The Hampshire-based business has been rescued through a sale out of administration after more than 30 years of trading
Nationwide Hire Ltd has entered administration after more than 30 years in business despite generating £11million in annual revenue.
The Hampshire-based construction equipment hire specialist formally entered administration on July 28 after filing a notice of intention to appoint administrators shortly beforehand.
Financial accounts for the year ending September 2024 showed the company generated £11million in revenue but recorded a pre-tax loss of £1million.
The business employed 55 members of staff at the time of its collapse.
Nationwide Hire Ltd traded under the Nationwide Hire Solutions brand and operated as an equipment hire broker, connecting customers with construction machinery, tools and site equipment through a network of more than 900 suppliers across Britain.
The company described itself as "the UK's original equipment hire broker", offering customers a single point of contact for hiring powered access equipment, plant machinery, tools, fuel, welfare units and other construction equipment.
Rather than owning equipment directly, Nationwide Hire coordinated deliveries through its supplier network, providing services to construction sites across the country.
Operating from a central office, the business managed hire requirements nationwide for contractors and construction firms seeking equipment without having to deal with multiple suppliers.
Its administration was identified by credit checking specialist Red Flag Alert through its monitoring of High Court insolvency filings.
Despite the insolvency, the business has been rescued through a sale out of administration.
Suppliers were informed this week that Alliance Hire Solutions Ltd, a newly created subsidiary of the Alliance Tool Hire Group, had acquired Nationwide Hire Solutions.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Nationwide Hire Solutions brand will continue to operate, preserving a name that has been established in the construction sector for more than 30 years.
Alliance Tool Hire Group is one of the largest independent tool hire operators in the south of England, operating a network of 10 depots.
The company supplies powered access equipment, heavy plant, tools, welfare units and waste management services, making it a complementary fit for the acquired business.
The collapse comes amid continued pressure across Britain's construction sector.
Analysis published by Shakespeare Martineau in July last year found construction companies accounted for 10 per cent of all businesses entering administration during the first half of 2025.
The analysis found that 79 of the 783 companies entering administration during the period operated in the construction sector.
Andy Taylor, partner and head of restructuring at Shakespeare Martineau, said: "The trading environment for many businesses remains highly challenging.
"Many companies are surviving through short-term fixes, but without sustained growth, improved consumer confidence and better access to funding, there are still choppy waters to navigate."
Separate research published by Witan Solicitors last month found that 41.6 per cent of construction businesses established between January 2021 and December 2025 had subsequently failed.
Qarrar Somji, solicitor-advocate and director at Witan Solicitors, said: "Rising costs, stretched supply chains, skills shortages and increasingly complex regulation are crippling the industry."
The findings add to concerns over the financial pressures facing construction firms, with higher operating costs, supply chain disruption and labour shortages continuing to weigh on businesses across the sector.
The acquisition by Alliance Hire Solutions means the Nationwide Hire Solutions brand will continue operating despite the collapse of its former trading company, allowing existing customer and supplier relationships to continue under new ownership.
