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Smiths Hire is pleased to announce a new partnership with Howarth Timber & Building Supplies, with dedicated Smiths Hire desks now operating inside the Wakefield and Leeds branches.
The collaboration brings professional tool and equipment hire directly into the Howarth Timber branch environment, providing customers with a more convenient way to access the equipment they need alongside their building materials.
Expanding Access Through Strategic Partnership
The launch marks an important step in Smiths Hire’s continued growth strategy — expanding through carefully selected partnerships that improve customer access while maintaining full Smiths Hire service standards.
Customers visiting the Wakefield and Leeds Howarth Timber branches can now hire a wide range of equipment, including:
- Access equipment
- Plant machinery
- Cement mixers and compactors
- Cutting and breaking tools
- Landscaping equipment
The hire desks operate fully under the Smiths Hire brand, ensuring consistent service levels, maintained equipment, and straightforward hire terms.
Convenience for Trade and DIY Customers
The partnership is designed to streamline the customer journey. Trade professionals and DIY customers can now source materials and hire equipment in one visit, reducing downtime and simplifying project planning.
By embedding within established Howarth Timber branches, Smiths Hire combines its hire expertise with Howarth’s strong regional presence and loyal customer base.
Managing Directors, David & Thomas Smith at Smiths Hire, commented:
“This partnership with Howarth Timber represents a strategic step in how we expand the Smiths Hire network. Our focus is always on improving accessibility for customers without compromising service quality. By operating within established Howarth branches in Wakefield and Leeds, we are making it easier for customers to hire the right equipment at the point they need it.”
They added:
“We see strong alignment between our businesses — both organisations are committed to reliability, local service, and supporting the trade sector. This is an important foundation for long-term collaboration.”
Regional Perspective
Paul Bullivant, Commercial Director at Howarth Timber & Building Supplies, commented
“Partnering with Smiths Hire is a natural extension of our commitment to providing customers with everything they need to complete their projects efficiently and professionally. By introducing hire within our Wakefield and Leeds branches, we’re enhancing the overall branch offer and creating greater convenience for our trade and DIY customers.”
He added:
“We pride ourselves on working with trusted partners who share our values around reliability, service quality, and supporting local customers. Smiths Hire’s reputation and expertise in equipment hire make them an ideal fit for our branch network. We’re confident this collaboration will strengthen our proposition and deliver real benefits to customers from day one.”
Paul Glover, Regional Merchant Manager for Smiths Hire, said:
“Launching Smiths Hire within the Wakefield and Leeds branches gives us a valuable opportunity to support customers more directly. We’re seeing consistent demand for convenient, local hire solutions, particularly from trade customers working on time-sensitive projects.”
“Having the hire desk integrated within the branch environment means customers can plan projects more efficiently — collecting materials and equipment in one place. Early feedback from branch teams and customers has been very positive.”
Looking Ahead
The Wakefield and Leeds launches represent the first phase of the collaboration, with both teams focused on delivering a seamless customer experience and strong local engagement.
Smiths Hire looks forward to building on this partnership and continuing to expand access to professional hire services across the region. The branches will be operational in Wakefield and Leeds from March 2026.
