A South Australian crane company is looking to hire 150 British crane operators to work and live in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

MAX Services' Lou Sapio said the company was looking to hire experienced British crane operators who could move to places like Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Whyalla.

Mr Sapio said in Australia there was a significant lack of skills to operate larger and more expensive cranes.

"We're looking for operators to operate big equipment, so we're talking 150 to 200-tonne at a minimum … we're also looking for others who can operate cranes up to 1,200 tonnes," he said.

CBCH Crane Hire owner and operator Chris Birch said he had noticed a years-long decline in highly skilled crane operators, which he attributed to fewer younger people entering the industry and skilling up in time to replace retiring veteran operators.

He said the lack of skilled operators who could operate larger and more expensive machines was impacting on his ability to run his business.

"It means I have to put the boots on and try to run the company and drive at the same time," Mr Birch said.

Mr Sapio said it was unfeasible to hire domestically.

"I'm not confident at all [that we could hire that many Australians], otherwise we wouldn't be going down this path," he said.

"A few years ago … we did an Australia-wide recruitment process … and I think out of all the applications we got that down to 20 candidates, interviewed seven, hired five and out of all that I think one is still with the business."

To convince British crane operators to move their whole lives to the other side of the world, Mr Sapio said the company tried to sell the Upper Spencer Gulf lifestyle to potential recruits.

"You've got great fishing, great tourism, you've got a lot of social events and most pockets are very family orientated, community centred," he said.