Powered access firm targets digital transformation through £1.5m investment

Powered access provider, Horizon Platforms, is investing £1.5m over the next three years to transform it’s business online.

Horizon, which provides powered access hire across the UK and training from its Normanton depot, this month launched its first innovation, HireHub, a solution to help customers take control of their own powered access experience.

Using HireHub, customers can get quotes, place orders, extend a hire or arrange collections, and better manage multiple hire orders across multiple sites, giving them complete control of the hire process.

Ben Hirst, CEO, said: “We are the only powered access company to have focused on becoming a national provider of powered access service, through a network of organisations who share our exacting standards, the most reliable and responsive powered access supply in the UK.

“This growth meant we took the decision to make a significant investment into digital, making improvements to our website and our service offering to better meet the needs of our customers and solve some of the common issues we see in our industry.

“Many of our customers are responsible for managing multiple machines, in numerous orders, across different sites on a national basis.

“HireHub is the solution to keeping track of all the information they need to do their job effectively, and reducing the stress that often comes with their role.”

Founded in 2008 by Hirst and Matthew Fray, Horizon Platforms employs a team of 75.

The firm provides machines such as cherry pickers, scissor lifts and rental solutions for hire across the UK using a network of trusted hire partners, and offers training facilities for those wishing to gain qualifications to work safely at height.

In February 2021, Horizon became the first in the powered access industry to operate as an employee owned business.

Former joint majority shareholders, CEO and founder, Hirst and strategic account director, Rory Duggan, remain in the business to oversee the continued growth in the coming years.

Despite the pandemic, the business continued to grow, with 2021 revenue expected to be £18m. The business forecasts it will grow 15% per year over the next five years.

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close