This year’s Stars of the Future awards hosted by the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) culminated in 11 winners after a total of 80 nominations were initially received by the CPA. The awards identify some of the industry’s brightest up-and-coming talent and its future leaders across various occupations.
The winners of each national category were as follows:
- National plant mechanic of the Year (Level 2) – Bethan Whittaker of KJ Services and Bridgend College
- National plant technician of the Year (Level 3) – Morgan Wardle of Banks Plant Solutions and Askham Bryan College
- Hire controller of the year – Millie Scott-Young of Sunbelt Rentals
- Young plant operative of the year – Josh Jones of L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage
- Plant operative of the year – Reece Stray of L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage
- Lifting technician of the year – Zac Bradshaw of Commhoist
- Plant installer of the year – Hayden Chappell of Southern Hoist Services
- Individual apprentice mentor of the year – Steve Gwynn of Sunbelt Rentals
- Group apprentice mentor of the year – Dave Rogers of L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage
- Best personal statement award – Shannon Weiss of Finning UK and Finning Academy
- Judges’ special award – Tom Williams of CBL and Bridgend College
CPA president Brian Jones said: “Stars of the Future is one of the CPA’s flagship events and one that we’re very proud of. We’d like to congratulate all the nominees and winners – it’s a tremendous achievement for apprentices to be nominated by their employer or training provider for a Star of the Future award. Testimony to the success of the awards is that many previous Stars of the Future award winners have gone on to secure senior positions in the construction plant industry.”
