For nearly three decades, WHC Hire Services has been quietly building something far more valuable than a plant hire fleet. A reputation. One that spans from local tradespeople and regional contractors right through to some of the UK’s largest national utility providers.
Founded in 1997 on Shrub Hill Industrial Estate in Worcester, WHC began life supplying equipment to local tradesmen and DIYers. Demand grew quickly, and within just three years the business had outgrown its first home, relocating to larger premises on Bath Road. That early growth was no accident. It was the result of a simple but unwavering commitment to quality, reliability, and genuine care for the people the business serves. Values instilled from day one by Managing Director James Clutterbuck, an engineer by trade, and ones that remain at the core of everything WHC stands for today.
By 2010, WHC had established its second depot in Tewkesbury, now the company’s HQ, strategically positioned on the border of three counties to serve a growing national client base. A third depot followed in 2017 in Chipping Norton, extending the company’s reach across Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and into North London. Today, WHC operates one of the largest independent plant hire fleets across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with over 1,000 pieces of equipment ranging from 24-tonne excavators to hand power tools. Whilst our three depots are rooted across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire, our equipment and services reach across the country, ensuring every client and contractor has access to the quality equipment and service they depend on.
Innovation has been as central to WHC’s story as growth. In 2006, James designed and patented the TRACKLOCK excavator transport system, a strapless towable trailer enabling contractors to safely load and secure excavators up to 3 tonnes for road transport. A system which is now used across the UK by major national utility providers. In 2024, WHC was awarded Highly Commended by the HAE for its in-house developed QR Enabled digital self-help service, a first-of-its-kind system allowing operators on site to instantly access machinery-specific guidance for any hired equipment. More recently, in 2025, WHC became the first UK hire company to successfully retrofit an existing mini digger with cutting-edge zero-emission technology, reinforcing WHC’s drive to provide clients with the most current, efficient, and sustainable equipment available.
But above all else, safety underpins all of it. In 2025, WHC earned its 8th consecutive RoSPA Gold Medal Award, recognised internationally as one of the highest standards of workplace safety an organisation can achieve.
WHC Hire Services is proud to join the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. As a business built on relationships, expertise, and a genuine commitment to the industries it serves, this membership feels like a natural next step. It is an opportunity to connect with like-minded organisations, share nearly 30 years of knowledge and experience, and play an active role in strengthening the regional business community that WHC has always been proud to call home.