arrow icon Back

Supporting Safe, Compliant Lifting Operations Across a Major UK Water Network

  • Background

    A major regional water company in England is responsible for delivering essential water services to more than 2.2 million customers and wastewater services to over 4 million customers. With over 4,000 operational sites, the organisation manages a vast and complex infrastructure that must remain safe, compliant, and fully operational at all times.

    Their aim is simple but critical: to provide dependable, good-value water and wastewater services that consistently meet customer expectations.

  • The Challenge

    Managing such a large operational footprint requires a significant volume of lifting equipment. The company operates a fleet of over 20,000 lifting assets, each of which must be safe, compliant, and available when needed.

    Before partnering with GAP, the organisation faced several challenges:

    • Ensuring continuous compliance across thousands of lifting assets
    • Avoiding downtime caused by unavailable or defective equipment
    • Mitigating safety risks associated with incorrect or non-standard lifting gear
    • Maintaining visibility of high-risk sites where lifting equipment is essential for safe operations

    The scale and complexity of the lifting fleet meant the company needed a partner with deep technical expertise, strong compliance understanding, and the ability to respond quickly across a large geographic area.

  • The Solution

    GAP Hire Solutions was selected as the organisation’s chosen partner for the supply, repair and maintenance of lifting equipment for the last three consecutive tender cycles, representing at least eight years of continuous service.

    GAP was selected due to:

    • A proven track record of high-quality service delivery
    • Deep expertise in lifting compliance and safety
    • Strong communication and responsiveness across all levels of the business
    • A consistent ability to support a large, diverse operational estate

  • Services Provided

  • The Results

    GAP’s support has delivered measurable operational and compliance benefits:

    • Weekly defect rectification and repair, reducing the need for costly replacements
    • Sourcing of specialist parts to extend asset life and minimise downtime
    • Proactive identification of high-risk sites where lifting equipment is essential for safe operations
    • Reduced operational disruption through fast turnaround of repairs
    • Lower overall costs due to a repair-first approach and avoidance of unnecessary replacements

    By focusing on repair and refurbishment where appropriate, GAP has helped streamline operations, reduce lead times, and maintain continuity across critical water and wastewater services.

  • The Experience

    The customer describes their experience working with GAP as consistently positive, commenting, “I have personally been working with GAP for the last six years. They have consistently met and exceeded expectations with a strong performance record. GAP is a highly valued supplier with a long history of successful delivery to ensure our lifting needs are met.”

    What stood out more was GAP’s professionalism and communication with the team described as approachable, easy to work with at all levels and offering a strong technical competence across the board. The partnership has strengthened the organisation’s ability to maintain safe, compliant lifting operations across a large and complex estate.

View All