This accolade is awarded to the companies who are most successfully reducing their core greenhouse gas emissions, with Speedy Hire named due to its track record in supporting the decarbonisation of the British construction industry. It is among leading global businesses such as EDF, Burberry and Vodafone in being selected as a top performer across the 23 countries and 22 sectors assessed by the Financial Times in partnership with Statista.

Speedy Hire continues to be recognised for the leadership it has shown on climate change issues. The company holds a Gold rating from sustainability ratings platform EcoVadis, meaning it is in the top 5% of UK businesses for decarbonisation readiness*. It also recently received a prestigious A- rating for disclosure and environmental performance from the Carbon Disclosure Programme, up from its score of B in the prior year.

Speedy Hire’s ‘Decade to Deliver’ strategy roadmap, launched in 2024, outlines its sustainability journey for the next 10 years and sets ambitious targets, including the reduction of the company’s Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 50%, and Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030.

‘Decade to Deliver’ builds upon Speedy Hire’s status as the first company in its sector to have publicly committed to science-based targets to achieve Net Zero by 2040, ten years ahead of the government’s deadline. It was also the first hire company to become a participating member of the UN Global Compact initiative for responsible business practices and achieved an A rating from global integrated risk assessment firm, Moody’s, for reducing its carbon footprint.

In the last year, Speedy Hire has pioneered sustainable innovation in a bid to significantly reduce its own carbon emissions and those of its customers. It partnered with manufacturer Niftylift in July, to launch the world’s first hydrogen-electric powered access platform, and acquired Green Power Hire Limited in October, to provide zero-carbon hydrogen-powered battery storage units. It has also announced the launch of Speedy Hydrogen Solutions, a joint venture with AFC Energy to provide zero emission, temporary power solutions designed specifically for the off-grid generation market.

Amelia Woodley, ESG Director, Speedy Hire said: 

“Our ‘Decade to Deliver’ strategy places sustainability and responsibility at the centre of everything we do. To be recognised for a second year running as a European Climate Leader by the Financial Times is testament to the tangible progress we’ve made as a business on environmental issues and reinforces our ambition to drive decarbonisation in our industry.”