CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > August 2019 19 STARS OF THE FUTURE: 3 Dan Pickles from Charles Wilson Engineers and Askham Bryan College, Michael Barton from Chippindale Plant and Myerscough College and Scott Paskin who is employed by Dewsbury and Proud and attends NSCG Stafford College. Jake Howard from P Flannery Plant Hire, who was declared CPA Plant Operator Star of the Future at the event said: “I’m over the moon to win this award. Growing up I always wanted to play with toy diggers and machines and I love my job as a plant operator. I believe that hard work pays off and small amounts of knowledge gained daily will result in me knowing the ins and outs of the whole industry.” In recognition of his award, Jake won a bespoke course supplied by ACOP Group to both learn and operate a tracked dozer and gain a CPCS red card bearing that category. On completion, he will also get the opportunity, courtesy of Stokey Plant Hire, to spend the day with the driver of and the rare opportunity to operate the Caterpillar D11T Dozer. The D11 dozer, at over 100 tonnes, is one of the largest production dozers in the world, with only two existing in the UK and both owned by Stokey Plant Hire. Niki Fitzgerald who is employed by Select Plant Hire and was declared CPA Lifting Technician Star of the Future said: “I was shocked to win this award and I feel very lucky. I’ve always been super keen and I ask a lot questions. For me, it’s all about self-improvement and I’ve previously been in the armed forces and also operated my own carpentry company. I’m now part of a huge team at Select and we really are well looked after.” Niki’s prize has been supplied by Liebherr (GB) Ltd, whereby he will have the opportunity to visit a relevant Liebherr crane manufacturing plant in Germany. Liebherr staff will accompany him and provide accommodation, whilst the CPA will arrange suitable flights. Patrick Flannery is MD of P Flannery Plant Hire which operates from seven depots across the UK and Ireland and has over 3,000 machines available for hire. The company was founded in 1972 by Patrick’s father Patrick Flannery Senior after he purchased his first JCB machine and at Stars of the Future, Patrick spoke about his father being a plant mechanic and plant operator and how he personally was involved with the business from a young age, working Saturdays and in the school holidays. Now the business has 80 experienced plant fitters and 30 apprentices and Patrick spoke about attracting those individuals who are under-represented in the construction plant sector. In the past year, P Flannery Plant Hire has seen a 7% increase in recruiting female plant operators and Patrick referred to the need to inspire a future generation. Former CPA National Star of the Future winner Campbell Howie also delivered an inspirational speech at the event and spoke about how he first got into the industry. He was brought up on a farm and always wanted to get into the plant-hire sector after helping his father mend tractors and diggers. Campbell decided on the plant mechanic apprentice route and attended National Construction College Scotland in Glasgow whilst he was employed at Muirhead Plant. He spoke about how surprised he was when he won the National Level 3 CPA Plant Mechanic Star of the Future Award back in 2017 and talked about the opportunities it has opened up for him winning the award. Campbell left his former employer in June 2018 and since then, he had a stint working in Canada before setting up his own plant repair business which he runs today. The Speakers