A busy month with much activity around skills, together with a trip to Holyrood to discuss Equipment Theft – read this and much more below.
Welcome to the February edition of my CEA blog.
Skills remain a vital focus in our industry and are an essential component of the CEA Manifesto. I In January we launched our first CEA Salary Survey in direct response to member requests. I am confident that the results, which will showcase average salaries across various roles, average increases, and comprehensive benefits packages, will be valuable to all of you. If you have not already completed your survey, please do so by Thursday 20 February. You can find out more here.
February 12 sees the T Level Employer Support Conference taking place in the South West. Visit our events calendar for a full list of 2025 events.
On Tuesday 25 February, we will host a webinar to officially launch our partnership with globalbridge. This innovative digital platform, developed by teachers, empowers young adults to showcase their potential beyond just exam grades. Companies are encouraged to participate by posting vacancies, work experience opportunities, and apprenticeships to which young people can apply. The platform allows applicants to record content that highlights their skills both inside and outside the classroom, providing an excellent way to identify your next rising star. Register your place on the webinar now.
National Apprenticeship Week will be taking place from 17 to 21 February. Please share your success stories and case studies with us to celebrate your younger workforce. Additionally, we are making good progress on launching our new Young Professionals Network, with more details to follow in the Spring.
I hope you have all seen the recently published Plant Planet Feature Book, supported by the CEA, CPA, and IPAF. I am thrilled with the large feature on the CEA and PlantWorx, highlighting our strides in digital transformation, membership growth, international engagement, and industry advocacy. If you haven't obtained your copy yet, you can download it here.
Meanwhile, we continue to fight against equipment theft and the rise of fraudulent hire scams. A meeting of the CESAR Donor Committee in January showed unanimous support for the excellent work of the NCATT team, along with a commitment to ongoing financial support.
We are also preparing for a meeting with the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood later this month. The current Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act applies only to England, and we are eager to explore how similar legislation can be drafted for Scotland. We are in direct consultation with Rachael Hamilton MSP and are collaborating closely with multiple partners, including NFUM, NCATT, CPA, and HAE. This effort coincides with ongoing consultations regarding the drafting of the secondary legislation for the Act in England to ensure it is workable for all. The meeting at Holyrood presents a great opportunity to draft Scottish legislation clearly. I will keep you updated as this develops.
For those of you joining us at the UK Pavilion and/or attending bauma Munich in April, the forum details are now available to help you plan your visit effectively.
Finally, I look forward to meeting many of you at the Executive Hire Show, which takes place in Coventry on 12 and 13 February. This always proves to be a busy event, and members of the CEA team will be in attendance on both days. For those not attending don’t forget the next CEA Members’ Forum takes place on 17 and 18 March. Book your place now.