About Safehold
Safehold is a new and exciting brand in the height safety and lifting equipment industry. Founded by industry leaders who bring their own unique and complimentary skill set. The team have over 100 years of industry experience.
The business is led by Oliver Auston our CEO who is an industry veteran and the cofounder of Checkmate Lifting & Safety, which was sold to Pure Safety Group now T/A Guardian in 2018.
Renowned for product design and innovation while solving increasing industry challenges, this exciting new company is well placed for the future ahead.
Our Unique Offerings
- Experienced leadership team
- Industry committee positions
- Over 100 years combined lifting gear and height safety knowledge
- Technical and product support
- OEM manufacture, dual brand or rebrand
- In house design, test, and development
- UK manufacture and overseas manufacture
- Logistics support (Nationwide delivery)
- National Sales Reps and technical support
Why, How & What?
Why? - Safehold was created because of our passion for the industry. We believe there remains a place for old school values in a modern and dynamic digital world. We believe people come before process, we believe saving lives is more important than profit and we believe that customers and relationships matter, a lot.
How? - Through our knowledge and expertise, we can provide innovative products and service solutions to the height safety and lifting gear sectors.
What? - We are committed to intelligently source and distribute world class textile lifting, lashing, height safety equipment and training.
Quality development & Testing
ISO 9001:2015 quality management system. Extensive design and development capabilities using latest 3d technology.
Broad range of in-house and partnered testing including tensile, dynamic, stress and compression.
Accreditation & Insurance
ISO 9001:2015. All our safety and lifting products are independently tested by third party labs.
Global Product Liability Insurance via AVIVA (£10m)
Our Team
Oliver Auston
CEO
Oliver is the previous owner and co-founder alongside his father Paul of the UK brand of lifting & height safety equipment Checkmate, which was sold to Pure Safety Group in 2018. Oliver served as Pure Safety Group's Chief Innovation Officer for nearly 3 years. Over the past 20 years Oliver and his respective teams have developed a range of products from industrial soft goods through to complex engineered products, such as a full range of Self Retracting Lifelines, as well as bespoke machinery to enhance and automate manufacturing processes in both height safety and heavy lifting slings. With over 70 patents credited to his name during his career to date there is no doubt innovation remains his key driver and passion.
As the Winner of three Queen’s Awards for International Trade and twice for Innovation along with countless industry product and business awards over the past two decades including LEEA Manager of the Year and Product Design and Innovation Awards, around the world Oliver remains a heavyweight thought leader of our industry.
Retaining his position on the Board of LEEA and current Vice Chairman representing the Australian Lifting, Rigging and Height Safety company Ranger as a Technical Consultant. Co-founding Safehold in 2021 with longstanding friend and business associate Neil Hosken.
As the Safehold CEO Oliver will also take an active role in setting our strategic vision, product developments, sales development and marketing. Outside of industrial safety Oliver is a dedicated family man and sportsman, still wearing his Faversham Rugby Club shirt with pride.
Oliver remains an investor in several companies in the industrial safety & lifting sector and continues to grow and diversify those investments from property to technology start-ups.
Phil Chipperfield
Sales Manager
Phil is the Sales Manager for Safehold Ltd. LEEA qualified, Phil has over 40 years experience in the Lifting & Height Safety industry. Cutting his teeth at 15 on the shopfloor at Ropequip Ltd in Swanley, Kent before moving to the office and managing the hire & sales desk. Phil’s calm and knowledgeable approach enabled him to build strong relationships with customers and key vendors. Phil spent over 15 years on the road as a Technical Sales Manager for Certex Lifting UK & Thameside Lifting.
More recently Phil was the Sales Officer Manager at Checkmate, a leader in height safety and lifting equipment.
After a short break outside the industry to pursue other interests, Phil could not stay away for long and his passion for the industry saw him join the Safehold team and some familiar faces in 2022, where once more he champions the Sales Team bringing a wealth of experience and skill.
Outside of work Phil is a proud father of two children, (both of which are in the industry too, so the Chip’s did not fall too far from the block, Boom Boom!) a dedicated family man enjoying the theatre, music gigs, travel, reading, dog walking and occasionally adding new divots to many a local golf course.
Mark Hesslegrave
With over 50 years experience in the lifting and safety industry. Mark started his career at British Ropes in 1972 and is now enjoying his retirement from the industry.
Safehold is honoured to have Mark now serve as our Non-Executive Chairman where his knowledge and experience will ensure our strategic goals are managed.
Providing mentorship for Oliver and Neil and the entire Safehold team, Mark is a valuable part of our new team and we look forward to the new journey together.
