With over 30 years of experience, Select has built an excellent reputation as one of the UK’s largest and most diverse suppliers of choice for equipment, accommodation, and services to the construction industry. Select understands the critical role logistics, engineering, working environment, safety, and reliability play in modern construction, and our considered approach ensures our customers receive so much more than the tools to get the job done.
From tower cranes to cherry pickers, traffic management to modular accommodation, we offer the very latest in plant technology. Amalgamating site logistics, welfare provision, security, temporary services, crane schemes, piling requirements, and instrumentation and monitoring services as well as inspection and test services. Our teams work as one across all our functions ensuring efficient collaboration and communication.
Select pride ourselves as being the Total Solutions Provider, providing our clients with expertise and equipment matched to their every need. We see our role as much more than simply supplying equipment. We can advise on every aspect of project delivery, from conceptualisation through to design and final delivery, so that you benefit from our experience and make the right choices for your business.
Select Plant Hire is a diverse business offering a wide range of services that will support the environmental requirements of our customers. We work hard in each of our areas to offer the best environmental standards whilst ensuring the products and services we provide are fit for purpose and cost-effective.
From our first meeting to the handover of a completed project, every member of the Select Plant team will do their utmost to ensure we meet and exceed your requirements.
Our experienced staff will offer their knowledge and advice so that your needs are fulfilled safely, efficiently, and with the minimum disruption to your business or your stakeholders.
Select has a network of offices and depots strategically placed providing the ability to service clients across the UK. At every location, our expert staff and highlight trained mobile workforce are available to assist and respond to any queries our clients may have or any issues that may arise.
With over 30 years of experience, Select has built an excellent reputation as one of the UK’s largest and most diverse suppliers of choice for equipment, accommodation, and services to the construction industry.
Select understands the critical role logistics, engineering, working environment, safety, and reliability play in modern construction. Our considered approach ensures our customers receive so much more than the tools to get the job done.
Our expertise enables us to work with our clients to develop solutions that maximise efficiency and deliver real value to a project, setting us apart from our competitors.
From tower cranes to cherry pickers, traffic management to modular accommodation, we offer the very latest in plant technology. Amalgamating site logistics, welfare provision, security, temporary services, crane schemes, piling requirements, and instrumentation and monitoring services as well as inspection and test services. Our teams work as one across all our functions ensuring efficient collaboration and communication.
What sets us apart from our competitors is our expertise when working with clients to develop solutions at tender stage to maximise efficiency that delivers real value to a project. We can build a complete package that suits your project from conception to handover, providing a safer and more productive site, regardless of size and complexity.
Our delivery is assured by our highly-skilled, directly employed mobile workforce, our dedicated and experienced management, and robust alignment with our original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supply chain.
Our people
What makes us different is our people. We invest heavily in our directly employed teams, some of whom have been with us for over 30 years.
Tailored approach
With our direct links to the R&D departments of some of the world’s largest original equipment manufacturers, we tailor our fleet to meet the unique demands of individual projects.
Total solutions
We pride ourselves on being a total solutions provider
Innovation
We recognise the importance of continual improvement, and with innovation at the core of all values, we are continually developing and evolving new concepts and methods of work to make sure we are industry-leading.
Premier quality
We only purchase equipment from the world’s leading manufacturers and our demanding specifications are renowned for setting the agenda that other suppliers follow. Behind every product or service that we offer is a commitment to quality.
Investing in the future
Business is being transformed by technology and our clients demand better value and faster delivery. Digital engineering and Design for Manufacture and Assembly are changing construction and we continue to invest in the tools and equipment needed to meet the demands of the future.
Safety first
The health and safety of our people, customers, and suppliers have always been the priority for Select. Our dedicated safety team is committed to improving our safety performance, and to minimising incidents wherever we’re working.
To maintain our excellent safety record, thorough and frequent training is essential, with regular audits to ensure all our staff and managers follow the correct procedures.
All Select staff work to approve safety procedures making sure that all operations are completed in a safe and efficient manner. We have the best training, individually tailored visual method statements and industry-leading equipment, supporting our teams and ensuring that everyone who works for us can return home safely every day.
We also encourage our suppliers and sub-contractors to join our training programmes. Driving a consistent approach to health and safety for all our customers.
Environment and sustainability
At Select, we appreciate that every site or project has different environmental concerns. We consult and work with our clients to consider their specific environmental requirements.
Select Plant Hire is a diverse business offering a wide range of services that will support the environmental requirements of our customers.
We invest in our people, our plant, and our business with the aim of becoming the sensible choice for the environmentally conscientious constructor.
We have reduced the power demand on our Tower Cranes and have a fleet of efficient lifting platforms. We have the ability to run hybrid power solutions on construction sites, as well as offer an environmentally high specification modular solution as standard. There are additional services available to further improve the environmental performance and rating of the modular solutions.
And this is just for starters.
From our first meeting to the handover of a completed project, every member of the Select Plant team will do their utmost to ensure we meet and exceed your requirements.
Our experienced staff will offer their knowledge and advice so that your needs are fulfilled safely, efficiently, and with the minimum disruption to your business or your stakeholders.
Select has a network of offices and depots strategically placed providing the ability to service clients across the UK. At every location, our expert staff and highlight trained mobile workforce are available to assist and respond to any queries our clients may have or any issues that may arise.
Head Office
Select Plant Hire
Bridge Place
Anchor Boulevard
Crossways, Dartford
Kent DA2 6SN
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1322 732 732
infouk@selectplanthire.com
Littlebrook
1 Albion Road
Rennie Drive
Littlebrook
Dartford
DA1 5PZ
Grimsby
Cheapside Works Waltham
Grimsby
North East Lincolnshire
DN33 0JD
St Neots
Barford Road
St Neots
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE19 6WB
Wincham
Wincham Lane
Wincham
Northwich
CW9 6DE
Select Plant Hire Australia
Innovation Place
Level 2 100 Arthur Street
North Sydney
NSW
2060 Australia
Tel: +61 2 9903 0444 Fax: +61 2 9903 0333
Website: http://www.selectplanthire.com.au/
With over 20 years’ experience in the Laing O’Rourke Group, Alex has occupied various leadership roles, having started his career in 1996 as a setting out engineer.
Prior to leading the Select Plant Hire business, Alex was the Operations Director for Expanded and has extensive experience across varied sectors within the industry such as Residential, Commercial, Healthcare, Education and Retail.
Alex is also an advocate of the group’s drive to lead and innovate within the construction sector.
Mark was appointed Operations Leader for Select Plant Hire in 2019 having previously led the Lifting Solutions business from 2014-19. After joining Select in 2005 Mark held a variety of commercial and operational roles including being the operations lead for Select’s modular accommodation business. Mark then joined Select Australia in 2009 working across the Oil and Gas, Rail and Buildings sectors before moving back to the UK business. The following 5 years saw Mark lead the Lifting Solutions business which includes the Select Tower Cranes and Crawler Cranes product lines among others. Applying the broad range of experience gained, Mark now heads a team providing industry-leading lifting solutions, specialist plant, site accommodation and site services to the biggest and most complex projects.
Ryan has worked in the accommodation sector for over a decade with Select, adding value particularly in the design stage, manufacture and onsite assembly of some of the largest temporary office and welfare set-ups in the country.
From complex logistics through to facilities management, Ryan has led our Site Solutions business to offer a value-adding solution that helps projects attract and retain the best people through providing comfortable, grade A site facilities. He now leads a team to support Select’s increasing involvement in preconstruction and infrastructure projects in the external market across the UK.
A keen skier and Kent league tennis player, Ryan is also guilty of being an avid Charlton Athletic FC fan and season ticket holder.
Edward joined Select in 2014 and is responsible for leading our Lifting Solutions business, including operations hire and sales. He has over 20 years’ experience within the lifting industry and has held senior management roles in both the operational, commercial and work winning functions.
Running a UKAS accredited team of Engineers who work across the UK ensuring the sites have the relevant LOLER (and sometimes PUWER) inspections in place.
Ensuring our fixed depot facilities in St Neots and Erith are compliant, efficient and a safe workplace for the staff who operate within them.
Supporting the product functions in any way I can!
Horses (all 11 of them) eventing, but also competing in dressage and show jumping.
My dogs, walking, socialising (when we can) and a real love of Scotland.
Paul has been with Select since 2011 and is responsible for all financial aspects of the Select business, including the strategic plan to support long-term growth. The responsibility to develop and maintain strong accounting and financial controls within the business also sits with Paul as does the management of the annual budgets and quarterly financial forecasting.
Before joining Select, Paul has worked the Direct Line Group, Berkeley Homes and Xerox.
In his spare time, Paul enjoys watching sport, keeping fit and spending valuable time with his two young children.
Laing O’Rourke is delivering these private hospital facilities in Belgravia. Occupying a sensitive site adjacent to significant conservation areas, the building block is defined by Chester Street to the north, Grosvenor Place to the east, Wilton Street to the south, and Chester Mews to the west. The project will see the building’s extant office facilities transformed into a private medical clinic, all while retaining the building’s illustrious facade. Upon completion, the core of the building will have been entirely reconstructed to accommodate 200 beds and 8 operating theatres, delivering world-class patient experience, clinical outcomes, research and education.
Retaining the facade has added complexity to the construction as the existing building’s exterior had to be supported by a steel framework to prevent collapse. This, coupled with the typical space constraints of a central London site, meant there remained little room for accommodation facilities for the workforce; however, an innovative framework design allowed Select to install units within the frame itself, making full use of the cramped foot-space.
By providing instrumentation services, we are enabling the successful delivery of this mammoth £4.2bn project. It is the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the UK water industry, and involves the construction of a 25km ‘self cleansing’ tunnel beginning 30m below ground and falling at a rate of one metre every 790m – with a final depth of 67m.
A sure start
In a major city like London, there is as much going on under the ground as there is going on above it. As such, our approach had to consider a number of constraints – with assets below ground, on land and on water. We rose to the challenge presented by the diversity of the linear project site by using a variety of installation methods. Elevated working platforms, cranes, rope access and even boats were used to install instrumentation systems on both land and water.
Powering on through the wind, rain and river
Our solution uses a range of communications and power connections to provide surety of uninterrupted service – even in the most constrained and unusual locations. From standard hardwiring to wireless solutions, and standard power connections to solar panels and batteries, we have ensured that each point and sensor is providing accurate information continuously, regardless of external factors.
Tideway is building the Thames Tideway Tunnel, – London’s new super sewer. The 25km tunnel under London’s river will prevent the tens of millions of tonnes of pollution that currently pollute the River Thames every year. This is the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the UK water industry with construction work conducted on 24 sites across London. The Ferrovial Agroman, Laing O’Rourke Joint Venture is delivering the largest, Central section of the project.
Select has delivered 11 crawler cranes to the project, ranging in size from a 60t LTR1060 to a 300t LR1300, many of which are located on purpose-built barges to overcome space constraints at the project’s various sites. Select’s crawler crane team provided engineering backups for the naval architects when designing each barge, ensuring that each would be fit-for-purpose prior to movements being conducted. Planning for the logistical task of manoeuvring the cranes into place, carefully threading each fully laden barge under London’s bridges, and through traffic on one of the busiest working rivers in the world required the expertise of a highly-skilled and experienced team.
A high-specification commercial development in the Canary Wharf estate near Heron Quay DLR station, the project is partially located within a reclaimed dock. It consists of a triple basement and a 28-storey superstructure. A large slipformed core forms a significant part of the building footprint.
The client required a two-phase lifting solution: an initial service for the slipform, followed by a service for the superstructure. The client proposed a three-crane scheme with each crane situated on the structure’s core. As the cranes are designed to turn with the wind and the restricted space on site meant only two cranes would have the space to turn, this idea presented a challenge for the Select engineers. Select needed to devise a plan to restrict the crane turning at all. This solution was a tether connecting the jib of one crane to the mast of the other.
On winning the job, our engineers managed the development process from concept to proposal. The tether is estimated to have added 1,750 hours of available hook time. At an added cost of c.£25k (just 1% of the crane scheme), the efficiency benefit to site has been immense.
Wood Wharf was master planned as a new residential-led, mixed-use waterside community, defined by the quality of its public spaces, the diversity of its land uses and activities, and its exemplary architecture. With over 3,200 new homes, almost 2,000,000ft2 of commercial office space, plus 335,000ft2 of shops, restaurants and community uses.
Select’s Hoists scope was the provision of an XL LL formwork hoist – previously utilised on 250 City Road, Newfoundland and South Quay Plaza projects. Select at this moment in time had the only three units in the UK, testament to Select’s willingness to invest in innovative products.
The XL LL hoist allowed formwork to be transported up the building without needing hook time. Eliminating the requirement for cantilever decks reduces the strain on hook time and allows operatives to service the upper levels with fewer restrictions. Additionally, the hoist being fully enclosed improves health and safety as the risk of objects falling from height is eliminated.
Select supplied temporary accommodation solutions for the project team delivering the £350m, 560-bed critical care hospital in Gwent. The Grange University Hospital was handed over and opened to patients in November 2020, four months ahead of schedule and it now provides specialist treatment for the region’s most seriously ill patients with an emergency department for 600,000 people across this part of south Wales.
At the peak of construction, the project required onsite facilities for 650 people.
Select designed a three-storey solution comprising 74 modular units featuring bespoke items requested by the client, notably the floor-to-ceiling window panels that offer a panoramic view of the site, along with a viewing platform.
Select managed the entire process on the client’s behalf – from manufacture at Laing O’Rourke’s Centre of Excellence for Modern Construction in Worksop, to transportation through Explore Logistics and installation by Specialist Lifting. This allowed the Modular Accommodation team to act as the single point of contact for site, thereby minimising the operation’s complexity.
Select provided a full tower crane strategy for this major commercial development. The Leadenhall Building’s iconic steel and glass wedge rises 224m above the City, offering spectacular views for its office tenants.
With no laydown areas, 85% of the project was designed to be manufactured off-site and then installed using tower cranes. Select worked closely with the structural engineers, architects, client, and delivery partner to develop a tower crane strategy that involved the cranes climbing up the building on the inside being supported by the building itself.
Traditional high-rise buildings use a concrete core to provide stability, the Leadenhall Building employs an external steel ‘megaframe’, providing stability to the entire structure. However, the optimal trade-off between steelwork size required craneage capacity of up to 45t. Prior to this project, tower cranes capable of such loads did not exist. Through a close working relationship with its supply chain, Select developed an entirely new tower crane specifically for the Leadenhall Building – the CTL650-45.
Southbank Place has seen an exceptional display of Select’s integrated delivery model in action. The project utilised tower cranes, crawler cranes, hoists, and specialist lifting and traffic management services throughout its lifecycle – from initial demolition works right through to cladding and completion.
Completed in 2019, Southbank Place will provide a mix of offices, homes and retail spaces, integrated with open public areas. The well-known Shell Centre tower remains as the site’s centrepiece, complemented by eight new buildings.
At peak, the project required 16 CTL430-24s to support pouring operations, fit-out and facade installation. The 24t capacity CTL430 was the ideal solution for the client and its various subcontractors’ lifting requirements, being able to climb up to 138m on reinforced mast sections, with ties into structures on site. These ties were positioned at the very top of each structure, allowing facade installation to progress unhindered and delivering watertight buildings sooner.
Located close to Canary Wharf in landscaped gardens, this 68-storey, 220m tower is one of Europe’s tallest residential buildings. Working closely with the client, Laing O’Rourke, Select was able to provide a construction-hoist solution to meet site requirements. The implementation of Select’s LL hoist played a key role in the delivery of this iconic building.
The LL system is truly unique in that the hoist is suspended from the highest completed slab of the structure (as opposed to operating from the ground up, as with traditional hoists). As a result, the LL hoist requires no base, enabling site to install cladding with no need to allow for a hoist way, thereby creating a watertight building sooner. Moreover, with the capability to operate down to FIVE levels, the LL system avoids the need for formwork and labour to be moved using a cantilever deck, freeing valuable hook time. The hoist can also be used in wind speeds above crane wind speed restrictions, offering site an added element of flexibility.
This unique solution was first used at 250 City Road for Expanded, and we have subsequently supplied units to high-profile sites such as Newfoundland and Wood Wharf.
Phase 1, also known as Circus West, has seen 866 new homes and a mix of offices, shops, restaurants, leisure facilities and a theatre being delivered across 12 high-rise blocks to the west of the 39-acre site. The buildings vary in height from 9 to 18 storeys.
Innovation with impact
Select had developed several crane schemes during the tender process with various bidders for the main contract. Broadly, all schemes encountered the same issues: principally the proximity of the railway and challenges around dismantling prior to construction of the buildings.
Once appointed, Select assisted Carillion – the main contractor – during their discussion with Network Rail (NR), providing collapse radius drawings and attending meetings to agree on crane locations and downrating in line with NR guidance. Working in partnership with tower crane manufacturer Terex, Select developed a reinforced base section to suit the HD23 tower system. This enabled greater freestanding heights and helped overcome the freestanding height restriction imposed by NR at the time. It was discussion around this project and others in the UK that convinced NR to adjust their restrictions, removing the requirement to de-rate the tower systems in future.
“Overall, Select supplied 21 tower cranes over the duration of the contract and at the peak of the project, there were 17 tower cranes operational during this period. “
This project saw the expansion of Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2 by 150%. A 3,800 bay multi storey car park, an airside pier and temporary bussing lounge, extension of the existing baggage hall and forecourt, and reconfiguration of the roads surrounding Terminal 2 were delivered by main contractor, Laing O’Rourke; and all while the airport remained fully operational.
Due to the location of the constrained site and the fact it was within a live airport environment, installation and logistics had to be thoroughly planned, managing traffic and minimising disruption to the airport and the local community. Our client, Manchester Airports Group, required large temporary site offices and welfare facilities situated in close proximity of the work area.
The live airport environment added a layer of complexity to the installation of 4,600m2 over five-floors of accommodation. Select worked closely and collaboratively with the airport’s traffic control staff when arranging the crane installation.
The successful delivery and removal of this accommodation hinged on intelligent planning and logistics. We worked with the local authority to ensure minimal disruption in this high-profile area throughout the installation.
A steel support structure had to be erected in order to span the road below. Due to the increased complexity of the design process and installation, extra consideration had to be given to work at height and service routes.
Detailed programmes of installation were produced and monitored. Detailed safe systems of work were also produced, which addressed all hazards associated with the installation using best practice.
Our experienced delivery team managed community engagement and the whole solution proved successful for our client. It was delivered and removed on time with minimal disruption – leaving stakeholders and local communities happy.
Select completed the installation of the site offices at one of London Heathrow’s busiest terminals: T2a.
Select was instructed by the Laing O’Rourke and Ferrovial joint venture, HETCo, to design and build a six-storey modular building consisting of 311 units. Installation of the modules began in the middle of August 2010, with the final unit installed on site at the end of November 2010.
With a floor area in excess of 10,000m², the set-up contained four storeys of welfare facilities and three storeys of office space – all serviced by two passenger lifts and one goods lift. The welfare facilities also contained a fully serviced kitchen capable of serving 600 people in one sitting, as well as a Costa Coffee shop on the fifth floor.
All floors were fitted with mechanical and electrical elements, air conditioning systems, and all furniture and fittings. The units remained on site throughout the construction phase, which was successfully completed in 2013.
Building a mobile accommodation solution above Europe’s busiest high street requires serious planning and seamless execution. The Select site solutions team worked with the client to produce a detailed design and installation strategy to overcome the unique challenges presented by the site.
The limited space called for a phased approach to the erection of accommodation above a Crossrail ventilation shaft, while meticulous coordination mitigated the risks of working at height in close proximity to the street. Our holistic site solution was completed in just two days and will remain on site until practical completion.
Our innovative approach to building a safe public walkway has also provided benefits; by using six repurposed shipping containers, we reduced what would have been an expensive, high-risk and time-consuming process of building a steel pedestrian gantry down to a cost effective, robust alternative that was completed in just six hours overnight.
This 36-storey tower will form an integral part of Imperial College London’s innovation campus, providing residential accommodation for private tenants and the University’s key workers. Block F’s slender, tapering design marks the main approach to the campus at the intersection of the Westway, a prominent arterial route into central London. The tower’s elegant silhouette will serve as a landmark, not only for the Imperial West campus but also the regeneration of White City.
As part of this prestigious project, Select was tasked with implementing a full hoist solution to a site constrained by foot-space, complex logistics and a battle for hook time. Initial observations indicated that the client would require more than one hoist, principally as a solution to smooth the site’s lifting operations, given access to just one tower crane. However, severely limited foot-space rendered a multi-hoist solution impossible, forcing Select to propose a twin-hoist solution at best. Operationally, these were pivotal to the site’s critical path works such as cladding and fit-out, hence it was vital for Select to implement the best solution possible.
Select installed twin hoists, climbing in tandem with the structure and yielding as much coverage of the site as possible through 32 landings for both cages on the tower. Both cages supplied were 2.0m wide, 3.9m long and 2.8m tall, making them ideal for transporting a variety of goods and also passengers.
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