Top crane hire operator appoints Wiltshire training firm to deliver major management development programme

TRAINING expert Intelligent Dialogue is delivering a major management development programme for Ainscough Crane Hire, the UK’s largest crane hire operator.

The move comes after Royal Wootton Bassett-based Intelligent Dialogue delivered a successful customer engagement programme at Ainscough’s depots across the country last year.

Managing director Diane Banister said: “When Covid and lockdown hit, the senior leadership team at Ainscough Crane Hire knew that keeping their people connected with the business while they were on furlough was fundamental to the business. We were asked to design and deliver a four-month training programme to maintain the momentum of the work they had been doing, and keep employees connected to the business.”

The virtual training, delivered via Zoom for more than 100 people, was aimed at helping the 44-year-old company’s people understand their strategy arising from the impact of Covid.

Ms Banister said: “We carried out a sales and service training across the business including to people who were furloughed. Ainscough were very forward thinking because they recognised it was an opportunity to train people and keep them connected to the business, so when they were back in work they were able to start back stronger.”

Peter Gibbs, Ainscough’s Chief Executive Officer said: “The impact of the programme I wasn’t necessarily expecting has been the morale and buy-in from colleagues who see a business that’s got the courage to invest in its people and its future.

“The early indicators are it has already impacted positively on what is a very tough time for UK business. We’ve seen improvement in customer engagement and confidence in our value proposition. The relationship with Intelligent Dialogue has been a pleasure and that’s been the feedback that I’ve had from across my team.”

Intelligent Dialogue will be working with leaders and managers at Ainscough’s 30 depots and its head office until this July.

“With our experience in the hire sector, particularly the lifting industry, we know a lot of what is needed to be successful. But now we really understand Ainscough Crane Hire and its culture, so I think we were the natural choice to go on working with their leaders and managers,” said Ms Banister.

“What is really impressive about Ainscough Crane Hire as a company is that they recognise that the country is heading into tough times and one of the ways they can be successful is by investing in their infrastructure and their people. At a time when people are cutting back, it is really interesting to see that they are prepared to make the investment and are prepared to do the right thing.”

Wiltshire-based Intelligent Dialogue has 28 years’ experience of running programmes for businesses of all sizes in sales, customer experience and management development, with several clients in the hire industry.

Ms Banister said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been appointed by a company that has such an excellent reputation as Ainscough. A lot of hard work has paid off. I worked with the company over 20 years ago when they were family-owned and growing. It is fascinating to be back now and see how they’ve developed.

“Ainscough is a company with a proud heritage, and the work that we are doing with them, the commitment from their senior team, and the sheer will and determination from their people, makes me think that they have an amazing future ahead of them too.”

Find out more about the company at intelligentdialogue.com.