CPA Bulletin

CPACONFERENCEREVIEW2019: 5 Michael Gregory also testified to the effectiveness of the CESAR scheme and confirmed that JCB Insurance, amongst many other insurers, will give a discount if equipment is CESAR protected. Kevin also talked about criminals specifically targeting classes of machinery that are less likely to be tracked and he referred to the fact that some stolen equipment may be exported. Plant equipment stolen from the UK is typically found in Eastern Europe, as well as destinations further afield, including Australia, South Africa and places of conflict such as Syria. Once at its final destination, stolen equipment will be disposed of into the used equipment market in that country. Ernie Locke added a perspective from the police and talked about his involvement in Operation Opal, a newNational Intelligence Unit for serious organised crime carried out by criminals with cross border mobility. He talked about the unit’s focus on attacks on ATM cashpoints, for which construction plant is often used to facilitate these attacks. Ernie also talked about the desire to work more closely with the construction industry and referred to the need to have a strong communication network, whereby information and best practice could be shared. The final session of the day concerned the CPA skills strategy and on the panel were Paul Skitt , Managing Director of Business and Skills Support, the CPA’s Policy Manager Chris Cassley, Paul Whitehead , Category Manager at Highways England and Mark Warrilow , Skills Stakeholder Manager at HS2. Paul Skitt and Chris Cassley opened the session by delivering a few PowerPoint slides indicating why a skills strategy is needed. Paul outlined that there are significant skills and employment shortages in recruitment and retention, particularly for Plant Operators, Plant Mechanics, Hire Controllers, Plant Managers and HGV Drivers. Furthermore, the current challenges are set to become more acute. HS2 and Highways England are heavily involved with the CPA on skills work and Chris Cassley delivered data from HS2 indicating the shortage of Plant Operators and Plant Managers. Highways England data also highlighted future demand for these occupational groups. Paul Skitt and Chris Cassley said the research showed that Plant Operators are the key significant employment and skills challenge and that attraction into the industry remains an issue. The ageing workforce is a problem and improved articulation of a career pathway is required, as well as improved connectivity between employers and the education and training sectors. Strategies to support these challenges include enhancing the profile of the construction plant sector, attracting new entrants into the industry, the introduction of trailblazer apprenticeships which the CPA is heavily involved in, provision of training providers at both a local and national level and ensuring that CPA members can access high quality training. Highways England’s Paul Whitehead praised the CPA for taking the lead on carrying out work on the skills agenda and highlighted the need to entrench the understanding that having a job in the construction plant sector is a long-term, valuable career path. Mark Warrilow added to the discussion by outlining HS2’s skills strategy and work being carried out to make the construction sector more inclusive. Mark referred to HS2’s recent work with women in construction, whereby 17 women started on a four week work placement with HS2. By the end of the placement, six women were offered permanent employment and thereafter a further seven of the women were also offered employment. Merryn Myatt wrapped up the final panel session and closed her part in the conference by stating that although she was a newcomer to the construction plant sector, she was ‘blown away by the forward thinking nature and enthusiasm of the industry’. Kevin Minton officially closed the conference and in his summing up he reiterated that the sector has demonstrated resilience and thanked Merryn for her superb hosting skills and intelligent and professional handling of the speaker sessions. Kevin confirmed that the CPA will be hosting a conference again in 2020 and encouraged delegates to feedback their thoughts about this year’s event. Subsequent feedback about the CPA Conference has confirmed that many delegates thought the 2019 conference was the best yet. With many thanks to the headline sponsor - the official CESAR Scheme and Datatag - and all other exhibitors involved in the event, namely BlokCam Ltd; GGR Group; GenQuip Groundhog; Industrial Power Units; JCB; Lighthouse Club; Machinery Trader Resale Weekly; MPS Crane Operators; NOCN Group; Pheonix International; Plant Planet; Point of Rental; Radius NFT; Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA); Thwaites; UK Civil Aviation Authority and Webster Technologies . Without their support, the CPA could not host events of this stature. www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > November 2019 19 We are pleased to confirm that the CPA Conference 2020 will be held on Thursday 15th October 2020 , once again at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre near Coventry. More news to follow but if you are interested in exhibition opportunities, please contact Lisa Collins on e-mail: lisa@lisacollinscommunications.co.uk or Tel: 07968 840390 .