WINNERS of this year’s Hire Awards of Excellence have been announced at a virtual awards ceremony, live streamed to more than 50 companies.
Outgoing HAE EHA CEO Graham Arundell received the Outstanding Contribution to Hire award. As he made the announcement, association chair Brian Sherlock said, “Since January 2007, Graham Arundell, as CEO of the association has increased member numbers, restructured the organisation to meet the challenges faced whether that was the financial crash of 2008, driving more commerciality within the association or giving us a voice within government and the market. I would like to thank him on behalf of the board and members of HAE EHA for his dedication and drive which has seen the organisation change fundamentally since he has been in position.”
Successful companies at the ceremony included Sunbelt Rentals, who collected the awards for Website of the Year and SafeHire Event Hire Company of the Year; AFI Uplift, whose staff members received individual accolades for both Young Apprentice of the Year and Workshop Manager of the Year; and Cardiff-based Mile Hire, who were awarded the SafeHire Plant, Tool & Equipment Hire Company of the Year Turnover Up To £10 million. Travis Perkins received awards for Best Use of New Media and SafeHire Plant, Tool & Equipment Hire Company of the Year Turnover Over £10 million.
On the individual award front, Rob Thompson, general manager of GoHire was named Hire Manager of the Year and Hire Achiever of the Year. He said, “I was watching the live stream with family and work colleagues, when both awards were announced everybody was ecstatic. I have already received numerous congratulations from clients and staff.”
Feedback for the virtual awards ceremony was said to have been ‘incredibly positive’. Graham Arundell, CEO of HAE EHA said, “We just couldn’t let 2020 end without recognition for everyone who had put a lot of time and effort into their submissions for this year’s Hire Awards of Excellence. It was a different format from our usual awards evening, certainly from an organisational perspective but shows what can be achieved. We would certainly not hold back from using this technology in future if necessary, plus some of our VR developments would significantly enhance the production and viewer experience. Onwards now to 2021, time to start preparing your entry!”
