From smaller, independent family owned hire businesses to multi-location, nation-wide companies (like Coates Hire and Kennards Hire), the Australian hire and rental industry features many different areas of focus. These areas of focus can include: general plant, DIY hire, portable buildings, access equipment, (scaffolding and elevating work platforms), to the enormous Events industry (structures and marquees; staging; exhibitions and furniture; wedding planning and more).

The hire industry is also about providing expertise and education to end-users of rental equipment, in line with duty of care requirements under Australian OH&S laws. It’s the industry meeting the requirements for Australians creating and developing and pursuing their goals, whether home renovating or meeting on-the-job equipment needs. 

By supplying the resources to help people realise their objectives, local hire and rental depots Australia wide are supporting local residents, entire communities and businesses operating in that region.

For example: consider the World Youth Day (WYD) spectacular in 2008, which saw pilgrims from more than 170 nations descend on Sydney. Randwick Racecourse was transformed with marquees and seating and temporary grass protection cover for Pope Benedict XV1’s visit. 

The temporary flooring withstood the tread of the nearly 500,000 pilgrims for the World Youth Day Mass while up to 100 pavilions helped transform a 22ha former stevedoring wharf on the edge of the Sydney CBD into a “mini-city” for other WYD events.

The hire industry is ready and equipped to meet each community’s need, whether: constructing a bridge; earthmoving during road construction; organising a function or setting up an exhibition; to the more personal and DIY oriented jobs like: hosting a formal occasion in the backyard to renovating the bathroom.

Effort and hard work are well rewarded and often lead to career advancement and opportunities for improvement. Education and training are important factors in the hire industry and employers generally encourage staff to seek further training and education opportunities.

Opportunities in this job are numerous and don’t necessarily only relate to machinery and equipment knowledge.

Valued at an estimated $4billion and growing, the hire industry is a professional industry, lead by a professional association, focused on keeping its industry abreast of national and international trends while ensuring it utilises technology and consumer trends to the industry’s best advantage.

This means the business end of the industry is advancing as rapidly as the equipment end of the industry.

Career paths in hire often start at the equipment end of the business but can lead to more administration-based roles including customer service, sales and marketing, and branch management. 

Many industry members progress to owning their own hire yard. The nature of this industry means that along with multi-location operators, there will always be room and opportunity for stand-alone owner-operator hire yards, operating locally and providing the very real needs of a local community.