THE Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has announced the panel speakers and topics for this year’s CPA Conference, which will be held on November 7 at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre near Coventry.
The theme of the event is ‘Shaping the Future: Insights for the Plant-hire Sector’. The conference will be co-hosted by former TV presenter, newsreader and journalist Merryn Myatt, and Peter Haddock who is well known throughout the plant industry as a content, social media and PR specialist, journalist and vlogger.
A number of panel speakers will discuss how organisations can shape the future of the plant hire sector. Merryn and Peter will lead a number of interactive debates discussing topics including innovation, decarbonisation, digitalisation, skills, business growth, succession planning and mental health and wellbeing in the construction sector.
New CPA chief executive Steven Mulholland will welcome attendees and deliver a keynote speech. The panel speakers taking part in the conference are Andrew Egglesden (group equipment deputy director at Soletanche Bachy); Beth Doel (advanced technical trainer at Reaseheath College); Brian Jones (president of the CPA); Carl Hassell (group director of skills at NOCN Group); Chris Cassley (policy manager at the CPA); Chris Harvey (co-founder of the Hire Exchange); Dani Saveker (CEO and founder at Glas Method); David Graham (co-founder of the Hire Exchange); Deborah Madden (engagement director at CITB); Ian McMillan (head of business development at Thomas Group); Jamie Charles (lead economist at Oxford Economics); Jamie Morris (technical and MD at Gaia); Katie Kelleher (technical and development officer at the CPA); Kathryn Adams (commercial director at Prolectric); and Steve Kerslake (trustee and founder at Construction Sport).
Delegate tickets can be booked online at https://www.cpa.uk.net/events/cpa-conference-2024 and CPA members can take advantage of a 50% discount on the standard ticket price of £80 plus VAT by emailing enquiries@cpa.uk.net for the discount code.
There will be a total of five panel debates throughout the day, notably:
- Panel Session 1: The Plant-hire Sector in 2024 – Where the Industry Currently Sits in the Wider Economic and Political Context
- Panel Session 2: The Innovative Plant-hire Company – Insights into Current and Future Developments and Innovations in the Sector
- Panel Session 3: Expanding the Skills Base – Where do we Stand in the Battle for Skills, What Progress is Being Made in Attracting New People to the Industry – Especially Women?
- Panel Session 4: Growing your Business – What Next? The Challenge of Growth and Succession Planning
- Panel Session 5: Focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Sector
The conference will run alongside a small, targeted exhibition. Confirmed exhibitors at the event so far include headline sponsor MHM Group, plus ACOP Group, Acrow Bridge, CESAR Powered by Datatag, CITB, Capja, Conquip, GGR Group, Explore Plant and Transport Solutions, Genquip Groundhog, Parksafe Group, Plant Planet, Plantworx, Point of Rental Software, Prolectric, Record360, Rouse Services, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Spartan Solutions, Thomas Group, VUE Group and WOLFF Onsite.
