What Hird does

Hird Ltd is a privately held UK equipment hire and training company incorporated in 1982, headquartered in Kingston upon Hull with regional depots in Doncaster (Central) and Redhill (Southern). It specialises in three integrated product lines: powered access equipment (scissor lifts, boom lifts, spider booms, van mounts and personnel lifts), mini cranes (Tadano Valla pick-and-carry, Maeda tracked and crawler, UNIC spider cranes), and glass-lifting equipment including Winlet glazing robots for which Hird is the UK and Ireland authorised distributor. Multi-vendor authorised dealer relationships with Genie, Hinowa, Oil&Steel, Wood's Powr-Grip, Kappel and others give the fleet broad coverage across working-at-height, confined-space, and precision glazing applications.

Name

Hird

Legal name

Hird Ltd

Website

https://hird.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hird Ltd is a UK specialist equipment hire company (founded 1982) offering powered access platforms, mini cranes, and glass-lifting equipment through three regional depots, serving construction, facilities maintenance, and manufacturing customers alongside accredited operator training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Equipment Rental

NAICS

Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532412), Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241), Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Wholesale-Construction & Mining (No Petro) Machinery & Equip (5082), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Winches & Capstans (IMAHAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

Keywords

• Mini crane hire
• Powered access equipment
• Glass lifting solutions
• Operator safety training
• Contract lifting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston upon Hull

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Hire: Short-term and long-term rental of powered access equipment, mini cranes, glass lifting equipment, and accessories. Revenue generated through daily/weekly/monthly rental rates.
2. Operator Training: Health and safety training courses for equipment operators including IPAF, CPCS, LEEA, RTITB, and PASMA accredited courses.
3. Contract Lifting: Specialist lifting operations with qualified appointed persons and crane lifting operations supervisors.
4. Service and Maintenance: LOLER inspection/testing and repair services for lifting equipment.
5. Equipment Sales: Sale of new and used equipment through Hird Sales (hirdsales.co.uk), including Valla Cranes, Oil&Steel platforms, and Winlet glazing robots.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hird is a UK-based specialist equipment hire company that rents and sells mini cranes (Valla, Maeda, UNIC), powered access platforms (scissor lifts, boom lifts, spider booms), and glass lifting equipment (Winlet glazing robots, vacuum lifters, glazing manipulators). The offering is rounded out by contract lifting services, LOLER inspection and maintenance, and accredited operator training courses (IPAF, CPCS, LEEA, RTITB, PASMA) delivered from three regional UK depots.

Product overview

Hird is a UK specialist equipment hire company offering a comprehensive portfolio of lifting and access equipment. The core offering spans three main categories: (1) Powered Access Equipment including electric and diesel scissor lifts, boom lifts (cherry pickers), spider booms, personnel lifts, mast booms, and van/truck mounts; (2) Glass Lifting Equipment encompassing Winlet glazing robots (distributed as UK and Ireland authorised dealer), vacuum lifters from Woods Powr-Grip/Kappel/Wirth/Bohle/Pannoke, curved vacuum lifters, glazing manipulators, glass trolleys, and accessories; and (3) Mini Cranes from Valla (pick-and-carry including V Series electric), Maeda (tracked mini and crawler cranes), and UNIC (spider cranes). Supporting products include counterbalance floor cranes and lifting beams, cladding lifters, stone/GRC lifters, tracked carriers, and a full range of accessories. Services include contract lifting, LOLER inspection/testing, and accredited operator training (IPAF, CPCS, LEEA, RTITB, PASMA) delivered at three training depots. Major equipment supply brands include Genie, Niftylift, JLG, Manitou, Hinowa, Oil & Steel, Youngman, and Dingli.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Powered Access Equipment Hire Rental of electric and diesel scissor lifts, diesel and electric boom lifts (cherry pickers), bi-energy booms, spider boom lifts, personnel lifts and mast booms, and van/truck-mounted platforms for customers working at height in construction, facilities maintenance, and industrial settings. Fleet is drawn from leading manufacturers including Genie, Niftylift, JLG, Manitou, Hinowa, Oil&Steel, Youngman, and Dingli.
• Mini Crane Hire Rental of compact mini cranes including Valla pick-and-carry cranes (including V Series electric compact cranes), Maeda tracked mini and crawler cranes, and UNIC spider cranes for lifting operations in restricted access locations and sensitive environments. Designed for construction, industrial, and facilities customers needing compact lifting solutions.
• Glass Lifting Equipment Hire Rental of glass lifting equipment including Winlet glazing robots (UK and Ireland authorized distribution with capacities up to 1 tonne plus curved glass capability), vacuum lifters from 50kg to 8,000kg (Woods Powr-Grip, Kappel, Wirth, Bohle, Pannoke), curved vacuum lifters, glazing manipulators, glass trolleys, and accessories. Targeted at construction firms and specialist glazing contractors.
• Contract Lifting Service Full contract lifting service including supply of qualified appointed persons and crane lifting operations supervisors, equipment, operator, and project management for complex lifting operations where customers require turnkey responsibility under CPA conditions.
• Accredited Operator Training Accredited operator training courses covering IPAF (1a, 1b, 3a, 3b, PAV, H, MM, CAP), CPCS (A17 telescopic handler, A40 slinger signaller, A61 appointed person, A62 crane supervisor, A66 compact crane variants), LEEA (vacuum robot, counterbalance floor crane, counterbalance lifting beams), RTITB (forklift and pallet truck categories), PASMA (low level access, towers for users, working at height), and Cskills Awards NVQ qualifications. Delivered at training depots in East Riding/Yorkshire, Construction Training Yorkshire, and London Redhill.
• Service and Maintenance (LOLER Inspections) LOLER inspection and testing plus general service and repair for both Hird-owned hire equipment and customer-owned lifting equipment, ensuring statutory compliance and equipment uptime.
• Equipment Sales (Hird Sales) Sale of new and used lifting and access equipment through a separate sales portal, including Valla Cranes, Oil&Steel platforms, and Winlet glazing robots, alongside associated accessories and consumables.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WinletcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHird is the UK and Ireland authorized dealer/distributor for Winlet glazing robots. Winlet offers industry-leading precision glass handling and safety equipment, including models with capacities up to 1 tonne plus curved glass lifting capability.
• GeniecoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of powered access equipment including boom lifts, scissor lifts, and material lifts. Hird's fleet includes Genie Z-series and GS-series equipment.
• Tadano VallacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPick and carry crane supplier. Hird offers the complete Valla range including V Series electric cranes and is a key UK distributor for Valla products.
• MaedacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMini crane supplier providing tracked and mini crawler cranes for hire.
• UNIC (Japan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUNIC spider crane supplier providing compact spider crane equipment for hire.
• Oil&SteelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan mounted cherry pickers and spider boom platforms. Hird offers Oil&Steel products for both hire and sales through hirdsales.co.uk.
• IPAFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Powered Access Federation - Hird delivers IPAF approved training courses including static vertical, mobile boom, and push around vertical categories.
• HinowaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTracked spider platform supplier for confined space and low load-bearing ground applications.
• Wood's Powr-GripminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVacuum lifter equipment supplier including MT2, P11104, MRT4, and MRTA8 models for glass handling applications.
• KappelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHydraulica vacuum lifter supplier including models from 750kg to 8000kg capacity for heavy glass handling.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Speedy Hire: UK's largest tool and equipment hire business with national depot coverage across powered access, lifting, plant and tools. Directly comparable to Hird on mini crane, MEWP, and lifting equipment hire; far larger scale but less specialized in glazing robots.
• Loxam UK: UK arm of the European plant hire leader, providing powered access, lifting, and materials handling equipment hire. Comparable on general hire lines; less specialized in mini cranes and glazing robots than Hird.
• Sunbelt Rentals UK (formerly Ashtead / A-Plant): UK's largest plant and equipment hire chain following the A-Plant rebrand, with national coverage of MEWPs, telehandlers, cranes and materials handling. Overlaps with Hird on powered access and crane hire; significantly larger and broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• GGR Group: UK specialist in glass lifting equipment, mini cranes, and glazing robots — a near-direct niche peer to Hird, including overlapping product lines in vacuum lifters and robotic glazing.
• Nationwide Platforms: UK specialist in powered access platform hire with one of the UK's largest MEWP fleets. Direct competitor in the same core category as Hird's largest equipment line; larger fleet but narrower scope than Hird's multi-category model.

Others

• Vertikal Days / CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association) member firms: Industry association and peer cohort of UK plant-hire firms Hird belongs to, including regional mini crane and powered access specialists. Provides ecosystem context for Hird's positioning within UK lifting-and-access hire.
• UK Forks (Doosan) / Dongyang Mechatronics: OEM suppliers adjacent to Hird's telehandler / forklift lines and broader handling equipment. Comparable as the supply-side participants in the lifting & access rental ecosystem Hird serves.
• Valla Cranes (Tadano): Italian manufacturer of pick-and-carry cranes whose UK distribution is led by Hird. Comparable as a key supply-side counterparty in Hird's mini crane hire business model.

Regional players

• Mateco UK: UK distributor and rental operator for lifting, telehandlers, and materials handling equipment. Overlaps with Hird on lifting equipment hire and is positioned as a regional competitor in southern/Midlands markets.
• Brendon Power Tools / Garden Hire / Industrial Tools: UK regional equipment hire provider with overlap in lifting and access equipment in specific UK regions. Comparable on independent plant-hire business model; smaller scale than Hird.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Hird