Leading renters unite to tackle plant theft

Eight leading UK rental companies are pooling their resources to combat plant theft, which costs their industry around £800 million (€1.13 billion) a year.

The companies are A-Plant, Brandon Hire, GAP Hire Solutions, Hewden, HSS Hire Group, Nationwide Platforms, Speedy Solutions and VP.

The industry already has an event to tackle the issue, called the Combined Industries Theft Solutions conference - and it was there in November that the companies agreed to set up their own group to share information, ideas and best practice.

Iain Anderson, joint managing director of GAP Hire Solutions and chair of the Plant Hire Steering Group, said: “The exchange of information is vital if we are going to reduce theft, and we have to work together.”

The group has already held its first meeting, at GAP’s offices in Glasgow, where it discussed issues such as increasing depot and site security measures. Another suggestion was to strengthen relationships with local police forces.

Mr Anderson continued: “As we are the biggest plant hire companies in the UK, we were able to share knowledge on how best to reduce theft rates. We will continue to do this as well as adopting new practices that will hopefully have a positive impact on plant theft.”

More than 90% of the UK’s construction and plant hire companies experience theft at some time, usually from building sites.

The group’s next meeting will take place in May at the offices of Speedy Hire in Haydock, Merseyside.