CPA Bulletin

8 CPA Bulletin > November 2020 www.cpa.uk.net ASSOCIATIONNEWS: 1 ASSOCIATION NEWS Stars of the Future 2020 Held in association with headline sponsor Sunbelt Rentals , the CPA Stars of the Future awards scheme identifies some of the industry’s brightest up-and- coming talent. Over 70 nominations were received for the CPA Stars of the Future 2020 awards - the CPA’s highest ever figure in the eight years that the awards programme has been running. 2020 was a landmark year as it was the first time that the event has been hosted online. Plans were in place to host a physical Stars of the Future awards ceremony at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Warwickshire earlier this year, but sadly this was unable to take place due to restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we felt it was important to continue with the awards programme to recognise and reward the talents and achievements of apprentices and trainees in the plant sector, especially in these challenging times. Stars of the Future was originally introduced to recognise outstanding Plant Mechanics and Plant Technicians but the scope of the event has been extended in recent years to reward further job roles in the construction plant sector and recognise new Trailblazer apprenticeships. As well as Sunbelt Rentals, the event was supported by sponsors L Lynch Plant Hire, ACOP Group, Flannery Plant Hire, Liebherr (GB) Ltd, NOCN Group and Snap-on Tools . CPA Chief Executive Kevin Minton opened the online awards event before Rob Squires, CPA Training and Safety Manager, announced the winners. The winners will receive some impressive prizes, including Snap-on tool kits, week- long training courses and iPads. Stars of the Future 2020 had a two-tier judging process - the CPA selection panel and a panel of external industry-expert judges who decided the eventual winners of each category. The external judging panel included Siôn Morgan Jones of ACOP Group, Kirsty Archbold-Laming of Southern Hoist Services, Arran Willis of Liebherr (GB) Ltd, Paul Whitehead of Highways England, Tim Brownbridge of BAM Nuttall and Ed Hudson who has recently retired but continues to act as Co-Chair for the construction equipment maintenance apprenticeship working group. The National Plant Mechanic of the Year (Level 2) accolade was awarded to Adam Rees of Machinery Movements and Crane Hire and Bridgend College. The judges said they were very impressed by the high level of confidence and self-assurance that Adam showed, with his clear The UK’s most promising apprentices and trainees in the construction plant sector were announced at the CPA Stars of the Future 2020 online awards event in September.