HSC reaches 20
2 July 2021
As The Beatles famously put it in the song Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, it was 20 years ago today...
Exactly two decades ago, The Hire Supply Company (HSC) opened for business. Since then it has become an integral brand in the industry based on a broad equipment range, good stockholdings and fast delivery.
Founding directors Gary McWilliam, Mark Richards and Kevin Lever (who took early retirement last month) had previously worked together at the former Hirepro business and decided to form their own operation in Nottingham.
“We found premises in Long Eaton and soon we had to create mezzanine floors in the rafters to store more and more stock such as climate control equipment, site electrical products, lighting and grounds care machinery,” says managing director Gary McWilliam.
“It was hard work but incredibly exciting. By the following year we needed larger premises. I saw an advert in the local paper for a 21,000 sq ft warehouse, Sheet Stores Industrial Estate in Long Eaton, at only £1.50 per sq ft, which was about half the going rate. When we viewed it, we found that the space was all on the first floor as there was a yarn spinning factory below.
“But we made it work, installing a special goods hoist and eventually we took on most of the downstairs space when the yarn producer closed. That gave 9,000 sq ft more but the upper floor had very low eaves which limited storage.”
In 2019 HSC moved to its current impressive location in Attenborough, to the south west of Nottingham. This gives 32,000 sq ft with a much higher roof allowing stock to be stacked much higher, reflecting increasing business levels.
Earlier, in 2006, a sister business HSC Firesafe was formed to supply and maintain fire extinguishers and other safety equipment, and in 2007 Dan Musson was appointed as Sales Director.
An HSC London operation was opened in 2005 when London won the bid to hold the Olympic Games in 2012, and in 2014 HSC acquired Midland Power Machinery Distributors, the garden equipment and spares supplier, to target grounds care dealers in the spring and summer to give year-round business opportunities.
Covid-19 restrictions mean that major 20th anniversary celebrations have had to be delayed. However, to mark the occasion initially, HSC has started a charity initiative to raise £4,000 for the FareShare food distribution organisation. HSC has pledged £2,000 itself and invites others to contribute here.
“We obviously owe our growth and success to the people who have worked with us in the past and the team we have now,” says Gary. “We don’t have a high turnover of staff and their loyalty has been essential in achieving HSC’s 20-year milestone.”
Gary adds that HSC is exploring several exciting new product opportunities and is still going for growth.
Congratulations to all at HSC, and here’s to the next 20 years!
