What Miles Hire does

Miles Hire Limited is a family-owned tool and plant hire company headquartered in Swansea, South Wales, founded in 2003 by David Sydney Miles and now run by his children Ryan Miles and Darren Miles as Co-Directors with Jo-Ann Miles as Head of Customer Communications. It operates as the largest independent hire company in Wales, running 18+ depot branches across South Wales and Bristol (including Swansea, Cardiff, Bridgend, Newport, Porthcawl, Caerphilly, Penarth, Llanelli, Pontypridd, Port Talbot, Cwmbran, Ammanford, Carmarthen, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypool, Aberdare, and Chepstow), serving trade professionals and DIY consumers with day-based equipment rental and delivery.

The product portfolio spans Plant Hire (Kubota micro and mini diggers from 0.8 to 3 tons, Belle cement mixers, rollers, dumpers), Tool Hire (power tools, sanders, grinders, accessories), Access Equipment (scissor lifts, boom lifts, cherry pickers), Fencing, and Gardening Equipment, consolidated under the Miles Access sub-brand launched in 2024. Technology infrastructure centers on the proprietary Digital Hire Desk — a web-based booking and click-and-collect platform with allocated collection time slots — paired with a real-time driver mapping system that underpins a 2-hour site delivery guarantee. The company holds HAE Safe-Hire certification and has accumulated multiple industry awards including UK Hire Company of the Year (2017) and SafeHire Plant, Tool and Equipment Hire Company of the Year (2020).

Revenue is generated through usage-based day rental (pricing typically £8-£290 + VAT per day with deposits), consumables sales (PPE, replacement parts, fuel), and recurring Trade Account subscriptions with discounted rates. Go-to-market is hybrid: digital self-service via the Digital Hire Desk, 18+ physical branches, direct site delivery, and channel partnerships including a trade counter inside Robert Price Builders' Merchants (Newport, opened February 2026) and a 20+ year referral network with Exall and Jones builders' merchants, Swan Scaffolding, and Store-It Wales. The customer base is diversified across SMB construction trades, one-man-band contractors, enterprise accounts (e.g., COTS Training, Charles Perrett Property), and DIY consumers.

Name

Miles Hire

Legal name

Miles Hire Limited

Website

https://mileshire.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Miles Hire is a family-owned tool and plant hire company serving trade professionals and DIY customers across South Wales and Bristol through 18+ depot branches, a Digital Hire Desk ordering platform, and channel partnerships with builders' merchants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equipment Rental Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)

akta.pro primary industry

Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Site Services & Temporary Infrastructure Rental/Leasing (Portable Toilets, Fencing, Storage Containers) (TLABAFAH), Concrete & Masonry Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAC), Surface Preparation & Compaction Equipment Rental/Leasing (Compactors, Rollers, Grinders) (TLABAFAJ)

Keywords

• Tool hire services
• Plant equipment rental
• Powered access hire
• Construction equipment rental
• Trade equipment hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Swansea

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Hire: Core revenue stream from renting tools, plant equipment, and powered access to trade and public customers. Day-based pricing with deposits. Equipment includes diggers, dumpers, cement mixers, scaffolding, access equipment.
2. Consumables & Safety Gear Sales: Sale of consumable items including PPE, safety gear, discs, sanding sheets, fuel, vacuum bags, nails for Paslode guns, and replacement parts like cement mixer drums.
3. Trade Account Membership: Trade accounts offer discounted rates on all tool hire and plant hire stock, access to online portal, and first-class customer service. Generates recurring trade customer relationships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Miles Hire rents tools, plant equipment, powered access platforms, fencing, and gardening equipment to trade professionals and the general public across South Wales and Bristol. Core offerings are short- and long-term equipment hire (diggers, dumpers, cement mixers, scissor lifts, cherry pickers, scaffolding, PPE/safety gear) delivered or click-and-collected from 18+ branches with a 2-hour site delivery guarantee.

Product overview

Miles Hire is a tool and plant hire company operating a platform of equipment rental services across South Wales. The core offering includes Plant Hire (diggers, dumpers, rollers), Tool Hire (cement mixers, power tools), and Access Equipment (scissor lifts, cherry pickers). The company launched its Miles Access sub-brand in 2024 to consolidate powered access products including Skyjack scissor lifts and Niftylift boom lifts. Additional services include Trade Accounts with discounted rates, Click & Collect ordering, and a 2-hour delivery guarantee. Products range from micro 0.8-ton diggers to 3-ton machines, with accessories like transformers and extension cables, plus consumables including PPE and safety gear.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plant Hire Rental of heavy construction equipment — mini diggers, dumpers, rollers, and tracked barrows — for short- or long-term hire, available to both trade professionals and the general public.
• Tool Hire Rental of hand tools, power tools and accessories including cement mixers, grinders, sanders and extension equipment for construction, trade and DIY projects.
• Miles Access (Powered Access Equipment Range) Rental of powered access equipment (scissor lifts, cherry pickers and boom lifts) under the Miles Access sub-brand, including Peco Lift, Skyjack and Niftylift platforms for working at height.
• Fencing Hire Rental of temporary fencing equipment for construction sites, events and security applications.
• Gardening Equipment Hire Rental of equipment for landscaping and garden maintenance projects for trade and domestic customers.
• PPE & Safety Gear Sale of consumable personal protective equipment, safety clothing and consumable accessories (sanding discs, vacuum bags, fuel, Paslode nails) supporting hire customers.
• Trade Account Subscription-style business account offering trade customers discounted hire rates, online portal access, and priority customer support.
• Digital Hire Desk Customer-facing web-based platform enabling browse, select, book and pay for equipment hire, with allocated depot collection time slots, real-time driver mapping and an online portal for order tracking, invoicing and balance management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2-hour delivery guarantee to site
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Robert Price Builders' MerchantscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 February 2026Major strategic partnership placing Miles Hire trade counters inside Robert Price branches. First counter opened at Newport Corporation Road branch on 2nd February 2026. Goal is to create one-stop destination for construction industry. Plans for Cardiff Rumney branch and further roll-outs across South Wales.
• Exall and Jones (Builders' Merchants)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor20+ year partnership established by founders John Exall and David Miles. Exall and Jones refers customers needing plant hire to Miles Hire while Miles Hire refers customers needing building materials. Includes marketing materials at each site, exclusive promotional offers, regular open-days, and referral tracking system.
• Swan ScaffoldingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond-generation family business with nearly 50 years experience in residential and commercial scaffolding. Joined Exall and Jones referral network to offer complete construction sector service. Reciprocal referral arrangement benefits all parties.
• Store-It WalesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent storage specialists offering secure on and off-site storage solutions for construction sector. Latest business to join the four-way partnership network. Supports tradesmen with storage needs alongside tool hire and scaffolding services.
• KUBOTAcoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading equipment manufacturer supplying diggers, dumpers, and other machinery to Miles Hire. Stock includes Kubota mini diggers ranging from micro up to 3 ton. Partnership with Kubota enhances Miles Hire's reputation as a quality equipment provider.
• Builders Breakfast ExhibitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent founded by Miles Hire Directors to connect local tradespeople with major construction projects. First event in February 2016 attracted 111 attendees and presentations on £500m Swansea City Centre redevelopment. Continued events in 2017-2018 with landmark projects like Tidal Lagoon.
• Surfability CICminorOthersCommunity Interest Company providing surfing lessons for people with disabilities and learning difficulties. Miles Hire provided equipment for DIY SOS project to improve Surfability facilities in Swansea. Demonstrates community support commitment.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Vp plc (Brandon Hire Station): FTSE-listed equipment rental specialist owning Brandon Hire Station in the UK tool and plant hire market. Comparable hire product portfolio with national coverage; serves as a benchmark for institutional-grade plant hire operators.
• Hewden Stuart (Hewden): UK plant hire company with broad coverage of construction equipment including excavators, dumpers, and powered access. Directly comparable on plant hire product mix; national incumbent competing with Miles Hire for construction trade customers in overlapping geographies.
• Travis Perkins Tool Hire: Tool hire arm of the UK's largest builders' merchant group, operating hire counters inside Travis Perkins merchant branches. Direct strategic parallel to Miles Hire's Robert Price partnership model, demonstrating how merchant-embedded hire counters can scale - but Travis Perkins operates nationally.
• GAP Group: UK-wide plant, tool, and powered access hire specialist serving construction and infrastructure customers. Closest direct competitor profile to Miles Hire - regional multi-branch hire operator - but at significantly larger national scale.
• Speedy Hire: UK-listed national tool and plant hire company operating across the UK with extensive fleet and branch network. Direct competitor in plant and tool hire with overlap on diggers, mixers, and powered access, though Speedy operates at significantly larger national scale than Miles Hire's regional footprint.
• Sunbelt Rentals UK: UK arm of the largest equipment rental company in North America, offering plant, tool, and access equipment hire nationwide. Comparable on core plant and tool hire offerings; significant incumbent competitor with substantially larger fleet.
• Boels Rental UK: European-headquartered equipment rental company with growing UK presence in tool and plant hire. Comparable plant, tool, and powered access offerings; larger international player expanding into the UK regional hire market.
• HSS Hire: One of the UK's largest tool and equipment hire companies with national branch coverage. Directly comparable product mix (plant, tool, powered access hire) to Miles Hire but operates as a large incumbent with broader geographic footprint and corporate customer base.

Direct peers

• Lift Gear (formerly UK Platforms): UK specialist in powered access equipment hire including scissor lifts, boom lifts, and cherry pickers - directly comparable to Miles Hire's Miles Access sub-brand range. Smaller specialist competitor focused specifically on the powered access category Miles Hire is expanding into.

Others

• Robert Price Builders' Merchants: Major South Wales and Bristol builders' merchant group that is Miles Hire's strategic channel partner - opened a Miles Hire trade counter inside its Newport branch in February 2026. Adjacent (not competing) partner illustrating the merchant-embedded hire counter model that drives Miles Hire's growth strategy.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MilesHire
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOUQ34xbfCq_W0w5qKWZLEA
• Facebookfacebook.com/mileshirewales
• Instagraminstagram.com/mileshire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/miles-hire-limited

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Miles Hire