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Boels goes big in Gloucester

20 September 2022

Boels goes big in Gloucester

Boels Rental UK has relocated its Gloucester depot to a significantly larger site on a new trading estate close to Gloucestershire Airport and with excellent links to the M5 motorway and other trunk routes. 

Speaking at the facility’s official opening last week, managing director Asif Latief told me that the move was essential to accommodate the growing levels of business the branch is experiencing. 

“As at our other locations, we are serving a broadening customer base that chiefly ranges from smaller contractors to larger building firms that might deal with us at up to, say, ten of our depots throughout the country. 

“Our aim is for each depot to be the number one hire supplier in its area for this type of customer,” said Asif, pictured below. 

So how is it doing that? 

“It’s obviously about getting the right equipment to the customer in the right way and having the right people, but the real differentiator is service – we want to offer the best. 

“One thing we are doing is communicating directly with our customers and gathering their feedback. We are rolling out an NPS (net promoter score) service, a market research metric that asks them how we performed and which gives more meaningful results than a conventional questionnaire-type survey.” 

Ben Gregory, Boels Rental’s UK real estates manager, told me that the new Gloucester depot building “is effectively double the size with a yard that is four times larger than the previous location. The floor area of the two-storey building is 5,825 sq ft and the yard is 15,275 sq ft.

“As well as the hire desk, the ground floor comprises showroom and warehouse space, while the first floor includes offices and a training room,” he added. 

Boels Rental currently has 36 depots in the UK and has relocated several to expand their footprint since Asif was appointed as MD in January 2020. Other locations are being explored to expand the network further.

Amongst several suppliers displaying at the Gloucester depot opening was Altrex (pictured below), the scaffolding and non-powered access equipment manufacturer. Boels Rental’s fleet includes double-width versions of the Altrex RS Tower 5 series aluminium tower designed for use in multiple configurations and being particularly for confined spaces. Boels also also offers single-width versions of the Altrex MiTower system. 

Talking to personnel at the new Gloucester facility, there is clearly a sense of excitement and enthusiasm. And despite the talk in some quarters of an economic downturn, Asif is certainly confident about the future. 

“Business is still growing and I am confident that our end markets will generally remain resilient. Economic uncertainty brings with it challenges but equally there will be some opportunities. Traditionally, governments have built their way out of recession and hopefully will do so again.” 

Read the earlier Q&A with Asif Latief here

● The Boels Rental organisation, which has 725 depots in 18 countries, has just adopted a new corporate slogan of 'Boels ... Keeps You Going'. And judging by the new Gloucester facility, the company and its customers will be kept busy. 

Photos: Alan Guthrie

Boels goes big in Gloucester
Boels goes big in Gloucester

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