News Item: Astley Hire Marks 60 Years in Business
Astley Hire, an equipment hire and training company based in Leigh, is marking 60 years in business in 2026.
The firm supplies access, cleaning, cooling and heating hire solutions and delivers accredited training for customers across the North West.
Astley Hire traces its roots back to 1963, when Cyril and Mildred Dorricott bought a hardware and grocery shop in Astley Green. In 1966, after spotting demand for water pump hire locally, Cyril bought the business’ first pump to rent out alongside the shop, marking the start of Astley Hire.
Sixty years later, the business has grown to specialise in powered access machines and a broad range of cleaning, cooling and heating equipment. Astley Hire is also an IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) and PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association) accredited training centre.
The family business expanded through the 1970s as the founders’ sons, Stephen and Michael, joined the company and trained on the hire counter. Astley Hire Limited was formed in 1985 and the company later consolidated to its current Jury Street site in Leigh in 2006.
Over time it has diversified into powered access (from 1999) and industrial cleaning equipment (from 2015), while its IPAF and PASMA approved training centre has been operating for more than 20 years.
The company has previously been recognised by Hire Association Europe (HAE), including Hire Company of the Year (1996) and Training Centre of the Year (2000 and 2005).
In recent years, Astley Hire has achieved a number of recognised accreditations, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, SSIP, HACCP, SafeContractor, IPAF Rental+, SafeHire and EcoVadis. The company remains forward thinking and has recently prioritised a carbon neutral outlook on its business operations. In 2022, it was the first and to date only UK hire company to achieve PAS2060, the leading standard for Carbon Neutrality.
Martin Doran, General Manager of Astley Hire, said: “The business has changed a great deal over the years, but we have tried to keep the focus on delivering reliable hire equipment and support for customers.”
“Quality, reliability and service remain the benchmarks we work do and everyone in the company epitomises this ethos.”
Stephen and Michael Dorricott, Managing Directors of Astley Hire, said: “The business has come a long way. Our parents would be surprised by the team of 25 employees we have today and the range of equipment now available. But we have tried to keep the same approach to customer service, reliability and quality.”
