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Awards for apprentices and trainees

The UK’s most promising apprentices and trainees in the construction plant sector have been announced at the Construction Plant-hire Association’s (CPA) Stars of the Future 2020 online awards event.

Held in association with headline sponsor Sunbelt Rentals, the CPA’s 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, the CPA 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.

CPA Stars of the Future Winners 2020

College Awards - Plant Mechanic of the Year Winners (Level 2) - Employer and College

Brandon Welham, BJW Cranes Ltd (Askham Bryan College)
Adam Rees, Machinery Movements and Crane Hire (Bridgend College)

Connah Craw, Griffiths Hire Shops (Myerscough College)

James Benton, PSR Genie (NSCG Stafford College)

Jack Barker, Selwood Plant Hire (National Construction College East)

Scott Laurenson, EMN Plant (National Construction College Scotland)

Alisha Giles, GAP Group (Reaseheath College)
Billy Mitchell, ALC (Wiltshire College)

Jack Chubb, Phoenix Plant (Bridgend College) - Highly Commended
Corey Robinson, Watson & Hillhouse (National Construction College East) - Highly Commended
Joshua Foord, Sunbelt Rentals (Reaseheath College) - Highly Commended
Harry Cook, Balfour Beatty (Wiltshire College) - Highly Commended

Employer Nominated Plant Mechanic of the Year (Level 2)

Charlie Pablos, L Lynch Plant Hire (Citrus Training)

College Awards - Plant Technician of the Year Winners (Level 3) - Employer and College

Lea Poole, Lifterz (Askham Bryan College)

Ryan Powles, Fitzgerald Plant Services (Bridgend College)

Ross McLeod, Marubeni-Komatsu (Glasgow Kelvin College)

Matthew Gregory, William Hare (Myerscough College)
Rhys Nigel John, Marubeni-Komatsu (NSCG Stafford College)

Jack Linley, Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services (National Construction College East)

Lorne Sinclair, PMG Services (National Construction College Scotland)

Sam Jones, Ridgway Rentals (Reaseheath College)

Rhys Bridgeman, Clive Barford Ltd (CBL) (Wiltshire College)

Joe Adcock, Cementation Skanska (Askham Bryan College) - Highly Commended
Stephen Geehan, Keller Ground Engineering (National Construction College East) - Highly Commended

Employer Nominated Plant Technician of the Year (Level 3)

Mitchell Chuter, L Lynch Plant Hire (National Construction College East)

National Plant Mechanic of the Year (Level 2)

Adam Rees, Machinery Movements and Crane Hire (Bridgend College) - Winner
Alisha Giles, GAP Group (Reaseheath College) - Highly Commended

National Plant Technician of the Year (Level 3)

Rhys Nigel John, Marubeni-Komatsu (NSCG Stafford College) - Winner

Mitchell Chuter, L Lynch Plant Hire (National Construction College East) - Highly Commended

Lifting Technician of the Year

Luke Reddish, Wolffkran - Winner
Samuel Slocombe, Wolffkran - Highly Commended

Plant Operative of the Year

Danielle Taylor, Flannery Plant Hire - Winner

Chloe Rackley, L Lynch Plant Hire - Highly Commended

Hire Controller of the Year

Iveta Tomasevska, Flannery Plant Hire - WinnerB

Ben Sharp, L Lynch Plant Hire - Highly Commended

CPA Prize for the Best Personal Statement

Senghan Carr, L Lynch Plant Hire - Winner

Lee Kerr, L Lynch Plant Hire - Highly Commended

Corey Robinson, Watson & Hillhouse - Highly Commended

Judges’ Special Awards

Scott Laurenson, EMN Plant

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 Sion 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 commitment and loyalty to his employer shining through strongly. The judges were further impressed by the fact that Adam had undertaken additional training and certification for lifting operation responsibilities.

Rhys Nigel John of Marubeni-Komatsu and NSCG Stafford College was the winner of the National Plant Technician of the Year (Level 3) award. The judges stated that it was clear that Rhys has a stunning future ahead of him, with the attitude and demeanour to take on leadership roles. He was described by the judges as an exceptional young man who displayed passion and pride in not only his work but in providing help to others - whether peers or trainees.

The Lifting Technician of the Year accolade was awarded to Luke Reddish of Wolffkran. In deciding a winner for this category, the judges were highly impressed by Luke’s excellent teamwork and leadership skills and his submission showed that Luke wants to be the best lifting technician in his field. They noted that he showed excellent leadership and academic skills.

Danielle Taylor of Flannery Plant Hire was the winner of the fiercely contested Plant Operative of the Year category. The judges were in admiration of Danielle’s journey to become a plant operator, coming from finance to the construction industry. As one judge noted - ‘from the frying pan to the fire’. The judges were highly impressed that Danielle showed real commitment and passion for the job, entering a new and very different career and one inspired by her family. They were further impressed by how she actively helps to recruit new blood to the industry.

The judges were unanimous in awarding Iveta Tomasevska of Flannery Plant Hire the new Hire Controller of the Year award. They thought she was a confident, bright person with excellent communication skills and a genuine passion for the industry, always wanting to learn more about the machines she is hiring out. The judges summarised that she has great customer focus, a positive attitude that every workplace wants and predicted that Iveta will be a very bright star of the future with her drive for knowledge and continual improvement.

The CPA Prize for the Best Personal Statement was awarded to Senghan Carr of L Lynch Plant Hire. Senghan was selected to have produced the most inspiring personal statement as part of his nomination, reflecting on his apprenticeship journey and what it means to him, his employer and his family. What impressed the panel was not only the commitment, recognition and clearly-conveyed account made by Senghan of his occupation, industry and employer, but the fact that it was delivered in a very natural, humble but engaging way.

The final award of the event was the Judges’ Special Award and the winner was Scott Laurenson of EMN Plant. In deciding a worthy winner for this special award, the judges wanted to reward the apprentice who showed not only a commitment to their trade but also someone who gives something back to their industry and society in general. What marked Scott out to the judges was not only his commitment to formal training - flying from the Scottish island where he lives to Glasgow on a regular basis - requiring weeks away from home to undertake his college studies, but also a real sense of community as he is a retained firefighter in his local area.

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