Plant and tool hire in Wiltshire and Somerset, in numbers
Official counts of businesses in this trade, council area by council area, and how they've changed. Every figure links to where it comes from.
Construction plant hire (without operator)
105 based in Wiltshire and Somerset's five council areas in March 2026, down 16% since 2010. Across England: up 10%.
| Council area | 2010 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Wiltshire | 25 | 20 |
| Swindon | 5 | 10 |
| Somerset | 60 | 50 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 15 | 15 |
| North Somerset | 20 | 10 |
| All five | 125 | 105 |
What this counts: SIC 77320. Hire with an operator is counted under a broad construction code, so it isn't included.
What we list
We list 10 hire yards based in Wiltshire and Somerset. Official counts and our list measure different things: the count covers every registered business with this industry code, and we only list firms whose details we could check. See the list
A short history
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) says it was founded in 1941. It describes itself as the leading voice of the UK plant-hire industry 1. It says it sets industry standards, publishes safety guidance and lobbies government for its members 1.
The CPA says it has almost 2,000 members, and that its members supply over 85% of the plant hired to the construction industry. These are the CPA’s own figures 1. Its listed member benefits include exclusive use of the CPA Model Conditions for plant-hire contracts 1.
I found no source for Wiltshire or Somerset specifics. The CPA page does not give its original name or an early history.
What it costs
No published price for plant hire could be found from an official source. Prices vary by firm, machine, hire length and whether an operator is included.
Who checks the trade
There is no single government register of plant-hire firms that this research could find. Two things can help.
Trade body membership. The CPA is a trade body, not a regulator. Membership shows a firm has chosen to join. It is not a licence 1.
Operator training. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) explains the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). Employers must make sure people who use work equipment are adequately trained, including in the risks and precautions involved 2. The approved code of practice adds a rule for self-propelled equipment. It must only be driven by workers who have had appropriate training in the safe driving of such work equipment 2.
The HSE page also says:
- training may need to be refreshed at suitable intervals;
- changes or new equipment may require additional training;
- training should normally take place in working hours and at no cost to the employee 2.
If you hire a machine with an operator, ask the firm how it trains and assesses its operators. If you hire without one and employ the driver, PUWER requires that person to have adequate training 2.
Sources
- UK Business Counts (enterprises by industry), Office for National Statistics Counts are published in multiples of 5. Each figure counts enterprises live at a reference date in March. Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 14/10/2026.
- Who We Are Construction Plant-hire Association (cpa.uk.net). Checked 15/10/2026.
- Training and competence: work equipment and machinery Health and Safety Executive (hse.gov.uk). Page updated 06/06/2025. Checked 15/10/2026.