HAE officially unveiled its new Hire and Rental Industry Business Management and Service Quality Specification at a recent launch event at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon.

Association MD Graham Arundell said: “We wanted to develop a practical framework for all hire businesses and our new Specification fulfils this role irrespective of hire speciality, including event hire. It was drawn up with our partner organisations to help businesses keep the best of what they do, but who seek to continuously improve and innovate.”

Partner organisations include the Health & Safety Executive, the British Standards Institution and the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS).

A special guest at the launch was Craig Phillips, a former builder, who was the winner of the first Channel 4 Big Brother series and has subsequently hosted several home improvement programmes. He said: “My own practical experience in the building trade and property development has made me very safety aware. Getting the right things, at the right time, to be used by the right people, sums up the challenge, but also the opportunity. I’m sure the HAE Standard will be a big plus for hire businesses and welcomed by all their customers as a sign of their commitment to a safe quality service”

Craig Phillips is pictured (left) with Graham Arundell, holding a collecting bucket containing a total of £150, which was raised on the day for the BBC Children in Need Appeal