Select Plant Hire

What Select Plant Hire does

Select Plant Hire is a UK-headquartered (Dartford, Kent) construction equipment hire and integrated site services provider, wholly owned by Laing O'Rourke Group and operating since 1990 with 501-1,000 employees. The company rents a diversified fleet spanning lifting solutions (tower cranes, crawler cranes including seven battery-powered units — the world's largest such fleet — and mobile cranes), general plant (excavators, telehandlers, rollers, dumpers, survey equipment), modular accommodation (over 5,000 units delivered on flagship UK projects), piling and concrete pumping, hoists and MEWPs, power solutions (AMPD Enertainer, Dumarey Flybrid, Dumarey Revolution Battery, Zenobē Powerskid), engineering surveying and monitoring, UKAS-accredited test and inspection services, and a Training Academy delivering CPCS, NOCN, and IPAF qualifications. Underlying technology emphasises sustainability — 84% of plant and equipment is electric or battery-powered — with proprietary integrations of battery-powered heavy equipment and novel energy storage products designed to displace diesel generators on construction sites.

The business operates on a project-based, multi-year hire and services model with custom quote-based pricing, selling directly to enterprise construction and infrastructure clients (HS2, Thames Tideway, Battersea Power Station, Heathrow T2, Manchester Airport, Elizabeth Line). Revenue streams are predominantly recurring hire-based, supplemented by professional services revenue from inspections, training, and logistics. Distribution is anchored in a UK depot network plus a Select Plant Australia subsidiary in North Sydney, with go-to-market executed through direct enterprise field sales and reference-driven demand from major infrastructure projects. The 2025 acquisition of Explore Transport's civil plant and tool hire business, alongside new product launches (Revolution Battery, 11 Skyjack electric MEWPs, Casagrande hybrid piling rig) and a 2024 leadership overhaul, indicate an active growth and reintegration phase supported by Laing O'Rourke's capital backing.

Name

Select Plant Hire

Legal name

Select Plant Hire Ltd

Website

https://selectplanthire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Select Plant Hire is a UK construction equipment hire and integrated site services provider (Dartford-based, Laing O'Rourke subsidiary) serving major infrastructure projects with lifting, plant, modular, power, piling, and inspection services, distinguished by the world's largest battery-powered crawler crane fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Equipment Hire Services

NAICS

Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532412), Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN), Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAA), Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks) (TLABAFAF), Site Services & Temporary Infrastructure Rental/Leasing (Portable Toilets, Fencing, Storage Containers) (TLABAFAH), Construction & Industrial Equipment Rental/Leasing (Earthmoving, Material Handling, Aerial) (TLABAHAF)

Keywords

• Construction equipment hire
• Lifting solutions
• Modular buildings
• Power solutions
• Plant hire services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dartford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Plant Hire: Rental of construction equipment including excavators, telehandlers, rollers, dumpers, survey equipment, lighting, compressors, bowsers, tanks, and small tools. Core recurring revenue stream with long-term hire agreements typical for major projects.
2. Lifting Solutions: Tower cranes, crawler cranes, mobile cranes, and lifting accessories hire and contract lifting services. One of the UK's largest lifting equipment fleets.
3. Modular Buildings: Temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent modular accommodation buildings. Services include design, manufacture, installation, and facilities management. Over 5,000 units delivered for iconic projects.
4. Power Solutions: Alternative power and battery solutions including AMPD Enertainer, Flybrid, Revolution Battery, and Zenobē Powerskid. Eliminates need for diesel generators on construction sites.
5. Logistics Solutions: Site logistics including pre-construction strategy, security, gate and traffic management, lifting operations, facilities management, waste management, and stores management.
6. Piling & Concrete Pumping: Piling rigs and concrete pumping services with one of the largest, most versatile piling fleets in the UK.
7. Test & Inspection Services: UKAS accredited thorough examination services for crawler cranes, tower cranes, construction hoists, MEWPs, and lifting equipment under LOLER and PUWER regulations.
8. Training Academy: Technical, regulatory and academic training to individuals and organisations. Courses delivered include NOCN, CPCS, and IPAF qualifications.
9. Vertical Distribution & Access: Hoists, MEWPs (Mobile Elevated Work Platforms), and specialist lifting equipment hire.
10. Engineering Surveying & Monitoring: Geotechnical and environmental monitoring services including ground movement monitoring, laser scanning, environmental monitoring, contaminated land testing, utilities surveying, and drone surveying.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Select Plant Hire rents construction plant and equipment and provides related site services to UK construction and infrastructure contractors. Offerings span lifting solutions (tower, crawler and mobile cranes), general plant hire (excavators, telehandlers, rollers, dumpers, survey equipment, lighting, compressors), modular buildings for site accommodation, alternative power solutions, piling and concrete pumping, vertical distribution and access (hoists and MEWPs), site logistics, engineering surveying and monitoring, UKAS-accredited test and inspection, and a training academy. The company operates one of the UK's largest and youngest equipment fleets, with a particular focus on battery-powered and zero-emission plant.

Product overview

Select Plant Hire is a construction equipment and services provider offering a diversified portfolio of equipment hire, site infrastructure, and specialized services. The core offering comprises Lifting Solutions (tower cranes including the flagship CTL1600-66 developed with Terex, crawler cranes including battery-powered LR1160.1/LR1250.1 Unplugged models, mobile cranes), Plant Hire (excavators, telehandlers, rollers, dumpers, survey equipment, lighting/compressors, bowsers/tanks), Modular Buildings (standardized 2on2-9on9 accommodation units through to permanent 60+ year buildings), Power Solutions (AMPD Enertainer, Dumarey Flybrid, Zenobē PowerSkid, Revolution Battery), Piling & Pumping, Vertical Distribution & Access, Logistics Solutions, Engineering Surveying & Monitoring, Test & Inspection (UKAS accredited), and Training Academy. As part of Laing O'Rourke Group, the company provides equipment and services across the UK's most iconic construction projects including HS2, Battersea Power Station, Thames Tideway, and Heathrow Terminal 2.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lifting Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of plant and equipment is electric/battery powered - industry-leading sustainability
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of Hull School of Engineering and TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2025Academic partnership supporting student development and driving innovation across construction and plant hire sectors. Undergraduate and postgraduate students work on real-world project scopes provided by Select. Projects span approximately 30 weeks including site visits, mentorship from subject matter experts, and final presentations to industry professionals.
• Explore Transport Limited (ETL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2025Explore Transport Limited was a 50:50 joint venture between Select Plant Hire and WS Transport. Following agreement to divide business units, Select Plant Hire acquired the civil plant and tool hire business while WS Transport took sole control of transport and rail plant businesses. Explore Transport remains the exclusive transport and haulage provider for both Select Plant Hire and Laing O'Rourke.
• WS TransportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2025WS Transport was the 50:50 joint venture partner in Explore Transport Limited. Following division of business units, WS Transport took sole control of transport and rail plant businesses while continuing as exclusive transport and haulage provider for Select Plant Hire and Laing O'Rourke.
• Dumarey Green PowercoreTechnology or Integration · 9 July 2025Long-standing partnership with Dumarey Green Power for innovative energy products. Select is the first UK customer to integrate all three of Dumarey's products: Revolution Battery (high-power battery storage), Flybrid (flywheel energy storage), and AMPD Enertainer (battery energy storage systems). Products support construction site electrification and sustainability goals.
• Ampd EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationAmpd Energy pioneered the 'Enertainer' battery energy storage system for urban construction. The plug-and-play device electrifies construction sites, providing clean, quiet, and fully automated energy enabling sites to move away from fossil fuels. Coupled with Select's tower cranes, reduces carbon emissions by 90%.
• ZenobēcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnered with energy storage specialist Zenobē to provide clean power for construction sites using second-life batteries (refurbished electric bus batteries) transformed into portable batteries. One battery unit stores approximately 150kWh of energy for construction, lifting solutions, and EV charging applications.
• SkyjackcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing partnership with Skyjack for powered access equipment. Select became first UK customer to acquire Skyjack's all-electric boom models (SJ45 and SJ60 AJE+). The partnership focuses on sustainability and innovation in powered access equipment, with advanced telematics for remote diagnostics.
• Laing O'RourkecoreOthersSelect Plant Hire is a subsidiary of Laing O'Rourke. Parent company's activities and financial security attribute to much of Select's recent growth. Laing O'Rourke is a major international engineering and construction group, providing strategic backing and project pipeline.
• ExpandedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Expanded on major bridge and infrastructure projects. Select and Expanded completed detailed trial operations in advance of major lifting schemes on key infrastructure projects, showcasing technical capability and operational efficiency in constrained environments.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Speedy Hire plc: UK-listed equipment rental company serving construction, infrastructure, and industrial markets with tools, plant, and powered access. Direct competitor to Select in UK plant hire with comparable customer base of major contractors.
• A-Plant (Sunbelt Rentals UK): UK arm of Sunbelt Rentals (Ashtead Group), one of the largest equipment rental providers in the UK serving construction and infrastructure. Direct competitor across plant, lifting, and powered access with national depot network.
• Vp plc: UK equipment rental group operating through UK Forks, MEP, and Brandon Hire Station, providing plant, tools, and access equipment. Comparable multi-segment UK rental model serving construction markets.
• HSS Hire Group: UK equipment rental company providing tools, plant, and specialist equipment to construction and industrial customers. Direct competitor in general plant and tool hire across UK commercial and infrastructure projects.
• Nationwide Platforms: UK's largest provider of powered access platforms (MEWPs), part of Lavendon Group. Direct competitor in vertical distribution and access segment where Select competes with its MEWP and hoist fleet.
• Boels Rental: Leading European equipment rental company offering machines, tools, and modular buildings across construction and infrastructure. Comparable full-service rental model including modular accommodation overlap.
• Riwal: European aerial work platform and telehandler rental specialist serving construction and industrial markets. Direct competitor in powered access and material handling segments where Select has MEWP and telehandler fleet.
• Algeco (Modulaire Group): European leader in modular space rental serving construction, infrastructure, and commercial markets. Direct competitor in Select's modular buildings business with comparable temporary and permanent accommodation offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Ashtead Group plc: FTSE 100 parent of Sunbelt Rentals, the world's largest equipment rental company by revenue. Operates broadly across US, UK, and Canada with overlapping capabilities to Select in construction equipment rental at much greater scale.
• Liebherr: Swiss-German manufacturer of crawler cranes, tower cranes, and construction equipment that supplies Select's flagship battery-powered crane fleet. Broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities through both manufacturing and rental operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/select-plant-hire
• Instagraminstagram.com/selectplanthire

Compliance27 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Select Plant Hire