Executive Hire News › Archives › November 2008 › Executive Report : Living next door to Speedy!

Executive Report : Living next door to Speedy!

Robert Aplin visits Central Tool Hire Ltd in St. Albans to find out why this long established independent re-located next door to the industry's No.1 hirer.

I first visited Central Tool Hire Ltd at its new location in St. Albans last winter when we were travelling the length and breadth of the UK to encourage quality hirers to attend February’s Executive Hire Show. I knew that Central had relocated from its original premises in Croxley Green - between Watford and Rickmansworth - but I was very surprised when I drove into the North Orbital Commercial Park to see that the company had moved in next door to Speedy.

Any independent hirer that sets up next door to the industry’s No.1 hirer is well worth a second look, so I returned in late summer to find out why this long-established independent re-located next door to Speedy in February last year.

Central was founded in July 1984 by Ken White, and was joined by fellow Director Nigel Heavens in 1988. For 22 years, the company operated successfully from Croxley Green, but had to move out before the end of 2006 as its lease expired and the owner wanted to re-develop the site. According to Ken White, “We spent six to eight months planning the move and considered a number of possible locations. St. Albans is a good position because of its transport links into London, via the A1/M1, and is very close to the M25.

“The North Orbital Commercial Park is a light industrial estate and is a working estate, where we have a number of customers. This particular unit also best met our needs from all those that we looked at. It suited us to be at the front of the estate and we had no hesitation in taking the unit next to Speedy. We didn’t have any worries about being next to them when we moved in and we certainly haven’t more than 18 months later.

“When we moved in, the 6,500ft2 unit was a complete shell. We have built a separate storage area for non-mechanical equipment, including trestles, staging, Acrow props, bowsers and pallet trucks. In addition, all electrical equipment is stored on the mezzanine level that we have installed and we have also built an electrical test bay to carry out PAT testing and this is linked to our Tibus computer system.”

In addition to its tool and equipment fleet, Central operates a large selection of plant, including 9m Manitou telescopic handlers and Kubota mini excavators from 750kg to 3 tonne operating capacity. The company’s most recent Kubota purchase is a 2.5 tonne U25-3 zero tail swing unit. Matched with these minis is a fleet of ten Terex HD1000 compact dumpers. The majority of its compressor fleet comprises two and four tool Ingersoll-Rand units, together with ancillary equipment like breakers and scabblers.

According to Nigel Heavens, “when we moved the eight miles from Croxley Green to St Albans, we retained the vast majority of our account customers. As 90% of our equipment is delivered to site, the move has made little or no difference to most of our customers. We have built our reputation on service. The quality of our equipment is 100%. Our kit is clean, tidy and well maintained. Our equipment is regularly serviced, repaired and tested in-house or repaired on-site by our trained staff.”

Taking the business forward

The blueprint for this new facility was developed by Ken’s son Tony White and is based on Central’s former premises in Croxley Green. Tony comments, “everyone was asked their opinion on the layout of the depot and each of our fitters had input into how their work stations would look.” On the opening of the new depot, Tony White was made Manager, with John Rogers appointed Assistant Manager in October last year. Having both joined Central in 1991, the Directors are encouraging this next generation to take the business forward.

However, Ken White and Nigel Heavens seem far from ready to take too much of a back seat. “We prefer to offer everything from one central depot, rather than operate a number of satellite outlets. From St Albans, we cover a 100 mile radius that encompasses the entire M25, the Home Counties, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Surrey, Kent and Essex. We can put equipment on a site anywhere in the UK, whether it is ours or re-hired to satisfy our customers’ needs. There is enough out there for everyone.” •

www.central-tool-hire.co.uk

• If you have set up your business next to, or opposite, a national hirer and want to tell us about the experience, please e-mail ehnteam@executivehirenews.co.uk