Tool Hire
by Brian McCann
Sally Welch
Wyse Hire
The Right Stuff...
“Our employees are the core of the business. They are all very versatile,” says Sally Welch of Wyse Hire; “and that’s the secret of our success.” “We have also won a Highly-Commended certificate from the Hire Association, which covers hire companies throughout Europe,” she added, as further evidence of the service and efficiency that she and her staff provide. Sally, who founded Wyse Hire in 1996, is a multitasker herself, and doesn’t hesitate to turn her hand to whatever is necessary in the business whenever required. She originally comes from the town of Louth in Lincolnshire, but now she is approaching her 25th year on the Rock and is looking forward to gaining Gibraltar citizenship later this year. “I’ve been here for the majority of my life, and I consider it as home,” she told me as we toured
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the clean and tidy premises at New Harbours. Clean and tidy, yes, but packed with just about very type of power tool you could think of, all perfectly maintained by Wyse Hire’s two
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If you don’t keep up to date with your products and your methods your business will just fade away and die — especially in such a small market place as Gibraltar
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mechanics and ready to go into action. Generators and compressors are in one area, while hand-held power tools fill another room, for example. The list of products for hire or for sale appears to be almost endless, but Sally has a completely comprehensive website which not only lists every available item but also shows the hire prices under each photo. It’s all very clear, although she told me that some business associates had been aghast that she should have the prices on display, but she firmly believes that is the right approach — and I think all customers of all businesses would support that. Not many people like going into shops where no prices are displayed; I personally always feel it means the goods are very expensive, or, perhaps worse, that the shopkeeper is going to weigh you up to see how much he or she can get out of you before telling you their price. Not so with Sally, every price is there to be seen, and if competitors can also see them, that’s fine by her too. Sally is more than just someone who runs a smallish business; she is permanently progressive, to the extent that Wyse Hire obtained an Investors in People award two years ago, at the same time that the Royal Gibraltar Police obtained theirs. The basis of the award is that the company or organisation believes in ongoing training for the staff and caring about them as people. “It’s my passion to keep up to date,” she explained. “If you don’t keep up to date with your products and your methods your business will just fade away and die — especially in such a small market place as Gibraltar.” She said that during Wyse Hire’s 14 years in action she has taken courses with Durham University’s Business School, in the company of such local giants as Gibtelecom, and some of her staff have been to Britain on courses. With the local building boom over, Sally keeps everything running thanks to her loyal band of customers, over half of them being contractors in various specialities as well as the shipping industry, along with a large number of dedicated do-it-yourself householders. Always good-humoured, one thing Sally complains about is the fact so much local work goes to Spanish contractors. It’s not because they are Spanish, though: “It’s just that they contribute absolutely nothing to the local economy;” she said, sadly. “They bring all their own labour, their own subcontractors, their materials, their machines, everything. They don’t even buy a sandwich for lunch.” Skip rental is a prominent sector of Wyse Hire, supplying builders and householders with a choice of small, medium or large containers; the fixed prices (shown on the constantly updated website) include delivery, collection, and a week’s hire. A touch that sums up Wyse Hire’s thoughtfulness in customer service is that not only can you order your skip via the website, but you can also print off the essential permission application form, which can then be completed and faxed to the government. You might not think of skip hire as an interesting line of work, but Sally loves it: “You meet all sorts of people and you’re asked to get rid of all sorts of things.” Skip hire brought her onto another point — her biggest expense
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MAY 2010