If there's a developing crisis in construction apprenticeship recruitment, there was no evidence of it on display at the Construction Plant-hire Association’s 'Stars of the Future' awards 2023.
Just under 100 nominations were received for the CPA's popular annual event - which is a 30% increase over the previous highest total - and almost 350 people attended this year's ceremony, which took place at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre near Coventry. The 11 CPA and industry judges involved described the competition this year as the ‘most fiercely contested’ awards yet.
Stars of the Future was originally introduced to recognise outstanding Apprentice 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. The 2023 awards saw the introduction of two new categories - Young Plant Operative of the Year and Apprentice Mentor of the Year.
Stu McInroy, chief executive of the CPA said: “Having joined the CPA only recently, this was my first experience of Stars of the Future and it was a wonderful experience of excellence. Award winners received some fabulous prizes, including tool kits, training courses, iPads and an overseas trip to visit a Liebherr crane manufacturing plant in Germany, and we would like to congratulate all nominees and winners."
Stu also made a special mention of Kevin Minton, who has recently retired as CPA Chief Executive. Kevin originally introduced and developed the concept of a Stars of the Future awards programme to give apprentices and trainees the recognition they deserve and identify those who will be the industry leaders of tomorrow.
The complete list of Stars of the Future 2023 category winners and those who were highly commended is as follows:
Plant Mechanic of the Year - North
Morgan Wardle, Banks Plant Solutions, Askham Bryan College - Winner
Reece Chapman, Vp Brandon Hire Station, Myerscough College - Highly Commended
Sam Malone, David Donger Plant Engineering Services, Askham Bryan College - Highly Commended
Plant Mechanic of the Year - Midlands
Owen Van Greuning, Marubeni-Komatsu, NSCG Stafford College - Winner
Taylor Gourlay, Clee Hill Plant, NSCG Stafford College - Highly Commended
Outeman Bouchekouf, Sir Robert McAlpine, National Construction College East - Highly Commended
Plant Mechanic of the Year - South
Harry Totman, Liebherr-GB, NSCG Stafford College - Winner
Jose Claudio Santos Barros, Synergy Hire, National Construction College East - Highly Commended
Shannon Bristow, Speedy Services, Askham Bryan College - Highly Commended
Plant Mechanic of the Year - Scotland
John Murray, John Maciver & Sons, National Construction College Scotland -Winner
Paul Hunter, Garriock Brothers, National Construction College Scotland - Highly Commended
Andrew Manson, A&D Sutherland, National Construction College Scotland - Highly Commended
Plant Mechanic of the Year - Wales
Liam Burton, Phoenix Hire & Sales, Bridgend College - Winner
Samuel Davies, Flannery Plant Hire, Bridgend College - Highly Commended
National Plant Mechanic of the Year
John Murray, John Maciver & Sons, National Construction College Scotland - Winner
Harry Totman, Liebherr-GB, NSCG Stafford College - Highly Commended
Plant Technician of the Year - North
Bradley Baker, GGR Group, The Growth Company - Winner
Leon Catterall, CRJ Services, Reaseheath College - Highly Commended
Will Grice, Bachy Soletanche, Reaseheath College - Highly Commended
Plant Technician of the Year - Midlands
Jake Clark, Chris Clark Plant Services, NSCG Stafford College - Winner
Henry Dutton, Marubeni-Komatsu, NSCG Stafford College - Highly Commended
Plant Technician of the Year - South
Ciaran McHugh, Greenshields JCB, Reaseheath College - Winner
Dominic Hunt, Volspec, Reaseheath College - Highly Commended
Jai Steward, Prior Power Solutions, Reaseheath College - Highly Commended
Plant Technician of the Year - Scotland
Fraser McQueen, Marubeni-Komatsu, NSCG Stafford College - Winner
Ryan Mackie, Nationwide Platforms, National Construction College Scotland - Highly Commended
Plant Technician of the Year - Wales
Glen Gould, Envolve Infrastructure, Bridgend College - Winner
Jack Howell, Marubeni-Komatsu, NSCG Stafford College - Highly Commended
National Plant Technician of the Year
Bradley Baker, GGR Group, The Growth Company - Winner
Ciaran McHugh, Greenshields JCB, Reaseheath College - Highly Commended
Jake Clark, Chris Clark Plant Services, NSCG Stafford College - Highly Commended
Hire Controller of the Year
Teah Stapleton, Kilnbridge Construction Services - Winner
Chelsea Croom, Sunbelt Rentals - Highly Commended
Young Plant Operative of the Year
Chloe Jones, Flannery Plant Hire - Winner
Harnoorpreet Singh Gill, L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage - Winner
Plant Operative of the Year
Roksana Przybylska, L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage - Winner
Jonny Allison, L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage - Highly Commended
Plant Installer of the Year
Spencer Bond, Wolffkran - Winner
Lewis Greenall-Holloway, L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage - Highly Commended
Lifting Technician of the Year
Lee Tanner, Wolffkran - Winner
Individual Apprentice Mentor of the Year
Dean Duru, Boels Rental - Winner
Group Apprentice Mentor of the Year
Gez Bonner, L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage - Winner
College of the Year
Myerscough College - Winner
Askham Bryan College - Highly Commended
Best Personal Statement Award
Shannon Bristow, Speedy Services, Askham Bryan College - Winner
Award for Future International Development
Sebastian Asiedu, Vp MEP Hire, Myerscough College - Winner
Judges’ Special Award
Sean Palmer, Gorrel Equipment Solutions, Bridgend College - Winner
Harrison Yeoman, Boels Rental, Reaseheath College - Highly Commended
