HSS Hire rebrands as HSS: The Hire Service Company

Photo: HSS: The Hire Service Company

UK-based rental company HSS Hire has rebranded its tool hire and equipment rental business to HSS: The Hire Service Company.

The move follows the announcement made last week that the company is to restruture its management team as part of a new strategy for growth within its HSS Operations and ProService divisions, which became separate divisions in 2022.

Group CEO Steve Ashmore is stepping down from the role at the end of the month to become executive chairman for ProService, while he will also remain on the PLC Board as an executive director.

The company has also named Jon Overman as CEO of Operations, its traditional tool hire division division, while Tom Shorten has been appointed CEO of its ProService division. 

Overman, who started his career with the company in 1999 as a Saturday Boy, has held a number of roles during his time with HSS, including hire consultant and regional sales manager.

The company said one of his first tasks upon his appointment was to update its trading name.

Overman said, “In 1957 Bert Taylor lent his sister a ladder and The Hire Shop Company was born, soon after expanding and becoming Hire Service Shops. Since then the name has evolved numerous times and existed in several different forms, most recently as HSS Hire.

The company has named Jon Overman as CEO of Operations. Photo: HSS: The Hire Service Company

“We’re embracing an exciting future that uses modern technology to support safety and operational efficiency, but I also wanted to more accurately reflect that heritage commitment to service and to celebrate the important human relationship element of what we do.

“Whilst our sister company continues to lead the charge in the digital world, the branch network side of things has always been about people dealing with people; friendly colleagues in local branches building great relationships with local customers and local communities.

“It’s about delivering great hire and great service together so we’ve extended the trading name to incorporate both. We’re now proud to be HSS: The Hire Service Company.”

IRN was told that the rebrand will have no impact on customers and that the move reflects that the tool hire network is focused on service as well as hire.

HSS CEO to step down as business shifts strategy Move is part of next phase of ProService and HSS Operations strategy