The History of Toilets Hire providing a welfare and sanitation on site solution
History of Toilet Hire – The Foundation Years
Site Equips history dates back to the early 1980’s when a young Civil Engineer went on holiday to Corfu and met an even younger Sales Executive . They married and in 1988 whilst working on a construction site he was introduced to the rather new and novel idea of serviced plastic portable toilets for hire.
Thinking what a brilliant concept, three plastic portable toilets arrived from America, flat packed. No problem to a newly wedded couple with a screwdriver. Site Equip was born.
Off on hire went these three portable toilets to Rees Hough Ltd for the chaps building site Canary Wharf London.
1988 – Site Equip bought their first plastic chemical toilets from Bournemouth based company Site – a – Loo, from the PSE’s very own Martin Murdoch, to go on hire at a site the Director Geoff Gilbert was running in Limehouse, London. Meanwhile Sonia Gilbert was cold calling and visiting construction site on the weekends and evening to explain the new concept of a portable toilet to the industry.
1989 – Sonia & Geoff Gilbert, still working full-time, had grown the business to a fleet, at the same time the future third director of Site Equip, Amy Gilbert, was born.
1990 – Site Equip were asked to provide a toilet solution for a ploughing match, rather than using a hedge as they had been previously! Loos R Us was born – Toilets specifically for events, higher quality than those provided on building sites. We mad the move from the home office & opened our first offices in Haslemere, Surrey.
1991 – Saw the arrival of our first toilet trailer complete with peach curtains, gold taps and sage green carpet the height of sophisticated 90’s luxury. He must have heard that trailer being towed as the event fanatic & toilet trailer fan, our event project manager, Adam Gilbert, was born in the same year.
1992 – Site Equip became a founder member of the P.S.E. Portable Sanitation Europe pioneering best practises within this new industry of portable toilet hire.
1993 – As the business and demand rapidly grew we need larger premises and moved to Passfield, Hampshire.
1994 – We provided over 100 toilets to our 1st major festival, Guilfest!
1995 – Site Equip make their first acquisition of another toilet company Loo Point Ltd, adding more contracts, toilets and trailers to the fleet. Constantly expanding and growing through demand for our high level of service.
1996 – We moved to a larger 1.5 acre site in Crondall, Farnham, to cope with the demand and expand the business, with expansion into site cabins, containers & Jackleg mains toilet units for construction sites across the south east.
1997 – We provided toilets and waste management to Thruxton Racecourse
1998 – We celebrated 10 years of Site Equip!
1999 – Loos R Us was growing rapidly, with high demand for luxury units to wedding, events and parties. So much so we started to create an events division to improve the level of customer service and delivery.
History of Toilet Hire – The Flourishing Years
2000 – Brought Site Equip’s first website with constant improvement and facing new challenge’s in a fast changing world.
2001 – Due to the number of toilets on construction sites and a growing event division we brought in Syrinx (now Point of Rental) a bespoke hire software program kept track of the loos on hire and the servicing requirements.
2002 – We created some ‘new’ (at the time!) brochures to mail out to our customers and prospective clients.
2003 – We celebrate 15 years of outstanding service & sponsor Motocross Under 21’s Champion Greg Marshall.
2004 – We added our 20 man urinal trailer to our fleet
2005 – Site Equip purchased its 1000th toilet for hire and Place our 1st welfare unit on hire!
2006 – We purchased our 1st 26 tonne 3000 gallon tanker, to empty large volumes of liquid waste at festivals and on a construction sites.
2007 – Saw us move to a three acre site with a purpose built 5000 sq workshop and offices.
2008 – Celebrate 20 years of outstanding service!
History of Toilet Hire – The Recent Years
2009 – Work began transforming an old dilapidated yard into a workable efficient environment and hired toilets to the start of the building of The Shard in London.
2010 – The unique bespoke themed trailer toilets were born, which began our journey into manufacturing.
2011 – Supplied toilets and accommodation to a large local infrastructure project; the Hindhead Tunnel. The themed units were really taking off & we added the Gypsy Caravan to the fleet.
2012 – New offices, workshop and maintenance facilities were ready and all the staff moved into brand new state of the art offices, just as we began our busiest ever year supplying toilets to The Olympics, and hundreds of other events.
2013 – 25 years of passionate toilet hire and of course one big party to celebrate and thank all those staff and loyal customers, also winning a few awards along the way.
2013 Additionally saw Site Equip joined forces with Rossetts Commercials to buy 6 Mercedes vehicles, each fitted with 200 gallon tanks to service our toilets.
2014 – The completion of an additional new 5000 sq manufacturing unit, the launch of a new venture Site Build, producing bespoke trailers. Additionally the re-branding of Loos R Us to Site Event, to align the event side of the business with our parent company Site Equip. – And a new website to showcase this!
2015 – We have just opened our second depot in Paddock Wood, Kent. Following the securing of a large 5 year contract across the South of England.
2016 – We turned paper-free, introducing the drivers app!
2017 – We built the Shabby Chic toilet trailer & won an award for it at the Hire Awards of Excellence.
2018 – Whilst celebrating 30 years of Site Equip, we launched our 3-bay Vacuum Pod’s built by Site Build, and launched Site Waste! Site Waste gained a brand new tanker! Site Event won Luxury Toilet Trailer Providers of the Year 2018 & Best in Event Portable Toilet Hire at the UK Enterprise Awards.
2019 – Site Equip and Site Event launch New Brochures to promote the extensive range of equipment. We introduced our brand new 6 Bay Luxury Vacuum Toilet Pods and 6 Bay Luxury Shower Pods new for 2019, exclusively for Site Event!
2020 – Site Equip Appoints New Director Adam Gilbert. Site Event is proud to announce the launch of INDICATE, the UK’s first app for managing toilets at large scale events. Site Equip became the first in the industry to launch online ordering on their website!
2021 – Site Equip invests in over a quarter of a million pounds on custom made vehicles and expanded our coverage by opening a depot in Stotfold. Site Waste welcomes a 18 ton New Tanker to their Fleet.
2022 – Site Equip acquired E Toilet Sales and was awarded the largest contract in Site Event’s history: Operation London Bridge, The Queens Funeral. Site Event won the tender to supply Lambeth Borough Council’s Parks with toilet facilities across London.
2023 – Site Equip acquired WC Hire and gained a new depot in Brighton. In addition, gained static containers to add to our fleet. Site EQuip invested in a brand new wash bay at their 2-acre Hitchin depot. Plus, Site Event won the tender to supply Surrey Fire Brigade.
So what makes us so successful !
Throughout our history of toilets hire we have over come some difficult challenges which make us successful here are some:
A team of experienced drivers who will go the extra mile to ensure your units are delivered on time and serviced efficiently. We have invested in vehicle tracking technology, helping us to find you with minimal disruption whilst providing accurate delivery and collection information.
We have bespoke departments enabling us to look after each clients individual needs; either a single construction toilet, luxury themed toilet trailer for a festival or welfare unit for mobile workers. We are able to provide you with the very best in service from the point of enquiry to after care.
We pride ourselves on finding the solution to your project, not matter how complicated, over the years we have put toilets on the top of the “Shard ” London, in the middle of rough army terrain and luxury trailers in the most tightest of event spaces. And have had a great experience completing every single project.
All our fleet are designed to respond to your the sanitation and welfare needs and follow all Heath and Safety guidelines.
Our friendly sales team work with a wide range of customers and organisations, and no matter how big or small your operation is we welcome your call to provide the welfare solution.
Call us today on 01256 384 134 for a free quote or to place an order.