The annual competition to find the champion Plant Operator of the Year, organised by UK Plant Operators magazine, took place on Saturday Sept 6th at the CITB National Construction College in Bircham Newton, Norfolk.
With the 60 best operators selecting five challenges from the ten on offer, and with a cash prize purse of £20,000, the competition attracted a huge level of interest.
Operators winning an individual challenge were awarded a cash sum of £250 and a slate trophy. Meanwhile, the three operators who amassed the highest aggregated score from their five challenges were then set for the grand final. Dubbed the ‘Three Lane Thriller’, the three operators were then tested with three challenges on three separate machines - and in three lanes.
The winner and champion plant operator for 2025 was Liam Lambert, director of Liam Lambert Construction (pictured), while second place went to Norfolk local James Covell, owner of Kings Lynn Construction, and third place going to Lewis Jarman from Breheny Civil Engineering.