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Access equipment is a broad and essential category within the UK Materials Handling Equipment (MHE)
sector, encompassing powered lifts, platforms, and specialist access solutions that enable safe,
efficient working at height. Across warehouses, factories, distribution centres, and industrial
sites, access equipment plays a critical role in supporting materials handling operations, building
maintenance, inspection, and installation activities.
Gable Business Finance has deep expertise in arranging finance for access equipment
used throughout the UK materials handling sector. By structuring hire purchase, lease finance,
business loans, and refinance facilities, Gable enables businesses to invest in compliant, modern
access solutions while preserving working capital and maintaining operational flexibility.
Modern materials handling environments are increasingly complex. Warehouses are taller, racking is
higher, automation is more widespread, and infrastructure such as conveyors, cranes, lighting, and
sprinkler systems is often installed overhead. Access equipment provides a safe and controlled means
of reaching these elevated areas.
In UK warehouses and industrial facilities, access equipment is used daily to:
Without reliable access equipment, many of these tasks would require temporary scaffolding or unsafe
manual access methods, increasing cost, disruption, and risk.
The access equipment category covers a wide range of machinery, each designed to suit different
heights, environments, and operational requirements.
Scissor lifts provide vertical access and are widely used indoors within warehouses and factories.
Electric scissor lifts are particularly popular in materials handling environments due to their
compact design, low noise, and suitability for enclosed spaces.
Boom lifts allow operators to reach over obstacles such as racking, machinery, or production lines.
They are commonly used in large distribution centres, manufacturing plants, and industrial sites
where flexible reach is required.
Vertical mast lifts are designed for narrow aisles and confined spaces. These machines are ideal for
high-density warehouses where aisle space is limited and materials handling traffic must continue
uninterrupted.
Mobile and vehicle-mounted access platforms are often used in larger industrial sites and logistics
hubs where access is required across wide areas or multiple buildings.
Access equipment is used across a broad range of UK industries, including:
In each of these sectors, access equipment supports safe operations, regulatory compliance, and
business continuity.
Access equipment often represents a significant capital investment, particularly where multiple
machines are required across large sites or multi-location operations. Financing allows businesses
to deploy the right equipment immediately while protecting cash flow.
Common reasons UK businesses choose to finance access equipment include:
Hire purchase is a popular funding option for access equipment used regularly as part of core
materials handling operations. Under a hire purchase agreement, the finance provider purchases the
equipment, and the business repays the cost over an agreed term.
The business has full use of the access equipment from day one, with ownership transferring once the
final payment is made. This structure is particularly suitable for scissor lifts, boom lifts, and
platforms that form part of long-term site infrastructure.
Key benefits of hire purchase include:
Lease finance provides flexibility where ownership is not essential or where equipment requirements
may change over time. Under a lease agreement, businesses pay a regular rental to use the access
equipment for a fixed period.
Leasing is particularly well suited to:
Lease rentals are typically treated as an operating expense, helping some businesses manage tax and
cash flow more efficiently.
In certain circumstances, a business loan may be an appropriate way to fund access equipment,
particularly where multiple asset types are being purchased together or where flexibility is
required.
Business loans can be used to:
Gable Business Finance advises clients on whether asset-specific finance or a broader loan structure
is the most suitable option.
Many UK businesses already own access equipment outright. Asset refinance allows these businesses to
unlock capital tied up in existing equipment while retaining full operational use.
Refinancing can be used to:
Gable Business Finance assesses equipment value, condition, and market demand to structure refinance
solutions that support wider business objectives.
A national logistics operator required multiple scissor lifts to maintain high-bay racking and
lighting across a 24/7 distribution centre. Gable arranged hire purchase funding, allowing the
business to replace long-term hire equipment and reduce operating costs.
A UK manufacturer upgraded its access equipment following a safety audit. Gable structured lease
finance for new boom lifts, enabling rapid compliance improvements without disrupting capital
budgets.
A facilities management company expanded its access equipment fleet using a combination of leasing
and refinance, releasing capital from existing assets while supporting growth.
Access equipment plays a vital role in supporting compliance with UK health and safety regulations
relating to work at height. Modern platforms incorporate guardrails, emergency descent systems,
overload protection, and stability controls to reduce risk.
Financing enables businesses to upgrade ageing or non-compliant equipment proactively rather than
reactively.
Access equipment is fundamental to safe and efficient materials handling operations across UK
warehouses, factories, and industrial facilities. From routine maintenance to complex installation
tasks, these machines support productivity, compliance, and workforce safety.
Gable Business Finance provides specialist finance solutions for access equipment, including hire
purchase, leasing, business loans, and refinance, enabling UK businesses to invest with confidence
while protecting cash flow.
© 2026 Gable Business Finance. Specialist asset finance brokers for the UK materials handling sector.