Leeds-based hire firm William G Search Ltd is making a significant investment in anti-vandal toilets following strong demand from construction firms and housebuilders faced with rising insurance costs.
Search has bought several new units this year with more to follow as part of a £1million investment programme in the company’s hire fleet. They can be configured to provide different combinations of urinals and WCs and can be supplied with water tanks allowing operation on all sites even where there is no mains supply.
Search is also offering on-site servicing and emptying of effluent with its own fleet of tankers.
“The new units will increase our total fleet of specialist anti-vandal toilets to more than 50 but demand is so strong I doubt it will be enough,” said Andrew Collings, Search Plant Hire Divisional Manager.
Mr Collings said that increased demand for anti-vandal toilets was being driven by higher insurance costs. “Excesses are going up so builders are having to pay several hundred pounds more on every claim. Our customers are finding it makes sense to pay a few extra pounds a week for a more secure model with anti-vandal protection,” he said.
His comments were echoed by Sean Hicks, Managing Director of insurance brokers Smart & Cook Consulting, who said that contractors were being forced to take a harder look at security for all their plant.
“The rising costs caused by damage and theft are leading insurers to impose higher excesses and premiums and the best way for contractors to counter this is by improving their security provisions and generally becoming more risk averse,” he explained.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Andrew Collings, William G Search Ltd Tel: 0113 263 9081
Sam White, Simon Mountford Communications Tel: 01347 844844
Notes to editors:
William G Search, which was founded in Leeds in 1946, currently employs 165 people at its sites in Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham and Liverpool. Its operating divisions are:
Hire – one of the largest independent hire specialists in the north of England providing a full range of plant and equipment to construction and industry. It is also one of very few businesses with the facilities to modify electric personnel carriers to meet clients' individual specifications.
Leisure industry – the largest supplier of hire equipment for outdoor events in the UK. It specialises in sporting and music events.
Compressed Air – supplying and maintaining compressed air and process equipment from supply only through to total turnkey installations.
Fluid Sealing – providing industrial fluid sealing, hydraulic/pneumatic seals and maintenance products. Search is an approved UK distributor for A W Chesterton, one of the world’s leading manufacturers.
Power Products – specialising in the supply of power solutions in the field of industrial and marine engines, and power generation.
