “The Hire Service Company”, the shop focused on tool and equipment hire.Bert Taylor opened a further 5 shops during the 1960s across the West Central London area, and towards the end of the 1960s, The Hire Service Company was acquired by scaffolding
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
conglomerate SGB, who owned 8 tool rental shops under the name “Hire Shops Ltd”. These company names were merged to create “Hire Service Shops Limited” or “HSS Hire” for short.
1970s
The 1970s1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
saw further expansion of the company across the central and northern parts of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The first branch opened outside of London was in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
. There was also the first branch opened in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
.
1980s
Throughout the 1980s specialist divisions of the company were introduced with the launch of HSS Event Hire and HSS Lift & Shift as separate business units.1990s
In 1991, the first Irish branch was opened in Albertbridge Road, BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. Shortly after, HSS were acquired by The Davis Service Group Plc
Davis Service Group
Berendsen plc is a leading British-based provider of textile maintenance services. It is headquartered in London and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
. The remainder of the 1990s saw international expansion with growth gained through global franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
agreements.
2000 Onwards
In 2003, the Davis Service Group, owners of HSS Hire, announced the sale of the company by means of a management buy-in, backed by 3i venture capital3i
3i Group plc is a multinational private equity and venture capital company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has offices in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas and had total assets under management of £12.7 billion as at 31 March 2011...
. The sale was completed in early 2004 and HSS Hire Group became an independent organisation.
Throughout 2004, to enable the company to concentrate on its core tool and equipment hire in the UK, the Event Hire division was sold to Johnson’s Hospitality Services and the German operation to Dutch company Pierre Boels. A new retail partnership was also signed with Dulux
Dulux
Dulux is an internationally available brand of paint. It is produced by AkzoNobel . The brand name Dulux has been used by both ICI and DuPont since 1931 and was one of the first alkyd-based paints.-History:...
Decorator Centres, and the first major acquisition
Takeover
In business, a takeover is the purchase of one company by another . In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to the acquisition of a private company.- Friendly takeovers :Before a bidder makes an offer for another...
since the change of ownership took place with the purchase of A1 Hire and Sales in Bournemouth.
HSS were awarded the Safe-HIRE quality mark by the Hire Association Europe
Hire Association Europe
Hire Association Europe was formed in 1974 and has around 800 member companies.Hire Association Europe as a trade association should lobby the Government on behalf of its membership.HAE is a non-profit making organisation limited by guarantee.-External links:*...
(HAE), in 2006 they were awarded with the HAE's ‘Hire Company of the Year’ award.In the same year the training solutions division secured accreditation for one of its courses from City and Guilds.
In 2007, after 3 years of investment, 3i sold HSS Hire to Och-Ziff Capital Management
Och-Ziff Capital Management
Och-Ziff Capital Management Group is an American hedge fund manager and global alternative asset management firm. In early 2011, the firm had more than $28 billion in assets under management....
and Aurigo, the investment vehicle headed by ex-Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
CEO Archie Norman
Archie Norman
Archibald John Norman is a British businessman and politician. He is at present the only FTSE 100 chairman to have sat in the House of Commons. On 18 November 2009, Norman was announced as the new chairman of ITV plc...
.
Business structure
Key UK services of HSS Hire Service Group:- HSS Hire
- HSS Training
- HSS Outsource
The company holds a 4* British Safety Award. In addition, HSS are ISO9000:20, ISO 14001
ISO 14000
The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations (a) minimize how their operations (processes etc.) negatively affect the...
, Safe-Hire accredited and holders of Investors in People
Investors in People
Launched in 1991 Investors in People is a business improvement tool administered by UK Commission for Employment and Skills and supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills ....
status. HSS Hire also work with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is a British charity which aims to promote safety. It is particularly known for its vocal campaigns on issues of road safety, including Tufty the road crossing squirrel, the Cycling Proficiency Test and the Green Cross Code, as well as on issues of...
(ROSPA) and the government's Health & Safety Executive to promote safety in the hire industry.
HSS Hire have also contributed to community support efforts, with youth training schemes set up for disadvantaged youths in London.