Altrad Hire & Sales - Norwich

The company began in 1978 as Generation Building Equipment LTD and was part of the McAlpine Construction Empire. A decade later, it became Mitie Generation LTD, which established six strategic branches in Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Southampton, and Northampton, and relocated its head office to Birmingham. A dedicated training centre opened in Wakefield, and the Mitie Access Division was backed by a £120 million investment. In 2004, the company rebranded as Generation Hire & Sales. In 2012, it joined the Altrad Group, forming Altrad Generation Hire & Sales. In 2013, it launched an exports division.

In 2015, it acquired DESSA LTD, enabling supply of the Uni-Roof Temporary Roof System, and achieved £80 million turnover. The company supplies scaffolding, fencing, groundworks, edge protection, safety, and light access products. It serves domestic, commercial, and industrial uses through a national network spanning the UK and Ireland. The Norwich branch on Woodcock Road has been at its current location for over 25 years and serves Norfolk and Suffolk, with a legacy stretching back more than half a century in Norwich. Sam Larke is the Branch Manager. Altrad Generation & Trad UK merged to become Altrad Hire & Sales.

Building materials, fencing supplies and construction equipment are the main draw at this Norwich branch, and reviews regularly refer to the helpful and welcoming manner of the team. One customer who called in for a single small item was struck by how friendly and accommodating the staff were, a theme that runs through other accounts of the service. Whether the enquiry concerns a modest purchase or a larger hire requirement, the response is described as willing and attentive, with customers noting that assistance is offered without hesitation. Training delivered under Bruno is remembered positively by those who took part, who describe being made welcome and gaining practical knowledge from the sessions.

Alongside that, the sales side is characterised by an approachable attitude, where questions are answered and the right products identified without unnecessary fuss. Attention is said not to vary with the size of the order, as even minor purchases attract the same courteous and efficient handling. The combination of informed advice, a broad range of stock and a consistently friendly reception has given the branch a dependable reputation among customers who have dealt with it, from those seeking a single component to attendees on a training course.