The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has launched its search for this year’s most promising apprentices and trainees in the construction plant industry - individuals who, according to their employers, show the potential to become the sector’s future leaders.
Entries are now open for the CPA Stars of the Future Awards 2026, and nominating has never been easier. Nominations can be made online or by downloading a traditional form from the CPA website at https://cpa.uk.net/product/stars-of-the-future/
The awards are free to enter and are open to both CPA members and non-members, including plant-hire companies, manufacturers, contractors, suppliers and others operating in the sector with apprentices and trainees in their workforce. The CPA is the largest trade association for the plant-hire sector in the UK with almost 2,000 members.
Now in its 14th year, Stars of the Future Awards have become firmly established as the leading programme to recognise the most promising apprentices and trainees in the construction plant industry.
Nominees must be enrolled in an approved apprenticeship scheme or an employer’s in-house training programme. Nominations can be submitted by either the nominee’s employer or training provider.
The deadline for entries is Friday 20th March 2026 and the winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony on Thursday 9th July 2026 at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Fillongley, near Coventry, hosted by construction industry journalist and vlogger Peter Haddock.
Awards will be made for Plant Mechanic of the Year (Level 2), Plant Technician of the Year (Level 3), Hire Controller of the Year, Young Plant Operative of the Year, Plant Operative of the Year, Plant Installer of the Year, Crane Operative of the Year, Technical Support Person of the Year, Apprentice Mentor of the Year and College of the Year. All nominees are also eligible for special awards including the Judges’ Special Award and the Best Personal Statement Award.
Steve Mulholland, Chief Executive of the CPA, said: “Recognising the significant contribution of apprentices and trainees to our industry and supporting their development has never been more crucial. Stars of the Future is a fantastic celebration of the positive impact apprentices have within our sector, and it highlights the opportunities available for others to join the plant-hire industry. Additionally, it serves as a springboard for nominees, winners and their careers.
“To all employers, not just CPA members, if you have plant apprentices in your business who you believe will be the leaders of tomorrow, please don’t hesitate to nominate them for a Stars of the Future Award. Past winners have shared that being nominated by their employer or training provider is an incredible achievement, and it truly makes a difference to both their careers and to the industry as a whole,” he added.
Stars of the Future has a two-tier judging process - the CPA selection panel and a panel of external judges from across the industry who decide the eventual winners of each category.
Last year’s Stars of the Future winners received national recognition along with an array of impressive prizes, including tool kits, machine training courses, iPads, an overseas trip to visit a Liebherr crane manufacturing plant in Germany, another overseas trip to one of Wolffkran’s manufacturing facilities in Luckau, Germany, and VIP days courtesy of JCB.
The national winners for Stars of the Future 2025 were Jack Lovesey of Liebherr-GB (National Plant Mechanic of the Year); Richard Nnadiri of Flannery Plant Hire (National Plant Technician of the Year); Kiera Beaumont of Sunbelt Rentals (Hire Controller of the Year); Molly Gill of Flannery Plant Hire (Young Plant Operative of the Year); James Grant of Flannery Plant Hire (Plant Operative of the Year); Joel Munt of L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage (Plant Installer of the Year); and Charlie Jackson of Flannery Plant Hire (Technical Support Person of the Year).
Oliver Vickery of GAP Group won Individual Apprentice Mentor of the Year and the joint winners of Group Apprentice Mentor of the Year were Paul Rawsterne of Watling JCB and Steve Mooney of Lowton Infrastructure Group. Scott Kelly of Finning UK and Ireland won the Best Personal Statement Award and the Judges’ Special Award was awarded to Kate MacLeod of CalMax Construction.
