CPA Bulletin

12 CPA Bulletin > May 2021 www.cpa.uk.net Celebrating 50 Years in the Industry ASSOCIATIONNEWS: 5 “I joined Stephenson Plant Hire (SPH) on 2nd May 1971 which also coincides with my birthday. SPH formed part of the Gunn Group of Companies which was acquired by Hewden Stuart PLC in 1976. At this point my career started to take off. I moved into a sales role, firstly on a local basis before being made Regional Sales Manager and moving to National Sales. “In 1986 I was asked to open a Hewden branch in Abergele and take up the role of Depot Manager which coincided with the A55 Expressway being built across the region. In 1996 I moved to the Hewden HQ to become National Sales Manager. “My time at Hewden spanned 40 years to the day, as it was on 2nd May 2011 that my tenure as Head of Business Development came to an end. Later that year I was offered the opportunity to become a gamekeeper and not a poacher and set up my own company Delyn Consultants Limited working predominantly in the utilities sector. “During my time at Hewden in the early nineties I was asked by Ronald Stuart to join the CPA to replace himself on Council and to continue the support to the association by Hewden. Almost 30 years later, I am extremely proud to have served on Council, had the pleasure of being the CPA Chairman for six years and now have the proud accolade of being CPA President. “What a fantastic career I have had the pleasure to enjoy in our industry. Over the years this has given me the opportunity to meet and work alongside many superb people who have gone on in their own right to fantastic success and to head up their own companies. “My birthday on 2nd May 2021 marks a marvellous 50 years in the plant hire industry. Hopefully more good times are ahead and many of our youngsters will aspire through apprenticeships and education to enjoy the career I have been privileged to do so.” 2021 is not only a special year for the CPA as an association, it’s also a landmark year for CPA President Brian Jones as he celebrates 50 years working in the plant hire industry. Brian started his impressive career on 2nd May 1971 when he joined Stephenson Plant Hire in Ruabon, North Wales as a Hire Desk Clerk. We caught up with Brian who told us about his time in the industry. That founder member is Plantire of Ashford in Middlesex. Today the company specialises in the hire of construction hoists and transport platforms but it started out by hiring excavators. The second oldest CPAMember still trading is Marsh Plant who joined the association in 1950 when the business was known as Marsh Plant &Machinery Co. Another long-standing CPA Member is Clee Hill Plant who joined the CPA in 1960 when the company was trading as the Clee Hill Plant & Transport Co. We are extremely thankful for the support of our members who have helped the CPA flourish over the years. In the latter part of our history, a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) were created to ensure that equipment is operated correctly and safely on site. This has resulted in the creation of numerous standards, Technical Information Notes (TINs) and Good Practice Guides, often with HSE endorsement. These publications have helped tomake our industry a safer place for all. We’re also very proud of our work to develop apprenticeship standards, to encourage young people into the industry and our Stars of the Future apprentice and trainee awards scheme, which itself reaches its 10-year anniversary in 2022. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, we’re delighted to report that the CPA is flourishing with increasing influence and welcoming newmembers on a weekly basis, with our current membership at over 1,700. We sincerely thank you for your continued support of the CPA and wish your businesses success and longevity into the future.