JourneyApprenticeshipsHire controller (plant, tools and equipment)

Hire controller (plant, tools and equipment)

Level 2 · IntermediateConstruction and the built environment 1 yr typical
About this apprenticeship

What it involves

The Hire Controller (Plant, Tools and Equipment) apprenticeship at Level 2 trains you to manage the hire process for construction plant, tools, and equipment from a depot or hire desk, coordinating the booking, dispatch, and return of equipment to construction and trade customers. You will be the first point of contact for customers, processing orders, checking availability, and ensuring equipment leaves and returns in safe working condition. It leads to roles as a hire desk controller, depot supervisor, or account manager in the plant hire industry.

On the job

What you’ll learn

Plant, tool, and equipment types and their uses in construction
Hire desk processes - enquiry, quotation, booking, and invoicing
Equipment inspection, damage assessment, and maintenance scheduling
Customer service and managing hire accounts
Transport logistics - delivery, collection, and load planning
Health and safety responsibilities in plant hire operations
Stock control, availability management, and utilisation tracking
On the job

What you’ll do day to day

Handle customer enquiries and process hire bookings accurately
Check equipment in and out, recording condition at each stage
Schedule deliveries and collections with transport teams
Raise hire agreements, invoices, and damage assessments
Advise customers on the correct equipment for their task
Monitor equipment on hire and manage overdue returns
Maintain depot stock records and equipment service schedules
The deal

How this apprenticeship works

You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there

What you need to start

Level 2 (Intermediate) - roughly GCSE level. Often open with few or no formal qualifications - a strong first step. Some employers ask for a couple of GCSEs.
What’s next: Typically leads on to a Level 3 (Advanced) apprenticeship.

Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.

Hear from employers

What it’s really like

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