Introducing Hoist UK Partner

Founded by Tony Dickson and Paul Jordan in 2006, Hoist UK got its start as an approved distributor of lifting equipment from French brand Verlinde to the UK market. Today Hoist UK is one of the largest lifting and handling equipment designers, distributors and manufacturers in the country installing lifting solutions to customers throughout the UK and internationally.

Interview with Paul Jordan, Co-Founder

Can you introduce us to Hoist UK?

Hoist UK have represented Verlinde SAS in the United Kingdom since the company formation in 2006. Both Tony and myselfhad worked with Verlinde before the formation of Hoist UK, so we were already aware of the products and level of quality and service.

Our company, created from a joint investment of £200 and in a rented office, and have had real growth year on year, starting business life in a rented office to now having a multi-million-pound turnover. We are based at a manufacturing site in Wirral, central in the UK and close to all major motorway networks, with two additional regional offices in the south of the UK and Northern Ireland.
At our core we have very strict commercial and financial principles which have served us well during our journey which allowed us to have a stable platform to build the business on and allow us continued growth from day one.

Can you describe your activity

Hoist UK are a full-service provider offering a wide range of services to satisfy any industrial or entertainment lifting or handling requirement.
We are market-leading providers for everything your project needs from an overhead crane system and electric chain hoists to performer winches and loose tackle.

Our range of services have been developed with our clients in mind so that we are able to deliver an end-to-end service. Our portfolio has been developed according to the needs of our customers, so that today we are able to provide them with a complete range of services. This starts withan evaluation of the problem and advice from our technical sales team.

We will always try to supply commercially, off the shelf products where possible, we can also offer tailor made and bespoke pieces of lifting and handling equipment manufactured to the client’s specification to relevant British/European Standards which are CE or UKCA marked.
We also offer preplanned servicing and inspections under LOLER and PUWER for our entertainment and industrial clients.
In addition, Hoist UK are a UKAS accredited by NQA with ISO 9001: Quality Management, ISO 14001: Environmental Management and ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management and are committed to our company motto of “Safety Above All.”

How is your activity distributed in England?

Hoist UK operate in all areas of the UK and have supplied and installed equipment in all industry sectors, including specialist fields such as the space industry, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and food preparation.
We have a modern workshop with MIG and TIG welding facilities, CNC machine shop and a team of skilled electro-mechanical engineers available to design, supply, manufacture, install, test and commission industrial lifting equipment and handling solutions throughout the whole of the United Kingdom.

What about your organization?

The company has two Directors, who were the original founders andemploy a management team, supervising the daily operation of all departments within the organisation.

Hoist UK have their own in house teams for design, supply, manufacture, installation, testing, commissioning, examination, and servicing of cranes and lifting equipment for the industrial and entertainment sectors.

Our team of installation engineers are travelling the length of breadth of the UK each week providing installation, servicing, or inspection services to our customer in all sectors.

We are strong technically and can work with clients who know what they need, but also assist clients who need additional help and support to specify the right piece of equipment for their lifting operation.

Hoist UK is a member of several professional associations, please describe us which ones.
Hoist UK is a full member of LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Association). LEEA is established across the globe as the respected and authoritative representative body for all those involved in the lifting industry worldwide.
Hoist UK is a member of PLASA (Professional Lighting and Sound Association), the leading professional body for those who supply technologies and services to the event, entertainment and installation industries and are committed to supporting the future development of the industry.

Hoist UK is a Bronze member of the ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians), a charity and a campaigner on behalf of the theatre industry to ensure legislation is appropriate to the industry’s needs, and that regulations are suitably drafted and enforced. We have been awarded several times by these associations:

• 2006 : Winner of ABTT Product of the Year.

• 2011 : Winner of ABTT Stand of the Year.

• 2013 : Winner of LEEA Most Innovative Application of an Existing Product Award.

• 2017 : Winner of Wirral Chamber Business of the Year Award.

• 2019 : Winner of Wirral Chamber of Commerce Business person of the Year Award.

• 2021 : Winner of LEEA Kevin Holmes Award for Excellence in People Development.

What is your customer strategy?

Our company motto is Safety Above All, and our goal is to offer technically correct products and services which are fit for purpose.
Hoist UK try to listen to our customers and understand what is important to them and work with them to offer the best value product for the application. The level of service we offer takes us above and beyond that of our competitors, who are not able to offer advice.

As a company we do not align ourselves with multiple brands but work with good quality products and brands that give us and our customers the best options for their lifting and handling applications. By adopting this principle, we have a through technical knowledge and understanding of the products we are selling.

What are the opportunities for development in the UK market?

With Brexit and the introduction of the new UKCA product marking, Hoist UK are in a very strong market position to continue already good at, which is to promote and supply quality, value for money products with other complimentary fabricated products either sourced from our European suppliers or manufactured in house giving our UK customers an option to Buy British, which has great demand from some of our customers.