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Aerial platforms are a vital asset within the UK Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) sector, providing
safe, stable, and efficient access for maintenance, installation, inspection, and operational tasks
carried out at height. As warehouses, factories, and distribution centres continue to expand upwards
with high-level racking, mezzanine floors, automation, and overhead infrastructure, aerial platforms
have become a core requirement rather than a specialist add-on.
Gable Business Finance specialises in arranging tailored finance solutions for aerial
platforms used across UK logistics, manufacturing, retail distribution, and industrial
environments. By structuring hire purchase, leasing, loan, and refinance facilities, Gable enables
businesses to invest in essential access equipment while preserving working capital and maintaining
financial flexibility.
Aerial platforms are designed to lift personnel, tools, and materials safely to elevated working
positions. In materials handling environments, they replace unsafe access methods such as ladders
and reduce reliance on scaffolding, which can be costly, time-consuming, and disruptive.
Across UK warehouses, factories, and distribution centres, aerial platforms are routinely used for:
As operational environments become more complex and safety expectations increase, aerial platforms
are now considered a standard materials handling asset.
Scissor lifts provide straight vertical access and are widely used indoors within warehouses and
factories. Electric scissor lifts are particularly popular due to their compact footprint, quiet
operation, and suitability for enclosed environments.
Boom lifts allow operators to reach over obstacles such as racking, machinery, or production lines.
They are commonly deployed in large distribution centres and industrial facilities with wide spans
or complex layouts.
Vertical mast lifts are ideal for narrow aisles and confined warehouse spaces, enabling safe access
without restricting materials handling traffic or pallet movement.
Aerial platforms represent a meaningful capital investment, particularly where multiple machines are
required across a site or fleet. Financing allows businesses to implement safer access solutions
immediately rather than delaying investment or relying on long-term hire.
UK businesses commonly choose finance in order to:
Hire purchase is one of the most popular finance options for aerial platforms used within the UK
materials handling sector. Under a hire purchase agreement, the finance provider funds the purchase
of the aerial platform, and the business repays the cost over an agreed term, typically between
three and five years.
The business gains full use of the aerial platform from day one, with ownership transferring to the
business once the final payment is made. This structure is particularly attractive for equipment
used regularly as part of core operations.
Key benefits of hire purchase for aerial platforms include:
Gable Business Finance frequently arranges hire purchase agreements for scissor lifts, boom lifts,
and vertical access platforms used in warehouses and factories across the UK.
Leasing provides an alternative funding solution where outright ownership is not essential or where
equipment requirements may change over time. Under a lease agreement, the business pays a regular
rental to use the aerial platform for a fixed period.
Lease finance is well suited to:
Lease payments are typically treated as an operating expense, which can provide tax efficiency for
some businesses. Gable Business Finance structures lease agreements that align rental costs with
operational usage and contract durations.
In some cases, a business loan may be an appropriate option for funding aerial platforms,
particularly where equipment is being purchased alongside other site investments or where a more
flexible funding structure is required.
Business loans can be used to:
Gable Business Finance advises on whether a structured asset finance agreement or a business loan
offers the most cost-effective and practical solution for each client’s circumstances.
Many UK businesses already own aerial platforms outright but may not realise that these assets can
be refinanced. Asset refinance allows a business to release capital tied up in existing equipment
while retaining full use of the platforms.
Refinancing aerial platforms can be used to:
Gable Business Finance assesses the value and condition of existing access equipment and structures
refinance solutions that support wider operational and growth objectives.
A national logistics operator replaced hired scissor lifts with owned platforms through hire
purchase, reducing ongoing costs and improving availability during peak maintenance periods.
A manufacturing business financed articulated boom lifts via lease finance to service overhead
conveyors and extraction systems, aligning repayments with maintenance budgets.
A facilities management contractor used a combined lease and refinance solution to expand its
access fleet while releasing capital from existing equipment.
Aerial platforms support compliance with UK health and safety regulations governing work at height.
Modern platforms include guardrails, emergency descent systems, overload protection, and stability
controls, significantly reducing risk compared to traditional access methods.
Financing allows businesses to upgrade equipment proactively, rather than waiting for incidents or
enforcement action to drive investment.
Aerial platforms are an essential component of modern materials handling operations across UK
warehouses, factories, and distribution centres. They enable safe access at height while supporting
efficiency, compliance, and operational continuity.
Gable Business Finance provides expert guidance and tailored finance solutions for aerial platforms,
including hire purchase, leasing, loans, and refinance, helping UK businesses invest with confidence
while protecting cash flow.
© 2026 Gable Business Finance. Specialist asset finance brokers for the UK materials handling sector.