Rigging Services
Rigging Services Direct Ltd is a UK-based rigging equipment hire, sales, and professional services company serving theatre, live events, conference, exhibition, visitor attraction, and film/TV clients from five UK branches with one of the largest truss inventories in the country.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rigging Services does
Rigging Services Direct Ltd, trading as Rigging Services, is a UK-based specialist equipment hire and sales business serving the entertainment and live events industry. Founded in 1988 and operating for over 25 years, the company provides aluminium truss systems (Prolyte, including rectangular, square, triangular, ladder, and complete roof configurations), CM Lodestar and CM Prostar theatrical hoists, motor control equipment, Doughty clamps and couplers, and Petzl fall protection equipment, alongside full rigging/lifting accessories and materials handling gear. The company was the first in the UK to own a Prolyte ST Roof System, which it has deployed for high-profile installations including the Car Phone Warehouse AGM at Alexandra Palace, Glastonbury Festival, and the largest LED screen in France on the roof of the Grand Hotel Cannes.
The company operates through five UK branches — London East (3 Mills Studios), London South East (Cobalt), London West (Pinewood Studios), Birmingham, and Manchester (relocating) — supplemented by a warehouse and lifting equipment technician base at Canvey Island, Essex. Customers span theatre (Royal Shakespeare Theatre), live events (Glastonbury, London Marathon, Rugby World Cup 2015, XBOX Live launches), retail (Les Galleries Lafayette Paris, Car Phone Warehouse), aviation (Heathrow Terminal 4), hospitality/cruise (P&O Cruises, Grand Hotel Cannes), and attractions (Dreamworks Lights Lantern Experience). GTM is sales-led and project-based, with field-based teams handling hire, sales, and installation, supported by a dry-hire option for cost-conscious short-term requirements.
Revenue is generated through three streams: usage-based equipment hire (weekly minimum with daily extensions), one-time equipment sales (30-day payment terms, 6-month warranty), and professional services including LOLER/PUWER inspection, LEEA- and BS 7121-accredited training, and project management. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is primarily direct via branches, with international project delivery supported by overseas business partners. There are no disclosed funding rounds, no mergers or acquisitions, and no parent company; ownership appears to remain private and founder/management-aligned.
Rigging Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rigging Services
- Legal name
- Rigging Services Direct Ltd
- Website
- https://riggingservices.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rigging Services Direct Ltd is a UK-based rigging equipment hire, sales, and professional services company serving theatre, live events, conference, exhibition, visitor attraction, and film/TV clients from five UK branches with one of the largest truss inventories in the country.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rigging Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Stage and Event Rigging Services
- NAICS
- Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532490)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rigging & Truss Services (Ground/Overhead, Automation) (THAHAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN), Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD)
Keywords
Where Rigging Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Rigging Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Equipment Hire: Short-term and long-term rental of rigging equipment including truss, motors, safety equipment, and accessories. Minimum one-week hire basis with daily rates thereafter. Equipment includes Prolyte aluminium truss, CM Lodestar theatrical hoists, Doughty clamps, and personal safety gear.
- Equipment Sales: Direct sales of rigging and lifting equipment including truss systems, motors, safety equipment, and accessories. Sales terms include 30-day payment terms and 6-month warranty on goods.
- Professional Services: Inspection and testing services for lifting equipment, LOLER inspections, training courses for working at height and slinging/rigging, and project management for event rigging installations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Weekly | Equipment Hire - Weekly minimum with daily rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
Rigging Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rigging Services hires, sells, and installs professional rigging equipment for the entertainment and events industry. Core hire and sale offerings include Prolyte aluminium truss systems (rectangular, square, triangular and ladder), the Prolyte ST Roof System, CM Lodestar and CM Prostar theatrical hoists, motor control equipment, Doughty clamps and couplers, personal access and safety equipment, and rigging/lifting accessories. The company also delivers LOLER/PUWER inspection services, working at height training, and slinging/rigging training, plus bespoke design, supply, and project management for complex installations.
Product overview
Rigging Services is a professional rigging equipment supplier serving the theatre, live event, conference, exhibition, visitor attraction, film, and television industries. The company operates a platform model offering both equipment rental (dry hire) and sales, with the core product portfolio centred on Prolyte aluminium truss systems (including rectangular, square, triangular, and ladder configurations) and CM Lodestar/Prostar theatrical hoists. These are complemented by extensive accessory categories including Doughty clamps and couplers, motor control equipment, personal access and safety equipment (featuring Petzl branded fall protection), rigging/lifting accessories, and materials handling equipment. The company also offers integration through LOLER/PUWER inspection services and professional training programmes. Equipment is available for hire or purchase through multiple UK branches including London (east, west, and south east), Birmingham, and Manchester.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Prolyte Aluminium Truss Systems (Hire) Professional aluminium truss systems available for hire in rectangular, square, triangular, and ladder configurations across Prolyte series X30, H30, H40, S36 and S52, used for stage, event, and installation applications.
- Prolyte ST Roof System (Hire) Complete modular roof system for large-scale event installations available for hire; Rigging Services was the first UK owner of the ST System and provided training at Alexandra Palace London.
- CM Lodestar D8 Theatrical Hoist Professional theatrical hoist available for hire in direct control (DC) and low voltage (LV) variants for suspended load applications in entertainment venues.
- CM Lodestar D8+ Theatrical Hoist Enhanced theatrical hoist model available for hire with direct control or low voltage options for precision load positioning in performance environments.
- CM Prostar Theatrical Hoist Compact theatrical hoist available for hire with direct control or low voltage operation for smaller-scale suspended load requirements.
- Motor Control Equipment Control modules, leads and cables including fan ins, fan outs, distro cables, mains extensions and cable trunks available for hire for theatrical hoist operation.
- Doughty Clamps and Couplers Comprehensive range of clamps available for hire including half coupler, hanging clamp, girder clamp, quick trigger clamp, and swivel coupler designs for truss mounting applications.
- Rigging/Lifting Accessories Eyebolts, eyenuts, ground anchors, shackles (bow and dee), slings (roundsling, soft steel, webbed, wire rope), handweights, lifting hooks, masterlinks, ratchet straps, turnbuckles, wire rope and fittings, and Reutlinger cable grippers available for hire.
- Personal Access and Safety Equipment (Hire) Fall protection equipment available for hire including connectors, karabiners, quick links, descent control devices, fall arrestors, full body/chest/sit harnesses, lanyards, and pulleys.
- Petzl Fall Protection Equipment (Sales) Professional Petzl fall protection products for sale including ASAP mobile fall arrest devices, ABSORBICA lanyards, AVAO and NEWTON EASYFIT harnesses, VERTEX and STRATO helmets, and ASCENSION, CROLL and I'D L ascenders and descenders.
- Fibre Rope and Accessories (Sales) Professional fibre ropes for sale including Beal Intervention Rope and Marlow Static LSK, plus rope sacks, ascenders, descenders, and rigging plates.
- LOLER/PUWER Inspection Services Mobile on-site lifting equipment inspection services ensuring compliance with LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) and PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations).
- Working at Height Training Training courses including Height Awareness (HA1, HA2, HA3), MEWP operator certification, and rescue procedures for personnel working at height.
- Slinging and Rigging Training Professional rigging training including Basic Slinging and Rigging (Level 1 and Level 2), Management of Lifting Operations (BS 7121), Slinger/Signaller certification, and LEEA-accredited LOLER/PUWER training.
Quantifiable outcome
- 6 tonnes of structure suspended above performers for 'As The World Tipped' production
Companies that use Rigging Services
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rigging Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Rigging Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rigging Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Neg Earth Events: London-based supplier of lighting, rigging and motion control for concerts, festivals and tours; directly comparable UK event production supplier with overlapping rigging equipment hire.
- Unusual Rigging: UK-based specialist rigging company serving theatre, live events and film/TV; directly comparable as a UK entertainment-rigging competitor with similar hire, sales and installation services.
- Brilliant Stages: UK-based designer and fabricator of staging, structures and rigging for concerts, theatre and events; comparable as a UK specialist providing complex rigging structures and bespoke event engineering.
- Stage Electrics: UK provider of staging, lighting, audio and rigging equipment hire and sales; comparable as a multi-branch UK entertainment equipment supplier serving theatre, broadcast and live events.
- S2 Events: UK event production company offering staging, rigging and technical production; comparable as a UK-based competitor serving festivals, corporate events and live entertainment.
Broad incumbents
- Tait Towers: Global staging, automation and rigging supplier for live events and touring productions; comparable as an established, larger-scale entertainment rigging and automation provider in overlapping customer segments.
- PRG (Production Resource Group): Global entertainment production services company offering rigging, lighting, video and staging; comparable as a broader incumbent with significant UK and international rigging capability competing for the same marquee events.
Others
- Petzl: Manufacturer of fall-protection, rope-access and work-at-height equipment (ASAP, AVAO, I'D); comparable as the OEM whose personal access and safety products Rigging Services distributes through its sales channel.
- Columbus McKinnon: Manufacturer of CM Lodestar and CM Prostar theatrical hoists used by Rigging Services; comparable as the supplier of the company's core hoist product line and a broader rigging/lifting equipment manufacturer.
- Area Four Industries (Prolyte / Tomcat): Manufacturer of Prolyte and Tomcat truss and staging products; comparable as the primary OEM whose truss, roof systems and connectors Rigging Services rents and resells.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rigging Services social profiles
Digital presenceRigging Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rigging Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Rigging Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rigging Services 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 Rigging Services
What does Rigging Services do?
Rigging Services hires, sells, and installs professional rigging equipment for the entertainment and events industry. Core hire and sale offerings include Prolyte aluminium truss systems (rectangular, square, triangular and ladder), the Prolyte ST Roof System, CM Lodestar and CM Prostar theatrical hoists, motor control equipment, Doughty clamps and couplers, personal access and safety equipment, and rigging/lifting accessories. The company also delivers LOLER/PUWER inspection services, working at height training, and slinging/rigging training, plus bespoke design, supply, and project management for complex installations.
Is Rigging Services a public or private company?
Rigging Services is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rigging Services founded?
Rigging Services was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rigging Services based?
Rigging Services is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rigging Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Equipment Hire is the primary driver. The others are equipment Sales and professional Services.
Who are Rigging Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Neg Earth Events, Unusual Rigging, Brilliant Stages, Stage Electrics and S2 Events. Broad incumbents are Tait Towers and PRG (Production Resource Group). Others are Petzl, Columbus McKinnon and Area Four Industries (Prolyte / Tomcat).
Does Rigging Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rigging Services.
What industry is Rigging Services in?
Rigging Services's product category is Stage and Event Rigging Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAEAD, Rigging & Truss Services (Ground/Overhead, Automation), with a secondary code of IMAHAJAN, Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing. Its NAICS code is 532490 and its SIC code is 7350.