Professional contract lift services across London, Surrey and Kent, with free site surveys, lift planning, RAMS and qualified lifting personnel. Practical support for planned and short-notice lifting projects.
Contract Lift Services for Planned Lifting Operations
Shoma Crane Hire provides contract lift services for commercial, construction and private projects that need a more managed lifting solution. Depending on the requirements of the job, our team can support the project from the initial site assessment through lift planning, documentation, equipment selection and the lifting operation itself.
A contract lift is useful when the project requires more than simply supplying a crane and operator. The exact scope is agreed around the load, access, lifting radius, site conditions and project requirements, helping ensure the lifting arrangement is planned around the job rather than treated as a standard hire.
If you are unsure which type of crane or lifting arrangement is suitable, we can start with a free site survey and discuss the project requirements before the lift is confirmed.
What Is Included in Our Contract Lift Service?
The requirements of a contract lift vary from project to project. The service can include the following elements where they are required for the planned lifting operation.
Free Site Survey
We can carry out a free site survey to review the working area, access, vehicle or crane positioning, lifting radius and final placement requirements. The survey helps identify practical site constraints before the lifting plan is finalised.
Lift Planning & RAMS
The lifting operation can be supported with a lift plan together with the relevant risk assessment and method statement (RAMS). The documentation is prepared around the actual job, equipment, access conditions and lifting requirements.
Crane & Equipment Selection
The crane or lifting equipment is selected according to the load, lifting radius, access, working area and placement requirements. Shoma Crane Hire can support contract lift projects using HIAB, spider crane and mobile crane options, depending on the job.
Qualified Crane Supervision
Where required for the lifting operation, qualified crane supervision can be provided to support the safe coordination of the work on site.
Slinger / Signaller Support
Qualified Slinger / Signaller support is available for contract lift projects where the lifting operation requires controlled communication, load attachment and guidance during the lift.
Insurance Cover
Contract lift work is supported by appropriate insurance cover. The exact project scope, equipment and lifting arrangements are confirmed as part of the planning process before the work is carried out.
Short-Notice Contract Lifts
Short-notice contract lift enquiries can also be considered. Where the project can be accommodated, the required site visit, lift planning and documentation still need to be completed before the lifting operation proceeds.
Contract Lift vs Crane Hire: What Is the Difference?
Crane hire and contract lift services are not always the same arrangement. With straightforward crane hire, the customer may retain more responsibility for organising and managing elements of the lifting operation, depending on the agreed scope of the hire.
A contract lift is structured around a more managed service. It can include site assessment, lift planning, RAMS, suitable equipment and qualified lifting personnel as part of one coordinated lifting arrangement. The exact responsibilities and scope should always be agreed for the individual project before work begins.
If you are not sure which option is appropriate, contact Shoma Crane Hire with the project details and we can discuss the most suitable approach.
Crane Options for Contract Lift Projects
Different lifting projects require different equipment. Shoma Crane Hire can support contract lift requirements using several crane types, allowing the lifting approach to be matched to the load, access and site conditions.
HIAB Contract Lifts
A HIAB lorry can be a practical option where the project requires both transport and lifting. The same vehicle can collect, carry, unload and place suitable loads, helping reduce the need to arrange separate transport and lifting equipment.
Spider Crane Support
Spider cranes can be considered for projects where their compact setup and lifting characteristics are better suited to the working area than a lorry-mounted crane. Equipment suitability is confirmed after reviewing the site and lift requirements.
Mobile Crane Support
For projects requiring different lifting capacity, reach or site setup, mobile crane support can also be arranged as part of the contract lift solution. The appropriate crane is selected around the requirements of the planned lift.
Contract Lift Applications
Contract lift services can support a wide range of lifting requirements where the project benefits from coordinated planning, suitable equipment and qualified lifting personnel.
Construction Materials & Steel
Planned lifting and placement of steel, construction materials and other heavy site loads where access, positioning and lifting radius need to be assessed before the work is carried out.
Machinery & Equipment
Contract lift support for machinery, plant and other heavy equipment that needs to be lifted, moved or positioned as part of a commercial, construction or private project.
Containers & Heavy Loads
Lifting, relocation and placement of containers and other heavy or bulky loads, subject to the weight, dimensions, lifting radius, site access and equipment required for the job.
Commercial & Site Lifting
Managed lifting support for commercial premises, construction sites, yards and other working environments where the lifting operation needs to be planned around site constraints and project requirements.
How We Plan a Contract Lift
A well-planned lift starts with accurate information about the load and the site. There is no single public weight or radius limit that applies to every project because the suitable equipment depends on the actual lifting conditions.
Load Details
Where possible, provide the approximate weight, dimensions and photographs of the load. If some information is not available, send what you know and the remaining details can be discussed during the planning process.
Access & Working Area
Site access, available working space and crane positioning can affect the equipment and setup required. Gates, narrow roads, restricted working areas, ground conditions and surrounding obstacles may all need to be considered.
Lifting Radius & Placement
The distance between the crane and the final placement point affects lifting capacity and equipment selection. The site survey helps assess the required reach and the most practical crane position for the job.
Lift Plan & Documentation
Once the project requirements are understood, the lifting operation can be planned with the relevant lift plan and RAMS before the work proceeds.
Why Choose Shoma Crane Hire for Contract Lift Services?
Free Site Survey
A free site survey can be arranged to help assess the access, working area, lifting radius and equipment requirements before the contract lift is confirmed.
Qualified Lifting Personnel
Our team holds relevant ALLMI and CPCS qualifications, including Crane Supervisor and Slinger / Signaller competencies for lifting operations where those roles are required.
Multiple Crane Options
With HIAB, spider crane and mobile crane options available, the lifting equipment can be selected around the specific load and site requirements rather than relying on one type of crane for every project.
Short-Notice Availability
Where availability and project conditions allow, short-notice contract lift enquiries can be accommodated after the necessary survey, planning and documentation have been completed.
Direct, Practical Support
Speak directly with the Shoma Crane Hire team about the load, site access and placement requirements. We can review the information available and explain the next steps needed to plan the lifting operation.
Contract Lift Services Across London, Surrey & Kent
Shoma Crane Hire provides contract lift services across London, Surrey and Kent, with support also available across other parts of the South East depending on the project. Site access, travel, crane requirements and availability are reviewed for each enquiry.
For location-specific HIAB services, you can also explore our London and Surrey service pages, or contact the team with the project postcode to confirm coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a contract lift?
A contract lift is a managed lifting service that can include site assessment, lift planning, RAMS, suitable lifting equipment and qualified personnel as part of the agreed project scope. The exact arrangement depends on the requirements of the lift.
Do you provide a free site survey for contract lifts?
Yes. Shoma Crane Hire can provide a free site survey to review access, crane positioning, lifting radius and other practical requirements before the lifting operation is planned.
Can you provide Slinger / Signaller and Crane Supervisor support?
Yes. Qualified Slinger / Signaller and Crane Supervisor support is available where those roles are required for the planned lifting operation.
What cranes can be used for a contract lift?
Depending on the project, Shoma Crane Hire can support contract lifts using HIAB, spider crane and mobile crane options. The equipment is selected according to the load, lifting radius, access and working area.
Can you arrange a contract lift at short notice?
Short-notice enquiries can be considered subject to availability and the project requirements. The necessary site survey, lift planning and documentation still need to be completed before the lift proceeds.
Is there a maximum weight or lifting radius?
There is no single public limit that applies to every job. The suitable crane and lifting arrangement depend on the load, radius, access, working area and site conditions. A site survey helps determine the appropriate equipment for the project.
Are your contract lift operations insured?
Contract lift work is supported by appropriate insurance cover. The scope of the lifting operation and project requirements are confirmed during the planning process.
Do you cover London, Surrey and Kent?
Yes. London, Surrey and Kent are key service areas for Shoma Crane Hire, with other South East locations considered depending on the project and availability.
Request a Contract Lift Quote
Planning a lifting project that requires survey, lift planning and qualified lifting personnel? Send us the load details, site or project postcode and any information you already have about access and placement. If some technical details are not yet known, contact the team and we can discuss the next steps.
