“Most exciting time ever”
1 March 2021
Boris Johnson announced the Government’s road map for easing lockdown restrictions exactly a week ago today. So what impact has it had?
I've conducted a quick straw poll with seven hirers serving diverse markets and in different regions for their views. (All of them are also, incidentally, blog subscribers.) Some of them were already busy before the announcement, others are more contemplative – and for one in particular the change has been simply extraordinary.
1. Colin Tall - managing director of Hire4Lower in Lambeth
“We’re still not quite as busy as we were a year ago, but we’d noticed things picking up the week before Boris Johnson’s announcement. One of the sectors we’ve traditionally done well with is office, bar and restaurant refurbishment but that market had begun to contract before Covid-19 started. For years there’s been talk of retail rents and rates being too high, and as the country emerges from lockdown I think these companies will be looking at the number of outlets they need before refurbishing others. But we are still trading profitably and you feel sorry for those in sectors that have had to stay closed and are managing resources to just stay afloat.
“However, since the lockdown easing announcement there’s been much talk that the gradual lifting of restrictions will lead to a strong bounce back in demand generally. It’s being suggested that all those who haven’t been able to go to pubs and restaurants or have holidays will really hit the high street and give the whole economy a boost."
2. Iain Cooksley, group sales, marketing and operations director of the Energy Group based in Aylesbury
As mentioned in the blog in January, the Energy Group successfully expanded its event hire services and temporary power operation (pictured) last summer to encompass many more markets, such as plant, communications, audio-visual and climate control. Iain tells me:
“From 3.45pm last Monday when Boris Johnson had made his initial lockdown easing statement in the House of Commons, our phone lines went from zero to 150 calls by the end of the afternoon. Since then we’ve had 20 major festivals contact us to pre-order equipment they’ll need, an absolute barrage of wedding organisers making enquiries, and our larger venue clients are looking to push ahead for full capacity as soon as possible. I don’t think anyone could have predicted this.
“We’re now carefully planning and evaluating our resources. We’ve brought back all our people from furlough and it’s probably one of the most exciting times ever. If all goes according to plan in terms of the government’s lockdown easing timetable, it’s full steam ahead and we’re looking at an 18-month events season because Christmas markets and festivities will be expanded.”
• The road map states that by no earlier than 17 May events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower), could go ahead. In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower). The Government has announced that pilot studies will run as part of an Events Research Programme to examine how such events might take place without the need for social distancing, using other mitigations such as testing.
3. Mark Alexander, co-founder of KMA Tool Hire & Sales, Mold
“We are very busy and a lot of customers are saying that as soon as lockdown eases in May and June, the economy could go through the roof. We have slightly different restrictions here in Wales but judging from the overnight response after the prime minister’s announcement, with airlines and holiday companies reporting huge rises in sales, it’s potentially massive.
“We hire and sell garden machinery as well as tools and equipment [as mentioned here on the blog last September], and we’ve been struck by the number of home owners who are buying new machines. Enquiries have started coming in much earlier than usual. We’re looking to expand our fleet with larger wood chippers and road-tow access booms to meet demand from forestry and grounds care contractors. And once the clocks go forward and evenings get longer, the economy will release like a coiled spring.”
4. Tony Criddle, operations director, Beaver Tool Hire (Chichester) Ltd
“The Monday of the lockdown announcement was one of our busiest in some time, but the prime minister’s statement was in the afternoon so maybe that was just a blip in demand. January and February are traditionally quiet months so we aren’t seeing anything too exciting at the moment in terms of a bounce back. To be honest, the house purchase stamp duty holiday extension rumoured to be announced in the Budget [this Wednesday, 3 March] might be more significant for the construction and hire industries than people going back to pubs and restaurants.”
5. Jim Longstaff, chairman of Clements Plant & Access Hire, Coventry
“We’re busy. It’s picked up dramatically. We took delivery of two new 2.7-tonne minis yesterday which went on hire immediately and utilisation of excavators up to 8-tonne is extremely high with good forward bookings. Most of January was very disappointing after a busy first week back. The lighter mornings and evenings are helping sites stay open longer now and I think people have just had enough of lockdown and want to get on.
“Customers are certainly talking about seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps the easing of restrictions is slower than it could be but I understand the authorities have to err on the side of caution – and nothing they do will ever satisfy everyone. We just need to see people getting back to work, shops and restaurants re-opening and there could well be a significant bounce back. How long it will last remains to be seen.”
6. Jeff Aldridge, Director, CRH Cotswold Roller Hire
“The road map announcement doesn’t make much difference really because we have been working flat out since the first lockdown, apart from the first two weeks. As soon as the Government said that hirers could support key workers and essential trades, we were busy. Construction and hire have been very fortunate indeed compared with other sectors.
“As a specialist hirer of compaction equipment and related machinery, we have experienced strong demand from highway contractors. Welfare units are also in higher demand because of social distancing requirements and the Government has stated it will invest in further infrastructure work.”
7. Mike Hodgson, managing director, Hodgson Tool Hire in Burscough
“We’ve been busy since we re-opened last April – 6am to 6pm starts and finishes are normal and the lads hardly even have time for a brew. In one sense, coming out of lockdown might give us a break! Many builders and professionals have been on furlough and getting projects done at home. I’m not complaining though.
“Winter is usually quieter but there’s been no slowdown at all. We’ve not been able to do things like repainting machinery and refurbishing equipment. You only need to see the level of traffic on the roads in recent weeks to see that the third lockdown has been less severe in its impact. So overall, business is very good.”
