The Conference attracted a record number of participants with approximately 200 delegates and 26 sponsoring exhibitors.

Under the overall theme of ‘Shaping the Future: Insights for the Plant-Hire Sector’, five separate panel discussions brought industry experts together to share opinions and solutions, chaired by co-hosts Merryn Myatt, a former BBC news presenter, and construction industry journalist and vlogger Peter Haddock.

Setting the scene in the opening Conference keynote speech, Steve Mulholland, CPA’s chief executive officer, emphasised the need to combine evolution with revolution. Companies had to find new ways to attract school leavers into the industry and an ageing workforce meant people were often retiring and taking their skills with them, creating a knowledge gap.

Implementing new technology and techniques to meet Net Zero obligations also required care and understanding. Steve argued strongly for a more pragmatic, commonsense approach from governments and regulatory bodies, He said: “especially with our politicians and some Tier 1 contractors and their clients racing to mandate policies too quickly to outdo one another, and as manufacturers race to gain commercial advantages over one another, so plant hirers then have little option but to conform to these mandates. Ultimately it is the end buyer, us the hirer, who feels the pain at the sharp end.” 

Steve Mulholland added that CPA members, end users, hirers and suppliers must be able to continue producing and using fossil-fuel powered equipment while alternatives were sensibly phased in that could genuinely give the same performance as diesel equivalents, with an infrastructure capable of supplying the future fuels required. He added: “Evolving to get there without these ridiculous targets is how we will do it, not by panic and knee-jerk reactions to meet impossible political targets which suit their own agendas and that of the noisy minorities.”

In the first Conference panel session entitled ‘The Plant-hire Sector in 2024 - Where the Industry Currently Sits in the Wider Economic and Political Context’, Chris Cassley, CPA Policy Manager, and Jamie Charles, Lead Economist with Oxford Economics discussed the just-published report commissioned by CPA into the size and significance of the industry.

The report’s headline conclusions include that the GVA (gross added value) contribution of the sector to the UK economy is estimated at £14.0 billion and that it is responsible for 191,500 jobs. And £218 is added to the economy for every £100 directly generated by the plant hire industry.

Jamie Charles suggested that approximately 90% of CPA members are SMEs (small to medium enterprises). As such, they are likely to be impacted by fiscal measures such as the recently announced rise in employer National Insurance contributions. Chris Cassley said the data in the report would be invaluable in future CPA representations to government and regulatory bodies.

In the second Conference panel session, themes under the title ‘The Innovative Plant-hire Company - Insights into Current and Future Developments and Innovations in the Sector’ were discussed by four panellists: Brian Jones, CPA President; Asif Latief, Chief Commercial Officer with Speedy Hire; Kathryn Adams, Commercial Director at Prolectric Services; and Mat Llewellyn, MD of MHM Group.

Panellists agreed that AI (artificial intelligence) would be adopted more widely and that having accurate real-time data via telematics and energy management systems is becoming essential in identifying sustainable equipment solutions that are also cost-effective.

The specific challenge of ‘Expanding the Skills Base’ and of attracting, training and retaining people in the construction industry - and particularly women -  was addressed in the third Conference panel session by four panellists: Katie Kelleher, CPA Technical and Development Officer; Deb Madden, Executive Director with CITB; Carl Hassell, Chief Operating Officer at training standards organisation NOCN Group; and Beth Doel, Advanced Technical Trainer at Reaseheath College.

While there were clearly no easy answers to problems like making construction appeal to a generation largely focused on ‘living to work’ rather than ‘working to live’, suggestions included using carefully selected influencers on popular platforms like TikTok to promote career opportunities, as well as supporting awards schemes recognising women achievers as role models.

In the fourth Conference panel session entitled ‘What Next? The Challenge of Growth and Succession Planning’, participants discussed how a business might consider a transfer of ownership. Speakers included David Graham and Chris Harvey, two Co-Founders and Directors of The Hire Exchange, set up to connect buyers and sellers of hire companies; Dani Saveker, Global CEO and Founder of the GLAS Group consultancy which supports entrepreneurs; and Ian McMillan, Head of Business Development at Thomas Group which has grown by acquisition beyond its original plant-hire activity to serve other related markets.

Panellists agreed that skilled entrepreneurs might lack abilities to objectively evaluate corporate strengths and weaknesses. And many family businesses found it difficult to discuss succession strategies at all, yet it was important not to leave exit plan development too late. Expert outside help could identify possibilities and smooth negotiations between a keen seller and a willing buyer.

The final panel session considered ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Sector’ with participants comprising Steve Kerslake, Trustee and Founder of Construction Sport which enables industry workers to participate in rugby tournaments and other group activities to promote camaraderie and wellbeing; Gary Higgerson, a Charity Advocate with the Lighthouse construction charity; and Matt Hartill, Head of Wellbeing and Mental Health Support at Lyndon SGB, who told Conference delegates movingly about overcoming his own serious mental health challenges in a male-dominated, macho work culture.

The conversation showed the immense value of training people as mental health first aiders and also suicide first aiders, because they know what to look for and how to elicit meaningful responses so they can coordinate help. It also showed the ongoing importance of human interaction and intervention in a more AI-driven world.

The Headline Conference Sponsor was MHM Group, which provides energy solutions to reduce costs and environmental impact. Exhibitors at the event also included ACOP Group, Acrow Bridge, CESAR Powered by Datatag, CITB, Capja, Conquip, Explore Plant and Transport Solutions, GGR Group, Groundhog, NOCN Group, Parksafe Group, Plant Parts, Plant Planet, Plantworx, Point of Rental Software, Prolectric Services, Record360, Rouse Services, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Spartan Digital Operations, Supply Chain Sustainability School, Thomas Group, Tranzaura, VUE Group and WOLFF Onsite.