Members’ Forum reflects strong turnout, sharp insight and a positive mood

More than 55 members joined the CEA Members’ Forum in Leicester on 25 March for a day of market updates, workforce insight, technical discussion and a look ahead to PlantWorx 2027.

The CEA Members’ Forum on 25 March got underway the evening before, with members gathering in Leicester for an informal dinner at San Carlo. With excellent Italian food, good company and plenty of conversation, it made for a lively and enjoyable start and set the tone well for the forum the following day.

Viki Bell, CEO of the CEA, opened the forum by welcoming guests from across the country. With representatives from more than 55 member companies in attendance, the event drew an excellent turnout. She began by introducing the CEA’s new Commercial Manager, Sharon Mughal, and took a moment to share some personal team news, congratulating colleagues David Biggins, Marketing & SEO, and Beth Abbott, Head of Marketing, on the arrival of their new babies. Viki also thanked the Trelleborg Group for hosting the forum and TotalEnergies for sponsoring lunch.

Following her welcome, Viki updated delegates on the sale of the PlantWorx Construction Exhibition to the Nineteen Group and gave a broader round-up of CEA activity. She highlighted that it had been a record year for the Association, with membership reaching its highest level to date, alongside the introduction of a wide range of new member benefits.

She also outlined the new HR partnership with Robinson Grace HR, noting that it would be particularly valuable for smaller companies without in-house HR support.

Next to speak was Chris Sleight, Managing Director of Off-Highway Research and a CEA board member, who shared his report from ConExpo. He described it as a positive and upbeat show with a genuinely optimistic atmosphere. AI was the main talking point throughout the event, while electrification had a far lower profile than some may have expected. Chris noted that the US market still had a more traditional 'traditional fuels' feeling, although there was greater emphasis on electric machines among Chinese OEMs. While there were fewer product launches than usual, several business deals were announced, and he felt it was an excellent event with a strong sense of confidence.

Simon O’Connor, Managing Director of Elite Consultancy Network, and Chris Rowlands, Group COO, gave delegates an overview of the Elite salary survey. Their presentation painted a picture of a market that remains very busy in the UK, with overseas activity also beginning to pick up. Overall, the message was that there are strong opportunities across the sector and that the market remains buoyant.

One of the most interesting themes to emerge was the continued shift away from salary alone as the primary driver of staff attraction and retention. Benefits, culture and the wider employment package are becoming increasingly important, with pension provision and sick pay among the most valued. While salaries continue to rise, with some operational roles commanding strikingly high pay, there was a clear sense that people also want flexibility and, above all, to feel valued. For members, the survey offers useful insight into how expectations are changing across the workforce and why retention is becoming a more complex issue.

Building on that theme, Viki Bell provided a workforce update, including the CEA’s partnership with PG Global. She explained that the Association is careful and selective about the organisations it works with, and highlighted the importance of practical support in areas such as mental health and wellbeing. She noted that tools and support services of this kind can be especially valuable for smaller businesses, where internal resources may be limited.

Simon also made the point that, as an industry, construction equipment does not always speak loudly enough about the opportunities it offers. He said the sector needs to do more to improve its marketing message and better promote itself to future talent. In that context, he credited Primary Engineer and similar initiatives for helping introduce children and young people to the industry at an early stage, arguing that more organisations should get involved.

Jeff Baker from Enginuity was next to speak and delivered an engaging presentation focused on the skills gap and the wider competence challenges facing the sector. He explained that Enginuity, a charity working across engineering skills, is committed to helping employers tackle these issues in practical ways and noted that the organisation has an all-female board.

Jeff also touched on the findings of Enginuity’s SME Snapshot Survey, which was due to be released the following day, 26 March. While he could not go into full detail ahead of publication, he gave a clear sense of the pressures facing employers. SMEs are continuing to struggle to recruit the right people, and many believe the UK labour market is becoming increasingly unattractive. He also pointed to the ongoing mismatch between the number of apprenticeship opportunities and the wider understanding of where engineering and technical careers can lead, arguing that the maths simply does not add up.

A key part of his message was that outdated perceptions still hold the sector back. Too many young people continue to see engineering and plant-related industries as dirty or unattractive, while schools do not always steer pupils towards the full range of available opportunities. Jeff made the case for much closer engagement with education, better support for schools, and more willingness to release and back young people entering apprenticeships.

He stressed that Enginuity is there to help. From apprenticeships and mentoring to practical advice for SMEs, the organisation offers support free of charge and wants more companies to take advantage of it. Delegates were encouraged to read the full survey now it has been published, as it provides a fuller picture of the recruitment and skills challenge.

Jeff also highlighted Enginuity’s broader work in mentoring and leadership development for companies, including programmes designed to support future skills, leadership, and business growth. He finished by talking about a new book, Girls Can Engineer, which he hopes to place in every primary school. Members interested in getting copies were encouraged to contact Enginuity directly.

The forum also gave members the chance to hear brief introductions from newer CEA members. Adam Giles, Business Development Manager at Ibcos Computers, outlined the company’s dealership software offer and its focus on helping businesses manage areas such as stock, service, sales and accounts more efficiently. Leo Copping, Field Sales Manager, and Chris Cashman, Business Development Manager, then introduced Kramp, highlighting the company’s role as a major parts and service partner across the agricultural and construction sectors, with a strong focus on availability, delivery and customer support.

Although Dale Camsell, the CEA’s Senior Technical Consultant, was unable to attend in person as he was in Brussels for meetings, he provided a video update covering a wide range of technical and regulatory developments. His presentation underlined just how much is currently moving across standards, compliance and wider European activity, with members encouraged to keep a close eye on the detail. Given the breadth of material covered, it is difficult to do it full justice in a short report, so only a brief mention is included here; members are advised to refer to the full slide deck for the complete update.

Adrian Williams, Head of Engineering EMEA, then gave a brief introduction to Trelleborg, outlining the company’s wider work in engineered polymer solutions and its role in supporting OEMs with antivibration technologies for construction equipment and other demanding applications. His presentation highlighted the importance of durability, operator comfort and component protection, particularly as machine design continues to change.

After that, delegates enjoyed an outstanding lunch before many took the opportunity to join a factory tour, which was extremely well received. Thanks again go to Trelleborg for hosting the forum and arranging such an enjoyable and informative visit.

Paul Lyons then delivered the CEA’s UK market update, giving members a detailed picture of current trading conditions. His presentation showed that while construction output has continued to grow overall, the outlook has softened, with weaker economic growth, political uncertainty and international pressures all weighing on confidence and investment. He noted that equipment sales remain stable at modest levels, with telehandlers and crawler excavators performing relatively well, while sales of electric machinery remain subdued. A key reason for that, he said, is the slow pace of take-up in the UK, driven in part by weak infrastructure and a lack of incentives seen in some other markets. Members are encouraged to refer to the full slide deck at the end of this report for the complete market update.

Chris Sleight then returned to the stage to give delegates a global market update, including the news that Off-Highway Research has now extended its coverage to Mexico, taking its analysis to around 80% of global equipment sales demand. His presentation painted a mixed picture. Across many regions, markets are still feeling the effects of inflation, high interest rates, labour shortages and wider geopolitical uncertainty, all of which continue to weigh on confidence and housebuilding activity. Europe remains under pressure, with housebuilding at a 10-year low, while North America is broadly flat and watching closely to see whether growth in the second half of the decade will be modest or stronger. Chris also pointed to India as a strong long-term growth story, despite a short-term dip linked to new emissions rules, and to China as a market still dealing with the impact of its property downturn, although electric equipment continues to perform strongly there. As with several of the day’s presentations, the full details are best explored in the slide deck.

Closing the day, Nick Davison, Event Director at Nineteen Group, gave delegates an overview of PlantWorx 2027 and its new home at the NEC Birmingham. He spoke positively about the move, highlighting the venue’s central location, strong transport links, proximity to the airport and proven infrastructure for major events. Nick explained that the new format will combine indoor and outdoor space, while keeping live demonstrations and working equipment at the heart of the show. He also confirmed that dates have already been secured for the next three shows (2027, 29 and 31) and that PlantWorx will run alongside the InstallerSHOW in those years, creating new opportunities to broaden its reach. While the event will have a fresh feel, with ambitions for a more energetic and festival-style atmosphere, he was clear that CEA members will continue to benefit, including through discounted rates. He encouraged exhibitors and members to get in touch to discuss the opportunities available and left delegates with a strong sense of confidence about the future of PlantWorx.

Bringing the day to a close, Viki Bell thanked everyone who had joined the forum in Leicester, as well as Trelleborg for hosting and TotalEnergies for sponsoring lunch. It was a fitting end to a day that reflected the strength of the CEA membership, the value of bringing members together, and the importance of sharing insight on the issues shaping the sector.

Delegates were also reminded that the next Members’ Forum will be hosted by ABB on 7 and 8 July 2026 at Fairham Business Park, Nottingham 

The full presentation can be viewed at the link below 👇

 https://thecea.org.uk/members-forum-documents