The Hireman
The Hireman is a London-based tool and equipment hire company, founded in 1985, that rents small power tools, construction plant, and access equipment to contractors, tradespeople, and facilities management customers across Greater London and the Home Counties via four depots and same-day delivery.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Hireman does
The Hireman is a privately held UK tool hire and equipment rental company that has operated continuously in the London market since 1985. It rents small power tools, construction equipment, and specialized plant machinery — spanning access equipment, air tools, breakers and drills, generators and welding equipment, pumps, surface preparation machines, lifting and material handling gear, and traffic and safety equipment — and additionally sells consumables such as Calor Gas cylinders through its depot network. The firm also delivers training in safe equipment use, including generators and ladders/access equipment, and offers cross-hire services for specialist inventory such as ATEX-certified platforms sourced through partner networks like Hire United.
Operations are anchored by four physical depots across Greater London (City, West, South) and Kent, plus a central head office and accounts function. The technology layer consists of ToolTrak — an equipment tracking and management system for hired assets — and the Hireman Portal (built on the SyrinxCWS platform, accessed at hiremanportal.co.uk), which provides trade account customers with online ordering, account management, and invoicing. Revenue is generated primarily through weekly rental pricing (with weekly rates ranging from approximately £18–£30 for basic items to £200–£500+ for specialized plant), supplemented by consumables sales and cross-hire arrangements. Saturday morning delivery is offered from the Kent depot for orders placed by Friday 5pm, supporting the same-day/next-day delivery positioning that anchors the customer value proposition.
The customer base is horizontal rather than vertically concentrated: construction companies and building contractors form the primary segment, with individual tradespeople (electricians, plumbers, decorators, maintenance contractors) and facilities management companies as secondary segments. The firm holds FORS, SSIP, and PASMA certifications relevant to construction procurement, is a member of the Supply Chain School, and is a publicly visible independent operator with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or external funding rounds.
The Hireman firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Hireman
- Legal name
- The Hireman
- Website
- https://thehireman.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Hireman is a London-based tool and equipment hire company, founded in 1985, that rents small power tools, construction plant, and access equipment to contractors, tradespeople, and facilities management customers across Greater London and the Home Counties via four depots and same-day delivery.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Hireman industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Equipment Rental
- NAICS
- Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532412)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Concrete & Masonry Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAC), Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks) (TLABAFAF), Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN), Site Services & Temporary Infrastructure Rental/Leasing (Portable Toilets, Fencing, Storage Containers) (TLABAFAH)
Keywords
Where The Hireman is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
The Hireman business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Equipment Hire: Weekly rental of construction tools and equipment including access equipment, air tools, breakers, drills, generators, pumps, welding equipment, surface preparation machines, and plant machinery. Pricing varies by equipment type with weekly rates ranging from basic items at £18-30 per week to specialized equipment at £200-500+ per week.
- Consumables Sales: Sale of consumable products including Calor Gas (Propane, Butane, Patio varieties in various sizes), gas cartridges, and other disposable items used on construction and trade sites.
- Cross-Hire Services: Specialist equipment hire services including ATEX-certified access platforms for hazardous environments and specialized equipment not held in standard inventory, sourced from partner suppliers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Weekly | Standard Equipment Hire - Weekly Rates |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Specialized Equipment - Price on Application |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Hireman product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hireman rents construction tools and equipment on weekly hire terms to contractors, tradespeople, and construction companies across London and the Home Counties, supported by same-day delivery from four depot locations. In addition to equipment hire, the company sells consumables including Calor Gas cylinders and offers training programs for safe equipment use. The Hireman Portal and ToolTrak system provide online account management and equipment tracking for trade customers.
Product overview
The Hireman is a tool hire and equipment services company operating across London and the Home Counties since 1985. The company offers a comprehensive equipment rental portfolio centered around its core tool hire services, supported by the ToolTrak tracking system, Hireman Portal online account management, and Training services. The product range spans access equipment (powered platforms, towers, ladders), air tools and compressors, breaking and drilling equipment, power and welding equipment (generators, transformers, welders), pumps for water management, surface preparation equipment (grinders, scarifiers), lifting and material handling gear, plant machinery (excavators, telehandlers), and safety/traffic management equipment. Additional offerings include Calor Gas cylinders and general consumables.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tool Hire Services
- Calor Gas
- Consumables
- Training Services
- ToolTrak Equipment Tracking Service Equipment tracking and management service that monitors hired equipment, providing visibility over tool location, status, and utilization for customer account management.
Companies that use The Hireman
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Hireman technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Hireman partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Hire UnitedminorPartnership with Hire United network, a tool and equipment hire collaboration group, providing access to extended equipment range and industry resources. The Hire United logo appears on the company website footer indicating membership in this hire industry network.
- FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme)coreFleet Operator Recognition Scheme membership demonstrating operational standards compliance for commercial vehicle fleet operations. Shows on company website footer as FORS member.
- SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement)coreSSIP supplier membership demonstrating health and safety certification meeting construction industry procurement standards. Displayed on company website as quality assurance indicator.
- PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers' Manufacturers Association)corePASMA certification indicates training and safety standards compliance for mobile access tower hire operations. Enables verification through PASMA website.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Hireman competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brandon Hire Station: UK tool and small plant hire specialist with a national depot footprint. Closely comparable product mix and customer base (construction tradespeople and contractors), and a direct competitor to The Hireman in London and the South East.
- Hewden: UK plant and tool hire specialist serving construction, infrastructure, and industrial customers. Comparable offering in excavators, telehandlers, dumpers, and powered access, with national depot presence including London depots.
- GAP Group: UK plant, tool, and non-mechanical equipment hire with a depot network spanning the UK. Similar product categories (excavators, telehandlers, access, tools) and customer profile to The Hireman, with national scale.
- Speedy Hire: The UK's largest tool and equipment hire company operating a national depot network. Directly comparable to The Hireman across tool, plant, and access hire, though at substantially greater scale and with broader geographic reach.
- Sunbelt Rentals UK (formerly A-Plant / Hirebase): UK division of one of the largest equipment rental groups globally, offering tool, plant, and access hire to construction and industrial customers. Direct overlap with The Hireman's plant machinery and access equipment offerings.
- Mabey Hire: UK equipment hire specialist focused on temporary works, propping, and site solutions to construction and infrastructure projects. Overlaps with The Hireman's access, lifting, and site safety categories, with depot presence across the UK.
Regional players
- Nixon Hire: Privately held UK plant and tool hire company with depots primarily across the north of England and Scotland. Comparable plant and tool offering but geographically complementary rather than directly overlapping with The Hireman's London/Home Counties core.
Broad incumbents
- Vp plc (Brandon Hire Station parent): UK-listed equipment rental group whose divisions include tool hire (Brandon Hire Station), specialist rental, and plant hire. Comparable end markets and product categories but operates as a multi-segment group rather than a single-region specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Hireman social profiles
Digital presenceThe Hireman compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
The Hireman financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Hireman leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Hireman funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Hireman M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Hireman
What does The Hireman do?
The Hireman rents construction tools and equipment on weekly hire terms to contractors, tradespeople, and construction companies across London and the Home Counties, supported by same-day delivery from four depot locations. In addition to equipment hire, the company sells consumables including Calor Gas cylinders and offers training programs for safe equipment use. The Hireman Portal and ToolTrak system provide online account management and equipment tracking for trade customers.
Is The Hireman a public or private company?
The Hireman is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Hireman founded?
The Hireman was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Hireman based?
The Hireman is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Hireman make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Equipment Hire is the primary driver. The others are consumables Sales and cross-Hire Services.
Who are The Hireman's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brandon Hire Station, Hewden, GAP Group, Speedy Hire, Sunbelt Rentals UK (formerly A-Plant / Hirebase) and Mabey Hire. Nixon Hire is listed as a regional player. Vp plc (Brandon Hire Station parent) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Hireman have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Hireman.
What industry is The Hireman in?
The Hireman's product category is Construction Equipment Rental. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLABAFAA, Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing, with a secondary code of TLABAFAC, Concrete & Masonry Equipment Rental/Leasing. Its NAICS code is 532412 and its SIC code is 7350.