The Hireman Newsround – May 2026

It’s been an exciting and eventful start to 2026 at The Hireman, with continued investment in our hire fleet, major company milestones, and plenty of positive developments across the business.

From new equipment and industry recognition to community initiatives and media appearances, there has been a great deal happening throughout the company. Most importantly, none of this would be possible without the ongoing support of our customers and the hard work of our fantastic team.

Continued Investment in Our Hire Fleet

Providing the right equipment, at the right time, remains at the heart of everything we do.

To ensure our customers continue to have access to reliable, high-performance equipment across a wide range of applications, we have already invested more than £700,000 in our hire fleet during 2026.

Earlier this year, members of our team attended the Executive Hire Show to explore the latest innovations, meet with key suppliers and stay up to date with emerging industry trends. These conversations are invaluable in helping us identify new products, strengthen supplier relationships and secure the best possible equipment and hire rates for our customers.

Recent additions to our fleet include:

• New dehumidifiers and air cleaners to support drying and air quality requirements
• A large number of new Snorkel powered access equipment including the S3013 Mini and S3226E.
• Further investment in DeWalt breakers and hammer/combi drills
• Our innovative Battery Powered 940L Bowser Pressure Washer, which delivers powerful cleaning performance while offering a quieter, zero-emission alternative for site operations

Alongside this, our specialist cross-hire division, Xtra, has secured new agreements with a carefully selected network of trusted supply partners. These partnerships enable us to offer improved hire rates across an even wider range of specialist equipment, including:

• Specialist floor cleaning equipment
• Temporary site security and CCTV systems
• Professional floor preparation equipment
• Site welfare units and facilities

Our investment in innovation continues at pace. In the coming months, we will be formally launching a new range of DeWalt battery-powered equipment featuring the brand’s advanced PowerShift technology. Designed to deliver exceptional performance while reducing emissions and noise on site, this exciting addition reflects our ongoing commitment to bringing the latest and most effective solutions to our customers. We look forward to sharing more details very soon.

Recognition, Standards and Company Updates

It has been an especially rewarding period for The Hireman, with a number of significant achievements that reflect our ongoing commitment to excellence across every area of the business.

We are proud to have once again achieved Hire Association Europe SafeHire certification, reaffirming our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in health and safety, quality and operational performance.

We also had the pleasure of attending the HAE Hire Awards of Excellence, which proved to be a memorable evening for the business. A huge congratulations goes to our Head of Strategic Operations, Alex Milne, who was named Health & Safety Champion of the Year in recognition of his outstanding commitment and leadership.

Health and safety is fundamental to everything we do at The Hireman, and achievements such as these are only possible thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team across every part of the business.

We were also delighted to be named runner-up in the Hire Company of the Year category. To be recognised at this level among the industry’s leading businesses is an achievement we are incredibly proud of and one that reflects the professionalism, expertise and customer-focused approach that underpin our success.

In addition, The Hireman is making excellent progress towards renewing its Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Silver accreditation. FORS is a nationally recognised certification scheme that promotes best practice in fleet management, with a strong focus on safety, environmental performance and operational efficiency. Achieving Silver status demonstrates that our transport operations not only meet rigorous compliance standards, but are continually evolving to improve road safety, reduce environmental impact and enhance the efficiency of our fleet.

Calor Gas Dealership

The Hireman is pleased to be an authorised Calor Gas distributor operating from our Kent depot in Rochester, further strengthening our ability to provide dependable gas supplies to customers throughout London and the Home Counties.

Through this partnership, we are able to offer highly competitive rates across the complete range of Calor Gas cylinders, helping our customers secure excellent value without compromising on quality.

Our dealership status also benefits our wider depot network, maintain strong stock availability, prompt delivery and collection, and the responsive service our customers have come to expect.

Industry Engagement and Media Features

We are proud to continue our association with Hire United, a network of many of the UK’s leading independent tool and plant hire companies. By working alongside like-minded businesses across the country, members share knowledge, best practice and industry expertise to help raise service standards and drive innovation throughout the sector. Together, Hire United combines the strength of a nationwide network with the personal service and flexibility of independent businesses, and we are delighted to play our part in helping shape the future of the hire industry.

Earlier in the year, our Managing Director, Neil Graham, was featured on BBC News London to discuss the significant impact of the A40 Westway closures on local businesses. The extensive roadworks affected one of West London’s key transport routes, creating major congestion and disruption for deliveries, collections and day-to-day operations across the area. The interview provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the challenges faced not only by The Hireman, but by the wider hire and construction sectors, both of which rely heavily on efficient transport links to keep projects running smoothly.

Community Initiatives and Charitable Support

This spring, we launched our Easter campaign as a fun initiative to engage with customers both on site and online. Across our depots and delivery network, we handed out hundreds of Cadbury Creme Eggs to customers, while also running an online Easter Egg Hunt across our website.

Participants followed clues shared on our social media channels to uncover hidden eggs, with three lucky winners receiving Amazon vouchers.

It was a great way to add a little fun and say thank you to our customers for their continued support.

We was also proud to support a wonderful charitable effort during this years London Marathon, Ollie Shortt took on the challenge dressed as a giant bone, raising nearly £30,000 for Sarcoma UK along the way.

We are delighted to have played a small part in supporting Ollie and helping raise awareness for such an important cause. If you wish to show your support, you can donate here.

We will soon be sharing some exciting news about a new sponsorship agreement between The Hireman and a local football club close to our Kent depot. Through this partnership, we hope to strengthen our connection with the local community, raise awareness of The Hireman across the region, and support grassroots sport at the same time. As a family-run business, we believe in investing in the communities we serve, and we are proud to play a part in supporting an organisation that brings people together and has such a positive impact locally. We look forward to announcing further details very soon.

Looking Ahead

There is plenty more to come from The Hireman in 2026.

As demand for our training services continues to grow, we are developing a dedicated new website that will make it easier than ever for customers to explore and book the courses they need. From on-site health and safety and fire marshal training to abrasive wheels and PASMA-accredited courses, the new platform will provide all the information required to find and schedule the right training for your team.

As mentioned earlier in this article, we will also be introducing a new range of DeWalt PowerShift battery-powered equipment to our hire fleet. We continue to be highly impressed by the performance and innovation within the DeWalt range, and the growing demand from our customers reinforces our confidence in this technology. Our team recently visited the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the home of Everton F.C., to attend a DeWalt conference showcasing the brand’s latest product developments. We look forward to adding many of these innovations to our fleet in the near future.

From continued investment in our hire fleet and our people to new partnerships and service enhancements, we remain committed to delivering the highest levels of service and support to our customers.

To stay up to date with the latest news, product launches and company developments, sign up to our mailing list and follow The Hireman throughout 2026.