From only three UK depots and 270 machines in 2002, the company has expanded to 20 locations in the UK and six in the Middle East. We have a fleet of more than 5,000 powered access machines and provide training for more than 30,000 people each year. We have built a strong reputation in the market and have been involved in high profile projects such as at the Olympics London 2012, Goodwood Festival of Speed and on landmarks such as London Bridge and the O2 Arena.
Since 2003 the business has seen steady growth organically and through acquisitions. Significant achievements during the period are listed below:
2002-2008
Acquisitions:
2006: Uplift Power Platforms and Alan Drew.
2007: North East Access and Central Access.
Major Updates & Achievements
2006: Depot Network - expanded to 18 Depots.
2007: Fleet Development - from 270 machines to 4172 machines.
Accreditation and Awards:
2006: Investors in People accreditation.
2007: AFI became the first powered access rental company to achieve specialist Achilles Building Confidence Accreditation.
2009-2011
Acquisitions:
2011: AJ Rentals.
Major Updates & Achievements
2010: Launched the AFI Customer Webportal.
2010: Launched SmartZone and SanctuaryZone, two major initiatives to increase MEWP safety.
Accreditations
2010: ISO14001 – Environmental Management Standard.
2010: OHSAS18001 Occupational Health & Safety Management Standard.
2012
Acquisitions:
Light Hire
Instant Training
UTN Training
Fleet development
Invested £5 million to purchase 300 new machines
Accreditations and Awards
IPAF Safety Champion
British Safety Council International Safety Awards - Merit
RoSPA Occuptational Health and Safety Awards - Bronze
2013
Acquisitions:
Hi-Reach.
Access Rental Gulf.
Wilson Access Hire.
Accreditations and Awards:
ISO 27001 2013 Certification- Bronze.
2014
Acquisitions:
Altitude Access.
AJ Access.
Accreditations and Awards:
Matrix Training Quality Standard.
2015
Acquisitions:
Hampshire Plant and Access.
Major Updates & Achievements:
Invested heavily in secondary guarding options.
Accreditations:
ISO9001:2015 Quality Management System.
ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management System.
Construction News Specialist Awards - Equipment Supplier of the Year/ SmartZone Safety and Security device
Hire Association of Europe Awards. (HAE)
-Product of the Year.
-Apprentice of the Year.
-Workshop Manager of the Year.
-Hire Achiever of the Year.
RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards – Gold Award.
FORS accreditation.
HAE Safehire Certification.
2016
Acquisitions:
Rapid Platforms.
Major Updates & Achievements:
Continuous investment to refresh the MEWP rental fleet.
Accreditations:
Institute of Customer Service – ServiceMark and TrainingMark.
RoSPA Gold Award.
IiP Health and Wellbeing Award.
HAE Awards: Hire Achiever of the Year.
Winner at International Awards for Powered Access (IAPA).
Contribution to Safe Working at Height 2016.
2017
Acquisitions:
Business & assets of Kimberly Access.
Major Updates & Achievements:
Became a major truck and track provider, expanding the business by over 300%.
Accreditations:
RoSPA Gold Award.
Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) accreditation.
Hire Association of Europe Awards Hire Manager of the Year.
2018
Major Updates & Achievements:
20 training locations throughout the UK.
Accreditations:
ISO 45001:2018.
Hire Association of Europe Awards Workshop Manager of the Year.
British Safety Council International Safety Award with Merit.
2019
Acquisitions:
Facelift.
Accreditations:
Albert Sustainable Production - Recommended Supplier.
Retains ICS ServiceMark Accreditation.
RoSPA Gold Medal for health and safety practices.
HAE Awards:
-Hire Manager of the Year.
-Hire Achiever of the Year.
2020
Accreditations:
IPAF Rental+.
Gold award in the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards.
IAPA Awards:
-Workshop Manager of the Year.
-Young Apprentice of the Year.
2021
Acquisitions:
Acquisition of Spiderlift Assets.
Major Updates & Achievements:
Investment in truck mount fleet with the addition of a 75m truck mount.
Investment in systems and processes:
-Centralisation of Fulfilment.
-Centralisation of Engineering.
-Transport Planning Software.
Enabling the business to operate efficiently with 40% headcount whilst delivering improved customer KPIs
Equipment Sales – Became Authorised UK Distributor for Zoomlion, one of the world's largest construction equipment manufacturing companies.
Accreditations:
RoSPA Gold Award.
IAPA Awards – IPAF Training Instructor of the Year.
2022
Major Updates & Achievements:
AFI-Rentals Launch.
Continued acquisition of specialist businesses in the following areas:
-Truck mounts.
-Underbridge units.
-Track mounts. (spiderlifts)
-Van mounts.
-Hoists.
Continued investment in systems and processes:
-Centralisation of Fulfilment.
-Centralisation of Engineering.
-Transport Planning Software.
Accreditations:
EcoVadis Silver Accreditation - AFI scored 61/100 – Placing AFI in the top 20% of businesses.
2023
Major Updates & Achievements:
UTN training new portal.
Fleet investment of 27m.
AFI Signs Armed Forces Covenant.
Accreditations:
RoSPA Gold Medal Award - AFI achieved 9th consecutive Gold Award and received the landmark RoSPA Gold Medal.
Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze Accreditation Award.
RoSPA Occupation Health and Safety Awards – Gold. We pride ourselves for being at the forefront of health and safety and technical innovation in the working at height sector. We have gained external recognition for our commitment to health and safety and technical innovation through gaining numerous industry awards and accreditations.
As well as our growth in the UK, we are also expanding our overseas operations by making substantial investments in our Access Rental Gulf business. Expanding from the business’ original Dubai base into Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Like most businesses in 2020 AFI faced many challenges, as part of this we focussed on cash preservation, optimising efficiency through fundamental changes to our systems and processes to deliver a service with a substantially lower cost base.
This has involved restructuring of UK Rental business into hubs and the establishment of a central service function to co-ordinate our engineering support, whilst reducing headcount in areas that were least detrimental to the business. Additionally the business has focused on expanding its digital services during the continuing pandemic.
Would you like to work for one of the largest Powered Access companies in the UK with 26 locations in the world? In AFI, we have a range of opportunities, so if you have ambition and a drive to succeed we want to hear from you.
Our strategy is based around four key areas: profitability, customer service, developing our team, and safety and innovation.
