Every year the Hire and Rental Association convention takes place at a new location across Australia. This year’s Hire18 event was hosted in Brisbane at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre over the 30th-31st May. The special event brings together hire companies from across Australia along with the biggest access and forklift manufacturers under the one roof. During the annual two-day event manufacturers and suppliers exhibit their products and services to the industry.
This year marked the 50th anniversary celebrating the HRIA awards. United are both honoured and proud to be awarded the top accolade of “Rental Company of the Year” at the gala awards night. Other awards presented on the night include Supplier of the Year, Best New Product and other special awards.
The process to enter the awards involved an initial submission in February which was based around a set criterion. From here there is a vigorous process to determine the finalists and overall award winners. The process involved an interview with HRIA representatives to determine the finalists followed by a site visit of all finalist’s businesses. Two judges visited our Head Office and Branch facility in Welshpool for the day in Late April to score our business. These judges also spoke to suppliers and customers to further gauge all aspects of the hire businesses operation.
As a member in the industry, this is a fantastic achievement to be recognised as the best rental company in the association in Australia. This award is testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment that all United staff do on a daily basis.
As our General Manager of Marketing Sales and Distribution, Trent Osborne, had said in his acceptance speech at the award ceremony.
“We are in the people business and United is only as good as every person working for us. So, I accept this award on behalf of all of them.”
Running a successful hire business is no easy task. Having the equipment on hand to meet the immediate needs of the customer is vital, however, having all the people that fundamentally make it work is the most important. From the technicians maintaining and servicing the hire equipment, to customer service staff answering the customers call. From the staff preparing the machines for rent, to the people delivering the equipment and maintaining the relationship with the customer. All this can only work with the great people working together. So, this award is a credit to all our United staff working in all our branches across Australia.
United are also humbled and thankful to our new and existing customers. At the end of the day it’s our loyal customers that keep us in business. In a turbulent economy, the support of customers who continue to utilise United for all our services is something we are forever grateful. We are in the people business and providing top customer service to meet the needs of our customers is something we endeavour to do every day at United.
Furthermore, United is proud to be associated with the world’s best equipment suppliers like Cat Lift Trucks, Konecranes and Haulotte. At this years’ award ceremony Haulotte took out the “Best New Product” for the HA26 RTJ PRO articulating boom lift. This new articulated boom delivers world first innovations and technology. The boom lift includes various features that helps boost performance, minimise running costs and increase operator safety. As a business, United is always looking at innovative ways to help our customers through quality products and technologies that are ultimately safer for operators. We are proud to be associated with a world leading supplier like Haulotte who holds the same values as our business and demonstrates this through quality products.
Trent Osborne, United General Manager of Marketing, Sales & Distribution, and Keith Clarke, Haulotte Australia General Manager, holding both companies awards.