Every now and then, a day out for work feels less like work and more like an adventure.
Recently I had the chance to travel down to Paramount Access Platforms with my friend Tom, who kindly came along to film the day. The reason for the visit? An invitation to try something pretty special the Platform Basket 54T, currently the largest spider lift in the world.
With only two of these machines operating in the UK, it’s not exactly something you get the opportunity to try every day.
If you’d like to see the full experience including what it’s like standing 54 metres up in a spider lift you can watch the video here:
Heading South to Paramount
The day began with Tom and me heading down south, satnav guiding us through the final few miles. I’ll admit, as we got closer to Paramount’s depot, there was a bit of nervous excitement building.
If you work around access platforms regularly, you’ll know that spider lifts come in all shapes and sizes. But the Platform Basket 54T is in a different league entirely.
And Paramount themselves aren’t just any access company either. In my opinion, they operate one of the most exciting fleets of spider lifts in the country.
But it’s not just about the machines it’s the jobs they end up doing with them. From unusual heritage work to installations in locations most people wouldn’t even imagine accessible, their equipment regularly ends up in places where traditional access solutions simply wouldn’t work.
Meeting Lee Clark (Mr Mewp)
When we arrived, we were welcomed by Lee Clark, who many people will recognise online as Mr Mewp from TikTok and Instagram.
Lee is an incredibly experienced operator, and before anyone touches a machine like the 54T, they need to understand exactly what they’re doing. Even if your nickname is “Dan the Cherry Picker Man”, you don’t just jump straight into the controls of a 54-metre spider lift.
Lee talked me through the machine, explained its capabilities, and showed me how it behaves when operating at height. Only once he was happy I understood what was going on did he let me have a go myself.
And of course, if you’re going up in the world’s largest spider lift, there’s really only one thing to do…
Take it all the way to the top.
What It’s Like at 54 Metres
Standing in the basket at 54 metres above the ground is quite a moment.
From that height, Tom looked about the size of an ant standing on the ground below.
The view was fantastic, with clear skies stretching across the surrounding area. But as anyone who works with access platforms will know, you don’t hang around too long at that sort of height, especially when the wind starts picking up.
That said, I have to admit something surprising.
Despite the enormous height, the Platform Basket 54T actually felt extremely solid in the air. In fact, it felt remarkably reassuring compared to my own machine at much lower heights.
Still, once the wind started to make itself known, we decided it was sensible to head back down.
A Look Around Paramount’s Fleet
Once safely back on the ground, Lee had another treat lined up a proper tour of the Paramount fleet.
The first thing that struck me was just how immaculate the machines are.
And that’s not because they’re sitting idle. These machines are out working on projects across the country. They simply look this good because the people who run them genuinely take pride in their equipment.
Paramount currently operate around 55 spider lifts, ranging from compact 15-metre machines right up to giants like the Platform Basket 54T.
Some of the machines are brand new, while others are much older — one of them is around 30 years old. But it’s still there because it performs a job that many modern machines simply can’t replicate.
That’s something you see quite often in specialist access work: the right machine isn’t always the newest one it’s the one that solves the problem safely and efficiently.
Specialist Access Work
What really sets Paramount apart is the type of work their machines are used for.
Their fleet regularly tackles projects involving:
- extremely narrow access routes
- delicate floors in historic buildings
- extreme outreach requirements
- unusual or restricted working environments
Alongside spider lifts, they also operate negative reach booms and truck-mounted platforms, allowing them to solve access problems that would otherwise be impossible.
It’s a great reminder that in this industry, success isn’t just about having the biggest machine. It’s about having the right equipment, the right planning, and the right people operating it.
The same principle applies in my own work too. Many jobs whether it’s inspections, chimney maintenance, or roof access rely on safe positioning using a cherry picker rather than scaffolding. If you’re interested in how that works in practice, you can read more about access using a cherry picker here:
https://dji-uk.co.uk/cherry-picker-hire
Similarly, when carrying out tasks like roof repair work, having proper access equipment can make the difference between a straightforward job and a complicated one:
https://www.dji-uk.co.uk/roof-repairs
Experience Makes the Difference
Another thing that quickly becomes clear when you speak with the Paramount team is the depth of experience behind the machines.
Lee, the company director, has been involved in the access industry since 1997.
That kind of experience means that when he looks at a project, he can often immediately identify:
- which machine is required
- how it will access the site
- how the job will likely unfold
Because their operators are trained in-house by experienced professionals, the whole team has a strong skill base when it comes to working safely at height.
That combination good machines and skilled operators — is what allows them to tackle some of the most interesting access jobs in the country.
A Brilliant Day Out
All in all, visiting Paramount was a fantastic experience.
Getting the opportunity to see the fleet up close, talk with the team, and operate the world’s largest spider lift was something I won’t forget anytime soon.
If you’d like to see exactly what the day looked like including the moment we took the Platform Basket 54T all the way up to full height you can watch the video here:
And if you enjoy this kind of content, feel free to subscribe to the channel. I regularly share videos about roof work, chimney repairs, cherry picker jobs, and the unusual situations you encounter when working at height.
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About the Author
Danny Iwanejko is the owner of DJI High Access Services, a Nottinghamshire-based company specialising in high-access maintenance using spider cherry pickers. Through his Dan the Cherry Picker Man YouTube channel and social media platforms, Danny shares real-world insights from working at height, including roof repairs, chimney work, access challenges, and specialist equipment. His content combines practical experience with behind-the-scenes looks at the machinery and techniques used in the access industry.
