Mobile Crane Operator

Ainscough Crane Hire Limited; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

24 days holiday

Life assurance 2x salary

Pension – employer contribution

Payslips online

Ainscough Advantage

Training and development

Job summary

Ainscough Crane Hire Limited in Southampton is seeking an experienced Mobile Crane Operator to operate cranes safely on customer sites and deliver first-class service. The role requires holding a CPCS Blue Card with Mobile Crane Operator authorisation, a full UK driving licence, and HGV Class C, with a strong focus on safety and compliance.

Join a leading UK crane hire company with opportunities for career progression, continuous training, and a supportive team culture at the Southampton depot.

Qualifications

• Must hold a full UK driving licence.
• Must hold HGV Class C licence.
• Must have in-date CPCS Blue Card with Mobile Crane Operator authorisation.
• Previous experience operating mobile cranes.
• Strong understanding of safe crane operations and site safety.
• Knowledge of wind and climatic effects on cranes and loads.
• Good understanding of road traffic regulations.
• Ability to stop an operation if safety is compromised.
• Professional, customer-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Operate mobile cranes safely and professionally on customer sites.
• Set up and use outriggers correctly.
• Check rated capacity limiter and indicator; perform pre-use checks.
• Follow site rules, road regulations and company procedures.
• Liaise with Site Managers and Project Managers on arrival.
• Read crane duty charts and reports; maintain documentation.
• Assess wind and environmental conditions affecting crane/load.
• Terminate unsafe operations and take corrective action.
• Maintain equipment and undertake relevant training on crane models.
• Represent Ainscough professionally and provide excellent service.

Skills

UK driving licence

HGV Class C

CPCS Blue Card Mobile Crane

Mobile crane experience

Safety conscious

Wind/load awareness

Road traffic regulations knowledge

Decision to stop unsafe operations

Professional, customer-focused

Job description

Mobile Crane Operator

Southampton| Ainscough Crane Hire

You’ve earned your experience. Now put it to work somewhere that values it.

Operating a mobile crane is more than moving a load from A to B. It takes skill, judgement, precision and a commitment to doing things safely — every lift, every site, every time.

At Ainscough Crane Hire, our operators are trusted to deliver some of the UK’s most challenging lifting projects. From major construction sites to infrastructure projects and specialist lifts, you’ll be part of a team that plays a vital role in getting the job done safely and successfully.

We’re looking for an experienced CPCS Blue Card Mobile Crane Operator to join our Southampton depot.

If you take pride in your work, know your crane inside out and believe there’s only one way to operate — the safe way — we’d like to hear from you.

Why Ainscough?

Ainscough Crane Hire is the UK’s leading crane hire company, with a nationwide network of 30 locations and a fleet of around 400 cranes.

But being a market leader isn’t just about the size of our fleet. It’s about the people behind it.

Our operators are at the heart of what we do. They represent Ainscough on customer sites every day, bringing experience, professionalism and a commitment to safety to every lift.

Our Make the Safe Choice ethos runs through everything we do. We expect our people to speak up, make good decisions and never compromise safety — even when the pressure is on.

In return, you’ll join a business where your experience matters and where there are opportunities to develop your skills and build a long-term career.

What you'll be doing

As a Mobile Crane Operator, you’ll be responsible for operating your crane safely and professionally, while delivering a first-class service to our customers.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Operating mobile cranes in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and company procedures.
• Setting up and using outriggers correctly and safely.
• Checking the rated capacity limiter and rated capacity indicator.
• Carrying out appropriate pre-use and operational checks.
• Working safely in line with site requirements, road traffic regulations and Ainscough procedures.
• Liaising with Site Managers and Project Managers when arriving on site.
• Reading and applying crane duty charts, reports and relevant documentation.
• Assessing the impact of wind and other environmental conditions on the crane and load.
• Stopping operations and taking appropriate action if you believe conditions are unsafe.
• Following correct manual handling procedures, including the safe use of outrigger pans.
• Wearing the required PPE and maintaining high standards of personal safety.
• Completing training on specific crane models and keeping your knowledge and skills up to date.
• Looking after your crane and ensuring all relevant documentation is completed accurately.
• Representing Ainscough professionally and providing a friendly, helpful service to our customers.
• Continually looking for ways to improve how we work.

What we're looking for

You’ll already have the experience and qualifications needed to operate safely and professionally.

You’ll need:

• A full UK driving licence.
• HGV Class C licence.
• An in-date CPCS Blue Card with Mobile Crane Operator authorisation.
• Previous experience operating mobile cranes.
• A strong understanding of safe crane operations.
• Knowledge of the effects of wind and other climatic conditions on cranes and loads.
• A good understanding of road traffic regulations.
• The confidence to stop an operation if you believe it is unsafe.
• A professional, customer-focused approach.

Most importantly, you’ll take pride in what you do and understand that safety isn’t something we compromise on.

What we offer

We want our people to build a career with Ainscough, not simply take a job.

As well as being part of a highly experienced and supportive team, you’ll receive:

• 24 days annual leave, increasing by an additional day after 2 and 5 years’ service, and every 5 years thereafter.
• Group life assurance of 2 x basic salary.
• Pension – 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution.
• Online access to payslips, holidays and personal information.
• Access to Ainscough Advantage, our employee benefits platform.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.

Make the Safe Choice. Join Ainscough.

You know how to operate a crane. You know what good looks like on site. And you know that getting the job done properly starts with getting it done safely.

Now it’s time to work somewhere that recognises the experience you bring.

Ainscough Crane Hire is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We value diversity and are committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment process. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and will consider all candidates based solely on merit and business need. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.