HRIA joins HAE to Promote “Hire” During First Ever European Rental Week

Taking the lead from the ERA – European Rental Association and European Rental Week, the Hire and Rental Industry Association and the Hire Industry Association of New Zealand Inc. (HIANZ) used the initiative to promote hire and rental across Australia and New Zealand.

Our industry is one based on people, with our employees being key to our success. This also means providing opportunities for growth and development. The #HRIA Young Professionals Development Program was created to encourage and support the career development of the future leaders of the hire industry. This program focuses on developing both personal and professional skills to help pursue a successful career within our industry.

The leading trade association for tool, plant, and equipment hire, Hire Association Europe (HAE), was delighted to play a key role in the first ever European Rental Week, hosted by the European Rental Association in Brussels earlier this month.

The idea for an international week of events devoted to the hire industry was conceptualized by the board of the European Rental Association (ERA), including HAE’s CEO Paul Gaze and Ann Harrison, Marketing and Communications Manager.

Paul, Ann, and the wider team at HAE have worked tirelessly to promote the hire industry, raising awareness of the attractiveness of the sector to people considering future career options as well as promoting the cost-effective benefits of rental for the wider construction industry. By coordinating its efforts with other rental companies across Europe, HAE is helping to put the hire industry firmly on the radar of public consciousness.

The theme for 2023 was ‘Investing in People‘ with several events showcasing the human side of the hiring industry. A video shared by the ERA included participants in the launch explaining just what it is that they love about working in this diverse and varied industry. Contributors commented, “I love the fact that I can contribute to building something.” The sector is “full of entrepreneurs,” and “I enjoy working in what is an essential part of the modern economy.”

It is anticipated that going forward, an annual European Rental Week will provide a framework for the rental industry across Europe to have a bigger impact by acting in unison. It also offers hiring companies from across the continent the opportunity to share examples of best practices, learn from each other, and strengthen the wider industry for the benefit of all.

With the end of the year approaching and companies beginning to consider plans for 2024, HAE is encouraging hiring firms to take advantage of European Rental Week as a key point in their calendars going forward. HAE has offered some practical suggestions as to how hire firms could take part in European Rental Week next year:

• Consider hosting an open day in a depot to reach out to job seekers, schools, students, and customers.
• Invite a local politician to a depot to highlight its contribution to the local economy.
• Invite the media along to your event to raise awareness of it as well as the sector in general.
• Organize a workshop, demonstration, or interactive session and share the information with local media and on social media in the run-up to the event.

Paul Gaze commented: “There are many people who are potentially missing out on fulfilling careers within the industry simply because of a lack of awareness, leaving hire companies with skills shortages or struggling to expand. Similarly, hiring firms are missing out on potential business as people are not aware of the benefits that can be gained by working with them. The importance of promotions like this cannot be underestimated, as they ultimately feed into increased revenue, recruitment, and growth.”

For more information, please visit www.hae.org.uk