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A major shift in the UK equipment hire market has moved forward after the Competition and Markets Authority approved a new commercial agreement between HSS ProService Marketplace and Speedy Hire.
The deal allows Speedy to join the HSS ProService Marketplace as a core supplier and shareholder. It brings together HSS ProService’s digital procurement platform with Speedy’s national fleet and operational network, creating what the companies describe as a fully integrated online marketplace for equipment, fuel and related services.
Speedy will replace The Hire Service Company on the platform. HSS ProService said the change will offer customers improved availability, clearer pricing and stronger control over procurement.
As part of the agreement, Speedy has taken a 10 per cent stake in HSS ProService Marketplace. The company will supply most core hire equipment, provide testing services, and transfer staff into the ProService business to increase operational capacity. HSS ProService Marketplace will also take on Speedy’s rehire business.
The move supports HSS ProService’s shift to an asset-light hybrid model, built around digital ordering and data-driven procurement tools. The company said the partnership will open new opportunities for suppliers linked to the platform.
Tom Shorten, CEO of HSS ProService Marketplace, said contractors want certainty and efficiency at a time when project margins are under pressure.
He said the partnership will give users a deeper fleet, a wider footprint and a simpler digital workflow. According to Shorten, the focus is on reducing phone calls, cutting administration and improving visibility of hire spend.
HSS ProService Marketplace is already one of Europe’s largest digital platforms for equipment hire. The company says closer collaboration with Speedy signals a wider shift towards online procurement models in the building services and maintenance sector.
