CPA Bulletin

STARS OF THE FUTURE: 1 The future of the construction plant industry is in safe hands judging by the exceptional quality of the entrants at this year’s Stars of the Future awards hosted by the CPA. Held in association with headline sponsor A-Plant, the CPA’s Stars of the Future awards scheme identifies some of the industry’s brightest up-and-coming talent and over 700 apprentices were eligible for entry, representing companies such as GAP, Go Plant, JCB Watling, Lifterz, Liebherr, MHM Plant, Marubeni Komatsu, Nixon Hire, Riwal and Vp plc plus several independents. Now in its seventh year, this year’s awards presentation was hosted at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Fillongley near Coventry. 2019 was a landmark year as traditionally Stars of the Future has only rewarded plant mechanic apprentices but this year, two new national titles of CPA Plant Operator Star of the Future and CPA Lifting Technician Star of the Future were also up for grabs in recognition of new trailblazer apprenticeships. For the first time, employers were also invited to make nominations, in addition to colleges delivering apprentice training. The awards are open to apprentices and trainees in the construction plant sector across the UK. The CPA welcomed over 300 apprentices and trainees, family members, employers and colleges to the prestigious awards ceremony. As well as A-Plant, the event was supported by sponsors IPAF, Greenshields JCB, Snap-on Tools, Liebherr, ACOP Group and Stokey Plant Hire. The event was opened by CPA Chief Executive Kevin Minton who outlined that Stars of the Future is one of the CPA’s best and most rewarding events of the year, affording the opportunity to recognise some of the UK’s brightest and most promising talent. He stressed that we need skilled, capable and enthusiastic plant specialists ready to help us construct the built environment of the future, and that the awards recognise and reward those outstanding apprentices and learners who have shown the combination of ability and effort that makes them special, and distinguishes them as Stars of the Future. Kevin also spoke about an initiative from some apprentices to raise funds for a valuable cause. Apprentice construction plant mechanics from Askham Bryan College have been raising funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as a means of saying thank you to all the emergency services that attended a very serious road traffic collision recently. In that collision four of their classmates were injured whilst returning to college following their lunch break. The seriousness of the incident required one of the casualties to be air lifted to Leeds hospital by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the three remaining casualties were taken by road to York hospital. Over £2,000 has now been raised for the fund. The next speaker was Patrick Flannery, MD of P Flannery Plant Hire which is one Stars of the Future 2019 The sector’s top apprentices and trainees recognised at CPA Stars of the Future event 16 CPA Bulletin > August 2019 www.cpa.uk.net