The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) has formalised its partnership with Enginuity through a new Memorandum of Understanding, setting out a shared commitment to support SMEs across the engineering and manufacturing supply chain.
The agreement will see the CEA and Enginuity work together to strengthen the link between industry insight and national skills policy – with a particular focus on the needs of employers in the construction equipment sector and wider supply chain.
At the centre of the partnership is Enginuity’s policy centre for supply chain and SMEs, which has been developed to support evidence-based policy, improve workforce capability and ensure the voice of employers is properly reflected in skills planning, training provision and future policy decisions.
Under the agreement, the CEA will act as a key industry partner, bringing insights from its members and the wider construction equipment sector to inform Enginuity’s work. This will include sharing sector intelligence, supporting research and policy development, and encouraging member engagement with relevant skills initiatives, pilot programmes, workshops and briefings.
The partnership will also support joint activities on apprenticeships, workforce planning, future skills needs, and industrial growth, helping to address current and emerging skills shortages across the supply chain.
Viki Bell, chief executive officer of the CEA, said, “Skills remain one of the biggest issues facing our members, particularly SMEs that are already dealing with day-to-day pressures around recruitment, retention, productivity and business confidence.
“Formalising our relationship with Enginuity gives us a stronger route to make sure the views of construction equipment employers are heard where it matters. Our members have first-hand knowledge of the skills gaps affecting the sector, and this partnership gives us a practical way to feed that insight into policy, research and future skills planning.
“This is about making sure support for engineering and manufacturing SMEs is based on real employer need, not assumptions. By working with Enginuity, we can help connect our members with useful programmes, research and policy work that supports the long-term strength of the supply chain.”
Ann Watson MBE, chief executive officer of Enginuity, added, “Working with the CEA gives Enginuity direct access to valuable employer insight from an important part of the UK engineering and manufacturing supply chain. SMEs are central to the sector’s strength, and this partnership will help ensure their needs are better understood and reflected in future skills policy and support.” To be approved.
The Memorandum of Understanding will run for an initial period of three years and provides a framework for collaboration across policy, advocacy, research, industry engagement, communications and workforce development.
The two organisations will also explore opportunities for CEA members to participate in Enginuity-led initiatives, consultations and programmes linked to skills development and future workforce needs.
Viki Bell added, “The construction equipment sector has a strong story to tell, but it also faces very real skills challenges. This partnership gives us another way to support members, particularly SMEs, by making sure their experiences help shape the wider skills conversation.”
