Whether you're a plant owner looking to generate revenue, a contractor seeking flexible equipment rental, or a supplier ready to advertise your fleet, joining a construction equipment hire platform like SharePlant Rentals is your gateway to modern UK rental. The UK construction and engineering equipment rental industry is growing fast, driven by digital innovation, sustainability goals, and the demand for short-term, cost-effective solutions.

This guide breaks down the process of how to hire construction equipment in five straightforward steps, helping you get started with the UK’s dedicated equipment rental marketplace for construction and engineering professionals.

Step 1: Sign Up & Create Your Free Account

Creating a SharePlant Rentals account is quick and straightforward. Whether you're listing equipment or browsing to hire, the sign-up process ensures your identity and intentions are clearly verified for a secure and trusted platform experience.

For Owners, the sign-up process requires the basics such as name, email and password but as you progress you will be asked to provide information such as Business Address, Companies House Number, VAT Registration Number and an ID Document for verification by the SharePlant team.

For Buyers, you will again be asked for the basics such as name, email, password and phone number. After this, you will need to verify your phone number and email through a one-time passcode and an email respectively.

You can register as an Owner, Buyer, Advertiser or all three depending on your role in the industry, and what information we require from you may change slightly depending on the account type you choose.

By joining a digital-first construction equipment hire platform, you're opening the door to seamless hire transactions across the UK.

Step 2: Verify Credentials & Complete Your Profile

Once registered, it's time to build credibility by completing your profile. This step is essential whether you're hiring, listing, or both.

By fully completing your profile, you reinforce your reputation as a reliable user of the equipment rental marketplace, helping to build confidence and attract successful transactions.

Step 3: List or Browse Equipment

Once your account is set up, you can either start browsing available equipment or list your own machines for hire. The SharePlant Rentals platform makes both options easy and efficient.

Owners can quickly post construction equipment for rent with clear details on location, availability, rates, and transport options. Make your listing stand out with high-quality photos, additional features, specifications, and different drive types. Equipment types commonly hired include excavators, cranes, dumpers, generators, and access platforms.

Buyers can browse listings filtered by area (e.g. Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow), equipment category, price, rating and more! The platform allows you to compare specs and prices instantly, helping you find exactly what you need without the phone calls, email enquiries, and paperwork.

This centralised approach modernises the traditional plant hire model, ensuring transparency and flexibility across the UK.

Step 4: Advertise & Set Your Rates

SharePlant Rentals offers built-in promotional tools to help you advertise equipment for rent effectively.

If you're an Owner, boosting visibility is key to maximising your earnings. SharePlant Rentals offers built-in promotional tools to help you advertise equipment for rent effectively.

Set daily, weekly, or monthly-based pricing and factor in seasonal demand (such as summer groundwork surges or government infrastructure projects like HS2).

You can also feature listings or run discount promotions during peak construction months. Staying active and responsive on the platform increases your chances of receiving enquiries, making this step a crucial part of the equipment Owner hire guide.

Step 5: Manage Bookings & Secure Transactions

Once you’re live, the platform makes it easy to manage incoming bookings and communications. Every hire goes through a secure workflow. Payments are made in GBP via a secure gateway and held in escrow until the job is confirmed complete—providing peace of mind for both parties.

Owners and Buyers can communicate through the platform’s built-in messaging tool, emails, and SMS alerts , and SharePlant helps manage documentation including insurance confirmation, hire terms, and inspection reports.

Everything is tailored to UK standards, including compliance with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations and compatibility with the model Construction Plant Hire Association model hire terms.

Conclusion

Whether you're listing a mini digger in Manchester or hiring a crane in Cardiff, SharePlant Rentals offers a faster, easier and smarter way to engage with the UK’s booming construction and engineering industry. By following these five steps, you’ll be fully equipped to make the most of a modern, efficient construction equipment hire platform.

Create your account and unlock the benefits of SharePlant https://shareplant.com today to turn underutilised kit into income.

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