News for Tool Hire, Equipment Hire & Plant Hire and Rental Professionals

Express finds recruitment is a slow process

9 August 2022

Express finds recruitment is a slow process

Who wants a job?

That’s the question the blog asked back in April when I wrote about Express Hire (Dorset) Ltd, the busy tool and plant hirer based in Poole.

As manager Andy George told me then, the company was finding it difficult to fill four vacancies, and when I caught up with him again recently he said that little has changed. 

“We are still looking to recruit four people, including drivers and fitters, and we’ve got busier since we spoke earlier. If anything I think it’s become harder to recruit because every industry you look at seems to be facing the same issue. 

“You look at social media and some people talk about changing jobs because the grass is greener, but it’s only green if you take the trouble to water the grass beneath you. Too many don’t want to put in the effort: they are money chasers rather than career chasers.” 

One reason driving the Express recruitment drive is that the hirer's fleet continues to expand, with recent additions including seven more Thwaites one-tonne dumpers. Other newcomers include 12 more Kubota mini excavators comprising 1.2-tonne, 2.7-tonne and 3.5-tonne models.

Also new are ten 1.6-tonne minis from Sany (pictured). “I think these canopied machines have the most comfortable seating position I’ve ever encountered,” said Andy. “We’ve also ordered five 5.5-tonne models.” 

Express Hire is also fitting Trackunit tracking devices to more of its equipment to protect against theft, and the delivery fleet is being expanded with a new 32-tonne DAF truck being added, along with two 3.5-tonne Iveco vehicles for smaller plant. 

Intriguingly, Andy told me that the combination of a growing equipment portfolio and the recruitment difficulties is making the business review its fleet profile, which it is turning into a positive outcome. More on that in a future post… 

 


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