A number of weeks ago Irish Country Living profiled the opportunities for farmers in their local fire service. The appeal of the job lay in its part-time nature, which suited perfectly due to the individual’s on-farm commitments. It also provided an off-farm income for that individual. On that occasion, farmer and firefighter John Clooney spoke of how welcome the off-farm income is.
For farmers not interested in the responsive nature of something like the fire service however, another type of work may be of interest that provides more flexibility.
Harry McArdle is the founder and CEO of Height for Hire, an access machinery hire company operating from more than 17 locations nationwide. Founded in 1978, the company’s aim is to provide a service that allows people to work at height safely.
“Basically we are looking for promoters and operators to help us to grow our working-at-height business in more locations across Ireland. We are particularly interested in talking to farmers and retired people in rural locations who would be interested in part-time hours, located within an hour from their home on an on-call basis.
“We are already located in many parts of Ireland but are looking to spread our service in more locations across rural Ireland. We feel that the part-time hours would suit farmers, bringing in some extra income but still allowing time to run the farm,” explains Harry McArdle.
Left to right: operations director Frances McArdle, founder and chair Harry McArdle and marketing director Lorraine McArdle.
“Our machines move forward, backward and sideways and that is it. The work we do, it never goes out of fashion. People will always need to work at height and we help them to do this safely.”
Height for Hire is doing this with the aid of its self-drive van mounts. These self-drive machines can work up to 20m, but because the lift is mounted on a 3t chassis, you can drive it using a standard car licence. Height for Hire is interested in bringing this service to more people in more locations so that everyone has the opportunity to work safely at height.
“We are targeting the farming community because we find that people with agricultural backgrounds have a good understanding of our machinery. It might also suit farming families where there is more than one adult on the farm, and we will train up other members of your family if we find you are the right person in the right place.
“We would also be interested in talking to families that have extra yard space for parking machines,” says Harry.
The company are looking to take on self-drive agents across the country and are looking to farmers, retired people and anyone else living in rural Ireland to fill these vacancies. Anyone who is taken on will receive training on how to operate the machinery, which will be stored either on their farm or at a depot in close proximity to their home.
We are aiming to have machines for hire which will be located in depots or stored in the employee’s farmyard across Ireland
When a time and place is arranged for a job to be carried out, the person is contacted and deployed to do the job. Harry outlines that no job will be more than one hour away from any location.
“We are aiming to have machines for hire which will be located in depots or stored in the employee’s farmyard across Ireland with the view that we will be able to service every part of Ireland within an hour.
“We have the machines ready to go and that means jobs for farmers. We want people to know that we are approachable and that we can answer any questions on this,” Harry explains.
The company’s journey
This expansion into rural Ireland is the latest development in what has been a remarkable story for Harry McArdle and his family business.
Beginning humbly in 1978, the company had two machines and employed less than 10 people. Today, Height for Hire have 2,000 machines across four countries and employ over 200 people. Their expansion began in the 1980s in Ireland before a move in Belfast and Glasgow began their export market. Today, the company have locations in Hungary, Slovakia and the UK.
In recent times, their work and attention to safety has been noticed by various organisations, including the Irish Farmers’ Association and FBD Insurances.
I never would have imagined this. When we began, I thought if we had 100 machines I would be happy
The company have also partnered with the Health and Safety Authority for the Ploughing Championships since 2016, highlighting the importance for farmers to be aware of the dangers of working at heights. Numerous awards have followed and expansion continues, something Harry says he could not have predicted.
“I never would have imagined this. When we began, I thought if we had 100 machines I would be happy. I could not have foreseen where it has taken us. Even the fact that four of my children – Fergus, Frances, Lorraine and Patrick – have leading roles in the business, that is brilliant.”
Forty-one years later, the growth projection for Height for Hire is, appropriately, rising. Their expansion into rural Ireland and hiring farmers and people in rural communities is another step in this direction.
What farmers need to know
Training
Employees will receive up to three days training by the company to ensure that they have the capability required to perform the job and an understanding of how the machines work.
The vehicle
The 20m self-drive van mounts are regular vans with the lift attachment on the back. Because it is mounted on a 3t chassis, you can drive them on a standard car licence. The machines can be stored at either a depot near the employee’s home or at the employee’s home farm. The attraction for employing farmers would be the fact that they are comfortable with machinery, are suited to part-time hours and might also have the ability to store the vehicle on-farm.
Pay
Harry explains that the roles will be on a part-time basis and that the company expects pay to be allocated on an hourly basis.
Is there flexibility?
According to Harry, the way the call-outs are conducted, it allows for flexibility in the role, an attractive feature for farmers. When the service is needed, the company will contact the worker in the closest location to where the service is required. Harry says times can be arranged to facilitate both the customer and the farmer.
“The majority of the time, these jobs are not emergencies so times can be arranged. In that regards, there is plenty flexibility in the job.”
How can you apply?
Application can be made by emailing careers@heightforhire.com.
Once applications are made, the applicants are tested for general competencies on machinery and then interviewed.
A number of weeks ago Irish Country Living profiled the opportunities for farmers in their local fire service. The appeal of the job lay in its part-time nature, which suited perfectly due to the individual’s on-farm commitments. It also provided an off-farm income for that individual. On that occasion, farmer and firefighter John Clooney spoke of how welcome the off-farm income is.
For farmers not interested in the responsive nature of something like the fire service however, another type of work may be of interest that provides more flexibility.
Harry McArdle is the founder and CEO of Height for Hire, an access machinery hire company operating from more than 17 locations nationwide. Founded in 1978, the company’s aim is to provide a service that allows people to work at height safely.
“Basically we are looking for promoters and operators to help us to grow our working-at-height business in more locations across Ireland. We are particularly interested in talking to farmers and retired people in rural locations who would be interested in part-time hours, located within an hour from their home on an on-call basis.
“We are already located in many parts of Ireland but are looking to spread our service in more locations across rural Ireland. We feel that the part-time hours would suit farmers, bringing in some extra income but still allowing time to run the farm,” explains Harry McArdle.
Left to right: operations director Frances McArdle, founder and chair Harry McArdle and marketing director Lorraine McArdle.
“Our machines move forward, backward and sideways and that is it. The work we do, it never goes out of fashion. People will always need to work at height and we help them to do this safely.”
Height for Hire is doing this with the aid of its self-drive van mounts. These self-drive machines can work up to 20m, but because the lift is mounted on a 3t chassis, you can drive it using a standard car licence. Height for Hire is interested in bringing this service to more people in more locations so that everyone has the opportunity to work safely at height.
“We are targeting the farming community because we find that people with agricultural backgrounds have a good understanding of our machinery. It might also suit farming families where there is more than one adult on the farm, and we will train up other members of your family if we find you are the right person in the right place.
“We would also be interested in talking to families that have extra yard space for parking machines,” says Harry.
The company are looking to take on self-drive agents across the country and are looking to farmers, retired people and anyone else living in rural Ireland to fill these vacancies. Anyone who is taken on will receive training on how to operate the machinery, which will be stored either on their farm or at a depot in close proximity to their home.
We are aiming to have machines for hire which will be located in depots or stored in the employee’s farmyard across Ireland
When a time and place is arranged for a job to be carried out, the person is contacted and deployed to do the job. Harry outlines that no job will be more than one hour away from any location.
“We are aiming to have machines for hire which will be located in depots or stored in the employee’s farmyard across Ireland with the view that we will be able to service every part of Ireland within an hour.
“We have the machines ready to go and that means jobs for farmers. We want people to know that we are approachable and that we can answer any questions on this,” Harry explains.
The company’s journey
This expansion into rural Ireland is the latest development in what has been a remarkable story for Harry McArdle and his family business.
Beginning humbly in 1978, the company had two machines and employed less than 10 people. Today, Height for Hire have 2,000 machines across four countries and employ over 200 people. Their expansion began in the 1980s in Ireland before a move in Belfast and Glasgow began their export market. Today, the company have locations in Hungary, Slovakia and the UK.
In recent times, their work and attention to safety has been noticed by various organisations, including the Irish Farmers’ Association and FBD Insurances.
I never would have imagined this. When we began, I thought if we had 100 machines I would be happy
The company have also partnered with the Health and Safety Authority for the Ploughing Championships since 2016, highlighting the importance for farmers to be aware of the dangers of working at heights. Numerous awards have followed and expansion continues, something Harry says he could not have predicted.
“I never would have imagined this. When we began, I thought if we had 100 machines I would be happy. I could not have foreseen where it has taken us. Even the fact that four of my children – Fergus, Frances, Lorraine and Patrick – have leading roles in the business, that is brilliant.”
Forty-one years later, the growth projection for Height for Hire is, appropriately, rising. Their expansion into rural Ireland and hiring farmers and people in rural communities is another step in this direction.
What farmers need to know
Training
Employees will receive up to three days training by the company to ensure that they have the capability required to perform the job and an understanding of how the machines work.
The vehicle
The 20m self-drive van mounts are regular vans with the lift attachment on the back. Because it is mounted on a 3t chassis, you can drive them on a standard car licence. The machines can be stored at either a depot near the employee’s home or at the employee’s home farm. The attraction for employing farmers would be the fact that they are comfortable with machinery, are suited to part-time hours and might also have the ability to store the vehicle on-farm.
Pay
Harry explains that the roles will be on a part-time basis and that the company expects pay to be allocated on an hourly basis.
Is there flexibility?
According to Harry, the way the call-outs are conducted, it allows for flexibility in the role, an attractive feature for farmers. When the service is needed, the company will contact the worker in the closest location to where the service is required. Harry says times can be arranged to facilitate both the customer and the farmer.
“The majority of the time, these jobs are not emergencies so times can be arranged. In that regards, there is plenty flexibility in the job.”
How can you apply?
Application can be made by emailing careers@heightforhire.com.
Once applications are made, the applicants are tested for general competencies on machinery and then interviewed.
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