MORE than 300 guests gathered at St George’s Hall in Liverpool for the Construction Plant-hire Association’s (CPA) Gala Dinner 2026.
The event brought together members, industry colleagues and friends for a special 85th anniversary celebration, recognising the contribution of members and marking the announcement of a new industry initiative, the Construction Growth Coalition.
The CPA’s second annual black-tie Gala Dinner provided an opportunity to reflect on the association’s history while looking ahead to the future.
Peter Haddock, construction plant hire content creator and industry commentator, acted as master of ceremonies, while entertainment was provided by England’s rugby World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson and comedian Mick Miller. CPA president Brian Jones and chief executive Steve Mulholland also addressed guests.
Twelve businesses were recognised with Long-Serving Member Awards for their commitment to the association over the decades. These were Marsh Plant Hire, Bennie Plant, Schwing Stetter (UK), Grant Plant, Clee Hill Plant, Balfour Beatty Rail Plant, Welch’s Crane Hire, VolkerStevin Specialist Businesses, Amey Fleet Services, Martello Plant Hire, D Morgan plc and Freemans of Telford.
Special mention was also made of the Construction Sport team, comprising Steve Kerslake, Geoff Vincent and Ross Noakes, who cycled 240 miles over three days from the CPA’s HQ in London to the Gala Dinner in Liverpool to raise funds in support of the construction industry’s health and wellbeing. Donations can still be made via Construction Sport’s JustGiving page.
Guests were shown a trailer for The Truth Behind Mental Health in Construction, a documentary being produced by The Build Network in partnership with the CPA. The project aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by those working in the industry and the need for greater support and change.
Following the Gala Dinner, CPA chief executive Steve Mulholland said, “CPA is 85 years old. What a pleasure and what an honour it is to lead such an organisation. This has been our busiest year yet, and the team has worked incredibly hard to continue representing and supporting our members. It was fantastic to bring more than 300 people together at St George’s Hall to celebrate this milestone and recognise the businesses that have supported the CPA over many years. I’d like to thank everyone who attended and everyone who helped make the evening such a success.”
