We caught up with the brilliant Sam Passmore to chat about life on the Hire Desk at Celsius Hire… and it turns out there’s a lot more to the role than most people realise.
With more projects landing and more customers coming our way, we’re on the hunt for our next Hire Desk Coordinator to help keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. So we thought, who better to explain the job than someone who’s living it.
What is the role really like?
“Day to day, I’m making sure everything flows smoothly for the customer, from the moment they place an order to the moment the kit arrives on-site ready to go. I process new hires, arrange the transport, coordinate installation teams and make sure collections and off-hires happen on time.
Behind the scenes, I’m also handling supplier invoices, raising purchase orders, updating the system so everyone has the right info, and answering calls from customers, suppliers and colleagues. And yes, I take full responsibility for keeping the biscuit tin and tea and coffee supplies topped up too!”
We can confirm: Sam runs a tight ship, and a well-stocked snack tin.
The engine room of a turnkey service
It’s easy to think of a hire desk as just “processing orders,” but at Celsius Hire it’s the bit that actually holds the whole job together.
Every hire is a full turnkey service, from that first enquiry right through to collection, and the hire desk sits in the middle of it all. Kit needs to be prepped and serviced before it goes anywhere. Transport has to be arranged, whether that’s a van with a tail lift or an HGV with a HIAB for something bigger. Installation teams need briefing so they know exactly what’s landing on site and when. Contracts need to be right before a wheel even turns. And through all of it, someone’s on the phone keeping the customer in the loop.
That’s Sam’s world. She’s the one piecing it together, chasing the details, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks between a customer placing an order and a chiller or boiler being up and running on site.
Why Celsius Hire?
“It’s exciting being part of a company that’s growing this quickly. There’s real momentum here, new customers, new projects, new opportunities, and it’s great working with people I’ve worked with before who genuinely care about doing things properly. Everyone gets on so well across departments; you chat with them on the phone every day, you come together for the annual BBQ, and yes, we even dance together at the Christmas party! I’m really looking forward to what’s coming next for the company and for my own career. Bit cheesy, but true!”
Best thing about the job?
“The people, 100%. We work hard, but there’s a real team spirit; you feel like you’re part of something. And no two days are ever the same, which keeps it interesting. One minute you’re helping a customer plan a complex installation, the next you’re coordinating engineers or juggling logistics to make sure everything lands perfectly.”
Life beyond the hire desk
It hasn’t been a quiet few months for Sam outside of work either. She’s just bought her first house, officially stepping onto the property ladder, and is now busy making the place her own. New paint colours, new furniture, the lot. Big year.
And back on the Hire Desk, the team is growing. Zoe and Kirsty are now part of the crew, which means more support for customers and a bit more cover for Sam when the phones don’t stop ringing.
Tell us about Depot2Depot!
In September, the Celsius Hire team took on Depot2Depot, a charity relay walk from our Eastleigh depot all the way to our brand new depot in Heywood. 265 miles, day and night, with 32 of us walking in pairs and handing over to the next pair every 10 to 15 miles.
Five days and 26 legs later, we’d raised £4,740 for Solent Mind!
Everyone got stuck in and it was a brilliant week. Here’s how my stint went. I had the absolute pleasure of walking my stint with Jade. It was a gorgeous sunny day and our route took us through lovely little housing estates and multiple trading estates near Andover. For the final few miles we were surrounded by fields and trees, just as the sun was going down so we got to see pheasants, squirrels and SHEEP which made me very happy!!
