Hire Controller
Stowmarket
Permanent | Full Time
Competitive Salary + Benefits

About the Role

Freedom Group is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Hire Controller to join our team.

Reporting to the Hire Desk Manager, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of an effective Hire Desk function, ensuring plant, equipment and associated resources are hired, managed and off-hired in line with business processes and operational requirements.

Working closely with operational teams, suppliers and key stakeholders, you will help ensure that hire requirements are fulfilled efficiently, cost-effectively and in accordance with contractual, quality and compliance standards. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and has strong coordination, communication and organisational skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Process plant and equipment hire requests from operational teams in line with established procedures.
• Arrange hires to meet operational requirements and agreed service level targets.
• Ensure all plant, equipment, PPE and accessory requirements are identified and communicated at the point of hire.
• Monitor and manage hire periods, ensuring equipment is off-hired promptly when no longer required.
• Liaise with suppliers and operational teams to provide suitable hire and pricing options.
• Support the delivery of a seamless hire process through effective communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure all hire activities are managed in accordance with company processes and contract requirements.
• Track and maintain accurate records of pricing enquiries, purchase orders and supplier returns to support audit requirements.
• Assist with capturing performance metrics and obtaining feedback from operational teams to support continuous improvement.
• Maintain knowledge of the hire market, suppliers and available equipment to support effective decision-making.
• Support the achievement of savings, rebate and margin improvement targets.
• Ensure all correspondence and hire documentation meets required business standards.
• Work collaboratively with preferred suppliers and any supplier representatives supporting the Hire Desk.

About You

You will be a highly organised and customer-focused individual with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a busy operational environment. Comfortable working with both internal stakeholders and external suppliers, you will have excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

You will be committed to delivering a high-quality service, ensuring operational teams receive the support they need while maintaining compliance with company processes and achieving value for money.

Essential Requirements

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Previous experience within a hire desk, plant hire, equipment coordination or administrative environment.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail when managing records and documentation.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A proactive approach to customer service and operational support.
• An understanding of plant, equipment or supply chain processes would be advantageous.
• Experience working within utilities, construction, infrastructure or related sectors would be advantageous.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Pension scheme with employer contribution.
• Paid Wellbeing and Volunteer Days.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling and legal advice.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Career progression within a growing and successful business.

Next Steps:

 

As a business, we’re on a journey to build on our culture where everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. This starts with recruitment and how we bring people into the organisation.

 

We’ll do our best to outline the recruitment process to you ahead of time with plenty of notice. If you require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.

 

About Us

 

Freedom are part of the NG Bailey Group, one of the leading independent engineering and services businesses in the UK. Founded in 1921, with a turnover of £500m and 3000 employees, we are proud of our history of developing great people through our investment in training.

 

You will be working as part of a team where we are committed to creating a culture where we treat each other fairly and with respect, recognising everyone as an individual.

 

Progression is something we value and we will make sure that when you join us you have a clearly defined development path, supported by regular reviews, training and ongoing support to enable you to be the best you can be

 

 

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