Photo credit: Hire Association Europe
29/03/2023 - The
Hire Awards of Excellence celebrate the achievements of hire companies across the UK. PASMA's Jason Carlton was asked to resume his place on the judging panel this year and was once again highly impressed by the standard of entries across the board.
Organised by Hire Association Europe and Event Hire Association (HAE EHA), the Hire Awards is an annual opportunity for hire companies - and the individuals working within them - to share their success and be recognised for their efforts.
Jason told us: "I've been judging for several years now and I'm always struck by how the rental industry continues to improve and develop. In the past, sustainability, inclusion and corporate responsibility seemed like a 'luxury' only large companies could afford, but now every entry from SMEs to plc recognises the importance of doing the right thing. It’s encouraging to see."
The judging process
The panel is made up of ten judges drawn from across the hire sector, who bring a broad range of industry knowledge and perspective to proceedings. This year there were 15 categories for them to judge, with 90 entries in total. For each category, the judges aimed to select first place, highly commended and third place entries.
Jason tells us it's a demanding but enjoyable job. "I find it rewarding to read the success stories, particularly the Young Apprentice of the Year and Hire Achiever of the Year entries. It's nice to learn how people entering the sector are making a career."
Stand-out entries
And what makes a winning entry stand out? Any advice for future entrants?
"Whilst there are occasionally stand-out winners, usually it's a challenge to select a winning entry from a group of high performers. For me, stand-out entries are those that include customer testimonials. For anyone entering the awards in future, it might sound obvious but my advice would firstly be to make sure your submission answers the entry brief. Explain everything - rental is a big sector, so don't assume the judges understand your specialism. And finally, shout about your success!"
The awards
The awards up for grabs this year are:
> Digital Catalogue of the Year
> Website of the Year
> Best Use of New Media
> Diversity & Inclusion Initiative
> Sustainaibility & CSR Initiative
> Hire Industry Product of the Year
> Hire Industry Supplier of the Year
> SafeHire Plant, Tool & Equipment Hire Company of the Year Turnover over £10m
> SafeHire Plant, Tool & Equipment Hire Company of the Year Turnover under £10m
> SafeHire Event Hire Company of the Year
> Young Apprentice of the Year
> Apprentice of the Year
> Workshop Manager of the Year
> Hire Manager of the Year
> Hire Achiever of the Year
Jason will attend the Hire Awards of Excellence ceremony and gala dinner on Saturday 22 April at Grosvenor House, London, where the winners will be revealed. He wouldn’t give us any hints about who might be collecting the trophies this year, so we'll have to wait until then to find out!
Among the nominees are PASMA hirer/dealer members Astley Hire, Brandon Hire Station, HSS Hire, Lakeside Hire, Speedy Services and Sunbelt Rentals. Good luck to them and to each and every one of the nominees hoping to pick up an award.
