This occupation is found in construction and other sectors including mechanical, electrical, facilities management and civil engineering.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to offer a service to both commercial and domestic customers to hire plant, tools and equipment (PTE) on short or long-term hire to carry out specific tasks. It provides specialist plant, tools, machinery or equipment. The type of product hired could range from powered hand tools, concrete breaker to machinery such as excavators and loaders up to a tower crane with a qualified operator. The hire sector employers range from small local companies with fewer than 10 employees up to large national organisations. Some companies specialise in just one equipment type (such as cranes) and others offer a range of over 2000 products servicing all commercial sectors and domestic customers.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of different stakeholders. The Hire Controller is key to the success of their organisation and one of the main points of contact for the customers. They usually report to a Depot Manager who provides support and advice to the Controller on more difficult queries and also work as part of a team which typically includes a depot manager, supervisor(s), maintenance staff and delivery staff. Hire Controllers have an in-depth technical product knowledge in terms of operation of the equipment, health, safety and environmental considerations and can advise customers on the right plant, tools or equipment for a job and how to use it. They understand the specific requirements of the sectors in which their customers operate e.g construction site skills cards for crane operators.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible of being one of the main sources of technical advice and instruction for customers and the person responsible for ensuring stock is maintained to the required standard, helping to ensure that all legal, health, safety and environmental requirements are met. They are however supported by the Depot Manager in more complex enquiries and non-standard processes.
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Duty 1 Work in compliance with occupational health, safety and environmental requirements to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of self and others at all times. Report in a timely manner any non-compliances to the appropriate person. |
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Duty 2 Ensure that checks, inspections and operational testing have been carried out so that equipment is ready for hire |
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Duty 3 Extract, use and provide information from the machine’s operator’s manual, manufacturer’s instructions, schedules and drawings |
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Duty 4 Make requests and procure resources, equipment and tools needed for hire activities |
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Duty 5 Respond to customer enquiries and advise about plant, equipment and tool hire |
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Duty 6 Collaborate with stakeholders developing professional relationships with internal and external clients |
K6 K9 K13 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K23 |
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Duty 7 Setting up and maintain customer hire contracts |
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Duty 8 Process and complete contract documentation using digital systems including negotiating costs and preparing invoices |
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Duty 9 Organise with customers plant, tools and equipment hire and arrange delivery and collection including defective equipment arrangements |
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Duty 10 Ensure certification and operational activities for equipment and personnel meets operational, insurance and regulatory requirements |
K1: Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role of the team and other construction trades. Employer and employee responsibilities. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Fire safety. Health and Safety at Work Act. Asbestos awareness. Manual handling. Fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Display equipment regulations. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Working at height. Electrical safety, respiratory protective equipment (RPE), dust suppression. Reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (RIDDOR), Provision and use of work equipment regulations (PUWER), Lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations (LOLER) Noise, Hand arm vibrations (HAVS).
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K2: Awareness of environmental management systems and standards. Environmental Protection Act. Environmental signage and notices. Types of pollution and environmental control measures: noise, smells, spills, waste and disposal of hazardous waste. Types of pollution: Water, noise and air pollution.
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K3: Hire controller industry sectors: construction, contractors, infrastructure, energy and utilities and events.
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K4: Types and purpose of plant, tools and equipment (PTE): operating methods, function and application, technical specifications.
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K5: Principles of contract hire terms and conditions: damage, damage waiver, loss and theft.
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K6: Hire transaction processes: contract documentation for on-hire and off-hire, raising requisitions and equipment.
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K7: Equipment delivery and collection procedures.
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K8: Organisational procedures and tactics for the prevention of fraudulent plant, tools or equipment hire.
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K9: Principles of hire quotations and pricing structures.
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K10: Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from schedules, drawings, machine operator's manuals or manufacturer’s instructions and specifications.
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K11: Techniques for logging plant, tool and equipment breakdowns.
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K12: Methods of creating and closing orders for hire: checking process, record keeping for lost hires.
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K13: Hire fleet data: plant, tool and equipment, spare equipment, resources, personnel resources.
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K14: Written communication techniques. Plain English principles using hire controller terminology.
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K15: Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information and matching style to audience.
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K16: Principles of customer relationships: customer loyalty, customer support and increasing sales.
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K17: Techniques for dealing with customer queries, requests and complaints and escalation procedures.
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K18: Maintenance and servicing requirements of plant, tools and equipment: pre-checks, inspections, tool condition, storage, defect or fault identification.
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K19: Tool and equipment pre and post hire checks and operational testing.
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K20: Use and benefit of technology and digital systems within the hire sector.
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K21: GDPR policies and procedures.
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K22: Certification requirements required for moving and handling on site equipment.
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K23: Team working principles.
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K24: Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and the impact on their work.
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S1: Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S2: Comply with environmental and sustainability principles, regulations, standards and organisational systems.
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S3: Process new hires, damage waivers, orders, returns and enter onto company system.
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S4: Create and send hire quotations, contact customer and entering purchase orders.
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S5: Source plant, tools and equipment for customer requirements.
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S6: Arrange the delivery and collection of equipment.
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S7: Apply written communication techniques for example invoices, checklists, restrictions to drivers and hauliers delivery times, process damage agreement, notification documentation and emails.
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S8: Manage customer relationships.
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S9: Verbally communicate with customers and colleagues using industry terminology.
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S10: Manage customer queries, requests and handle complaints within remit or escalate when required.
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S11: Comply with regulations and legislation relevant to their role and business.
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S12: Carry out hire transaction processes for example, contract documentation for on-hire and off-hire, raising requisitions and equipment delivery.
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S13: Interpret and extract information from, for example schedules and drawings, machine’s operator’s manual or manufacturer’s instructions.
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S14: Log plant, tool and equipment breakdowns, pass over to the service department.
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S15: Ensure tool and equipment pre and post hire checks and operational testing of equipment has been carried out.
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S16: Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning opportunities and development activities.
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S17: Use organisational IT technology and digital systems.
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S18: Apply team working principles.
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B1: Take personal responsibility for their own health and safety.
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B2: Promote positive customer relations.
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B3: Take accountability and ownership of their tasks and workload.
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B4: Respond and adapt to work demands and situations and know when to seek advice from others.
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B5: Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in their own area of practice.
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B6: Support equity, diversity, and inclusivity in the workplace.
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English and maths qualifications form a mandatory part of all apprenticeships and must be completed before an apprentice can pass through gateway. The requirements are detailed in the current version of the apprenticeship funding rules.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised | 06/01/2025 | Not set |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 04/12/2018 | 05/01/2025 |
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