{"id":890879,"date":"2026-02-07T23:12:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T05:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/07\/hss-unveils-the-changing-face-of-hire\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T23:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T05:12:08","slug":"hss-unveils-the-changing-face-of-hire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/07\/hss-unveils-the-changing-face-of-hire\/","title":{"rendered":"HSS unveils the changing face of hire"},"content":{"rendered":"
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No history of the tool-hire industry would be complete without at least one whole chapter devoted to HSS. Founded by Bert Taylor in 1957, the Hire Service Company (later shortened to HSS) was an undoubted pioneer of the UK hire industry \u2013 it was the original high-street hire shop.<\/p>\n

Of course, where HSS led, others followed and there was an extended period of proliferation as others tapped into the fast-growing demand for tool-hire. Then over time there followed a gradual process of consolidation as a handful of leading businesses grew to dominate the market.<\/p>\n

By the turn of this century, three names dominated the UK market for small plant & tool hire: HSS, Speedy Hire and Ashtead Plant. Ashtead (A-Plant) acquired a US company, Sunbelt Rentals, and grew so rapidly in the US that in 2020 the UK operation, dwarfed by its own subsidiary, rebranded as Sunbelt.<\/p>\n

Both Speedy and HSS enjoyed rather different fortunes. Both endured lengthy periods of loss-making in the first couple of decades of the this century and in 2020 HSS announced the closure of 134 of its 240 branches having lost money in each of the five years since floating on the London Stock Exchange in 2015.<\/p>\n

The company could no longer make the traditional tool-hire model work and started to look for new ways of serving the market. In 2019 HSS launched its OneCall rehire service, a technology-led system designed to streamline customer service when hiring equipment from the company\u2019s network of suppliers.<\/p>\n

This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of The Construction Index Magazine. Sign up online.<\/a><\/p>\n

Although closing half of its branches looked like bad news, HSS put a positive spin on it, saying that the business would be \u2018leaner, more agile and technology-driven\u2019. Crucially, the company explained that around 30% of all new contracts were now raised through digital channels, making physical hire-shops less important.<\/p>\n

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HSS was the original high-street hire shop. Now all the depots have been transferred to private equity firm Endless <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The strategy proved successful. Under the leadership of chief executive Steve Ashmore, who joined HSS in June 2017, the business finally returned to profit, making \u00a36.1m before tax in 2021 on revenue up 21% to \u00a3303.3m.<\/p>\n

Operating on a custom-built technology platform dubbed \u201cBrenda\u201d, the OneCall online service evolved rapidly and in 2024 HSS launched a fully-digital service called ProService Marketplace. Heralded as the UK\u2019s largest online building services provider, ProService Marketplace promised customers instant access to more than 900 suppliers and 50,000 product lines.<\/p>\n

Then, in October 2025, HSS made a ground-breaking announcement: all 39 HSS branches and 65 outlets within builders merchant stores making up the HSS Hire network were being transferred to a private equity investor, Endless LLP, a London firm whose portfolio ranges from Crown Paints to the West Cornwall Pasty Company.<\/p>\n

Endless is being paid \u00a326m to take over the HSS hire network \u2013 now The Hire Service Company, THSC \u2013 and the inventory, meaning that HSS, in effect, ceases to be a conventional tool-hire operation. Divested of its physical premises and its fleet of tools and equipment, HSS is now (subject to shareholder approval) being renamed HSS ProService Building Services Marketplace plc (ProService for short) \u2013 becoming simply a facilitator of tool-hire.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe sit between the customer and the supplier \u2013 we don\u2019t own any assets,\u201d says ProService Marketplace chief executive Tom Shorten. Shorten has been running the HSS online operation since its inception in 2017. Ashmore, after overseeing the transformation of the business, is stepping down as CEO to become executive chairman of ProService.<\/p>\n

At the same time as transferring the branches and inventory to Endless, ProService is embarking on a new partnership with its erstwhile\u00a0 competitor, Speedy Hire.<\/p>\n

This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of The Construction Index Magazine. Sign up online.<\/a><\/p>\n

Under a newly-signed five-year commercial supply agreement, Speedy Hire will replace HSS\u2019s own hire business as the inventory supplier for HSS (now ProService) online customers. Speedy is also paying \u00a335m for HSS assets, including some equipment and depot leases, and is taking a 9.99% stake in ProService.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re way more than just hire these days,\u201d says HSS ProService CEO Tom Shorten <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The process of marrying the two businesses into a workable partnership has entailed a significant redeployment of human resources: around 100 employees have already transferred from Speedy to ProService and 300 have moved from HSS Hire Service to Speedy.<\/p>\n

Speedy Hire will become the principal equipment provider to ProService for an initial five years with a unilateral option for Speedy to extend for a further three years. This is expected to be worth around \u00a350m to \u00a355m of revenue per year for Speedy.<\/p>\n

ProService will also act as fulfilment provider for Speedy customers.<\/p>\n

According to Shorten, although the two former rivals did not work together in any official capacity before this latest development ProService had been trading with Speedy Hire on a limited basis for some time. Under the new arrangement, Speedy will now be a major partner: <\/p>\n

\u201cSpeedy is a very welcome addition to our platform,\u201d says Shorten. \u201cThey will account for between 20% and 23% of our volume. But we have other partners too \u2013 including companies like Sunbelt and Vp as well as many smaller regional hire firms. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are three essential parts to the agreement: first, Speedy is a preferred supplier for ProService customers; second, we become the supplier for rehire to Speedy; and, third, Speedy takes a 10% ownership of the business. For certain products, such as small tools, access and so on, Speedy will also have the right of first refusal,\u201d explains Shorten.<\/p>\n

While ProService will still focus on small plant and tools, it has been broadening its offering to cover complementary products and services, notably building materials and fuel.<\/p>\n

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In 2023, HSS struck a deal with merchant chain Selco, setting up hire points within Selco branches while Selco, in turn, expanded its own offerings at these locations. The arrangement was extend in 2024 and now the ProService website promises to supply \u201ccore materials or hard-to-find items \u2026 to make it easy to get what you need on time, on budget, and without hassle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similarly ProService offers customers \u201cthe easiest way\u201d to buy bulk fuel, gas and lubricants either by phone, email or online.<\/p>\n

ProService has also retained the training arm, HSS Training Ltd, launched in 2002 and now a prominent construction training provider, offering courses from work-at-height to groundcare. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re way more than just hire these days,\u201d says Shorten.<\/p>\n

Seen from one angle, it might look as if HSS has thrown in the towel \u2013 conceded defeat and accepted that it could no longer hack it as a traditional tool-hire business. But far from retreating from the market, Shorten says that HSS has instead been developing a radically new interpretation of what it means to be a construction service provider: one that leverages the power of digital communication.<\/p>\n

People often remark \u2013 and often unfairly \u2013 on how slow the construction industry is to embrace new technologies. But Shorten is willing to accept that this is true in his sector of the industry.<\/p>\n

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HSS ProService Marketplace is an entirely digital operation. Chief executive Tom Shorton aspires to make it the Amazon of tool-hire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cTechnology has less than 5% penetration in the hire industry, which is extraordinarily low. The average is about 15% and in the clothing industry it\u2019s somewhere between 40% and 50% penetration,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n

This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of The Construction Index Magazine. Sign up online.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cOur sector has lagged behind for years. But that\u2019s changing, and we\u2019re very much at the forefront.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we\u2019re aiming to do is offer the sort of service that people are now used to getting from the likes of Amazon. At the moment, what passes for \u2018next day delivery\u2019 in the hire sector comes with a caveat: \u2018to be confirmed\u2019 or \u2018call us for details\u2019. The problem has always been that the front end just doesn\u2019t speak to the back end.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shorten sincerely believes that the face of tool-hire is still changing, and he\u2019s determined to remain at the leading edge. He notes that other hire companies are only now beginning to address the sort of technology HSS has already embraced (GAP Hire, for example, has just appointed a new chief technology officer).<\/p>\n

Some of the larger hire firms have started to develop specialised businesses to target demand more efficiently. Tool-hire as we know it is changing \u2013 even down to the products on offer: \u201cWe\u2019re already seeing that at the very small end \u2013 like the power tools \u2013 customers are now buying in preference to hiring,\u201d says Shorten.<\/p>\n

Although the idea of HSS no longer operating hire shops or owning any plant or tools may be hard to grasp, Shorten is adamant that his Amazon-style hire model is the way forward. Speedy is now on board and several other major hirers now partner with ProService, including the likes of Sunbelt and VP with their larger plant and specialist equipment. <\/p>\n

But Shorten says that HSS ProService Marketplace isn\u2019t just a handy conduit for uniting the big hire firms efficiently with a broader customer base. It also offers small independent firms with a means of offering a much larger\u00a0 range of equipment and services. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have loads of local market data and can partner with a hire businesses located anywhere,\u201d says Shorten. \u201cWe can create the opportunity for new independent hirers to pop up.\u201d <\/p>\n

SPEEDY LOOKS TO THE FUTURE <\/b><\/p>\n

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HSS ProService has for some time contributed the lion\u2019s share of HSS Group turnover. Its latest accounts show turnover of \u00a3290m in 2023 out of total group revenue of \u00a3349m and a pre-tax profit of \u00a35.2m.<\/p>\n

Speedy Hire, meanwhile, has been making losses. Its most recent results, for the half-year to September 2025, show a pre-tax loss of \u00a315.1m on turnover of \u00a3205.2m. During the same period in 2024, Speedy made a pre-tax loss of \u00a32.2m on the same amount of revenue.<\/p>\n

Announcing the latest results in November, Speedy chief executive Dan Evans (pictured above) said he expects the tie-up with HSS ProService to help transform Speedy\u2019s fortunes:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis commercial agreement is now live and expected to generate \u00a350-55m of annualised revenue and significant earnings accretion in its first full year after integration,\u201d said Evans. <\/p>\n

This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of The Construction Index Magazine. Sign up online.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cDespite subdued markets, we are gaining market share and winning significant long-term contracts, leaving us far better positioned to take advantage as and when market conditions improve. As a result of our strategic progress, recent contract wins and the commercial agreement with ProService, we expect to offset the ongoing subdued market conditions…. We look forward to FY2027 with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Got a story?<\/b> Email ne**<\/span>@*********************<\/span>co.uk<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n The Construction Index<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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