What WILSON ACCESS HIRE LTD. does

Wilson Access Hire Ltd. operates as a specialist division within AFI-Rentals, part of the privately-held AFI Group of companies (parent: AFI-Uplift Limited, registered in England and Wales, Company No. 03539352, headquartered in Normanton, West Yorkshire). The company provides B2B powered access equipment — Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) — for hire and sale across the United Kingdom. Its fleet spans scissor lifts, mast lifts, spider lifts (working heights up to 33m), articulating and telescopic boom lifts, construction hoists (200kg–2,000kg capacity), truck-mounted platforms (up to 56m with the Bronto S56XR), van-mounted cherry pickers, push-arounds, and underbridge inspection units. Telehandlers are available for purchase. Distribution is via 15+ owned UK depots, an online ordering portal, credit-account-based enterprise sales, and a mobile application on iOS/Android.

The business makes money through five revenue streams: short-term and long-term equipment hire (including AF20 minimum-day and 3-, 6-, 12-month packages), equipment resale (new and ex-hire), training services (IPAF 3a/3b/1b, PAL Plus, MEWPs for Managers, E-Learning, PASMA Tower, CITB ATO), recurring Service Maintenance Agreements (SMAs) for customer-owned platforms, and usage-based protection products (Damage Waiver at 10% of hire, All Risk at 20% of hire). Vertical customer segments include construction, infrastructure/highways (bridge inspection and maintenance), renewables (onshore wind installation and turbine maintenance), telecoms, industrial, and media/film. Compliance with LOLER inspection requirements is embedded in the offering.

Beyond physical equipment, the company has invested in digital workflow tools: SiteSurvAI, an AI-powered image-analysis assistant that recommends suitable MEWPs from uploaded site photographs; a QR-coded off-hire system that delivers LOLER certificates, PDI details, and familiarisation videos; a BIM information store for digital project modelling; and 24/7 online ordering with delivery tracking. UK postcode restrictions apply to service coverage, and marketing is executed through LinkedIn newsletters, organic social (X/@AFIRentals), the mobile app, and manufacturer partnerships.

Name

WILSON ACCESS HIRE LTD.

Legal name

AFI-Uplift Limited

Website

https://wilsonaccess.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wilson Access Hire Ltd., operating as part of the AFI Group, provides B2B powered access equipment (MEWP) hire, sales, and certified training to construction, infrastructure, telecoms, renewables, industrial, and media customers across the UK via 15+ depots.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Equipment Rental (Powered Access / MEWP Hire)

NAICS

Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerial Work Platforms (MEWPs) Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD), Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

Keywords

• Powered access hire
• MEWP rental
• Scissor lift hire
• Boom lift rental
• Operator training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Normanton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: Short-term and long-term hire of powered access platforms including scissor lifts, articulating boom lifts, telescopic boom lifts, spider lifts, truck mounts, van mounts, push-arounds, mast lifts, underbridge units, and construction hoists
2. Equipment Sales: Sale of new and ex-hire powered access machines including scissor lifts, boom lifts, spider lifts, telehandlers, trailers
3. Training Services: IPAF operator training, PASMA tower training, CITB ATO courses, and MEWP certification programmes
4. Damage Waiver and All Risk Indemnity: Protection plans covering accidental damage, theft, and loss of rental equipment. Damage Waiver at 10% of hire cost, All Risk at 20% of hire cost
5. Service Maintenance Agreements (SMAs): Service and maintenance plans for customers' own access platforms to maintain compliance, safety, and reduce downtime

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

WILSON ACCESS HIRE LTD., operating as part of the AFI Group, provides short-term and long-term hire, sales, and training for powered access platforms (MEWPs) including scissor lifts, mast lifts, spider lifts, articulating and telescopic boom lifts, truck mounts, van mounts, push-arounds, underbridge units, telehandlers, and construction hoists. The company serves UK construction, infrastructure, renewables, telecoms, industrial, and media sectors through 15+ owned depots, complemented by integrated operator training (IPAF, PASMA, CITB ATO), service maintenance agreements, damage waiver insurance, and digital tools (SiteSurvAI, BIM, QR off-hire, mobile app).

Product overview

WILSON ACCESS HIRE LTD., operating as part of the AFI Group, provides a comprehensive powered access equipment portfolio including scissor lifts, mast lifts, spider lifts, articulating and telescopic boom lifts, construction hoists, truck mounts, van mounts, push arounds, underbridge units, and telehandlers. The company operates a unified platform offering equipment hire, sales, and training services. Training division provides IPAF-certified operator courses, PASMA tower training, and CITB-ATO programs. Supporting services include service maintenance agreements (SMAs), damage waiver/insurance protection, AI-powered SiteSurvai site analysis tool, BIM integration services, QR code-based smart off-hire system, and 24/7 online/mobile ordering. Hire options range from daily to long-term contracts including AF20 (20-day minimum) and monthly packages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spiderlift: Track mounted access platforms offering working heights up to 33m, operated by AFI-Rentals under the Spiderlift brand.
• Facelift
• Rapid Hoists

Products and services

• Powered Access Equipment Hire (MEWPs) Short-term and long-term hire of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) — scissor lifts, mast lifts, spider lifts, articulating and telescopic boom lifts, truck mounts, van mounts, push-arounds, underbridge units, and construction hoists — for UK construction, infrastructure, renewables, telecoms, industrial, and media customers needing safe elevated access at heights up to 56m.
• Powered Access Equipment Sales Sale of new and ex-hire powered access machines including scissor lifts, mast lifts, articulating and telescopic boom lifts, van mounts, truck mounts, spider lifts, telehandlers, trailers, and cherry pickers for buyers seeking owned equipment.
• IPAF Operator Training IPAF-certified operator courses including 3a/3b Operator, 3 Subject, PAL Plus, E-Learning, and MEWPs for Managers courses for MEWP operators and managers across UK construction and industrial employers.
• PASMA Tower For Users Training PASMA mobile access tower training and certification programme for users of prefabricated mobile access towers across UK construction and maintenance workforces.
• CITB ATO Training Courses CITB Approved Training Organisation certification programmes delivered to construction industry employers and operators as part of the company's training portfolio.
• Service & Maintenance Agreements (SMAs) Service and maintenance plans for customers' own access platforms designed to maintain compliance, keep teams safe, reduce costs, and minimise downtime on MEWP fleets.
• Damage Waiver & All Risk Indemnity Indemnity policies covering accidental damage, theft, malicious damage, and total loss of hired powered access equipment. Damage Waiver at 10% of hire cost (no excess, working hours only); All Risk at 20% of hire cost (£1,000 total loss excess, 24/7 cover).
• SiteSurvAI — AI-Powered Site Survey Assistant AI-powered image analysis tool that analyses uploaded construction site photographs to automatically recommend the most suitable powered access machine, reducing guesswork for customers selecting equipment.
• BIM (Building Information Modelling) Information Service Building Information Modelling digital asset library providing virtual models for construction project planning, design, and visualisation of powered access equipment integration.
• AFI Rentals Mobile App & Online Ordering 24/7 mobile (iOS/Android) and web-based platform for ordering equipment, opening credit accounts, and tracking deliveries for hire and sales customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Equipment available for next-day delivery
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nationwide Platforms: UK pure-play powered access rental specialist with one of the largest MEWP fleets in the country — the most directly comparable single-product peer for scissor, boom, truck-mounted and underbridge units.
• Speedy Hire: UK-listed equipment rental provider with a national depot network covering powered access, tools and specialist hire — directly comparable in multi-vertical B2B rental, depot density and integrated services.
• Riwal: Pan-European powered access rental specialist with a strong UK depot footprint and a similar MEWP-led proposition; comparable on aerial work platforms, training integration and large-fleet operations.
• Sunbelt Rentals UK: One of the UK's largest powered access and equipment rental specialists (formerly A-Plant), operating a national depot network with a broad MEWP fleet and integrated training — the closest direct UK competitor to Wilson Access / AFI.
• Height for Hire: UK MEWP and powered access rental specialist serving construction, facilities and events; comparable on fleet type, customer verticals and short-/long-term hire options, though at a smaller scale.
• Manlift: UK powered access rental provider with a multi-category MEWP fleet and training-led go-to-market — a direct niche peer with comparable customer profiles and aerial-platform-only positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Loxam Access (formerly Lavendon): European market leader in aerial work platform rental with significant UK operations post the Lavendon acquisition; broader European footprint and larger fleet make it a broad incumbent peer rather than a pure UK specialist.
• Niftylift: UK-based MEWP manufacturer with significant self-propelled and trailer-mounted platforms; relevant as a domestic equipment peer whose platforms are commonly rented by UK MEWP hire operators including Wilson Access/AFI.
• JLG Industries: Global OEM of MEWPs (scissor lifts, booms, truck mounts) that also runs direct rental operations; a broad incumbent peer overlapping on equipment category, technology and end markets served by AFI's fleet.

Emerging players

• Access Plus (Platform Sales & Hire): UK focused MEWP hire and sales specialist operating in adjacent geographies to AFI's network; an emerging regional specialist with overlapping product mix but smaller fleet depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFIRentals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wilson-access-hire-ltd.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 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 WILSON ACCESS HIRE LTD.