Enginuity and CEA have formed a strategic partnership to strengthen skills policy, workforce development and employer engagement across UK supply chains and SMEs.
Enginuity and the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership supporting the development of Enginuity’s Policy Centre for Supply Chains and SMEs.
The partnership combines Enginuity’s expertise in skills, workforce intelligence and policy development with CEA’s deep industry insight and employer network across the construction equipment sector. Together, the organisations will work to ensure that the voices of manufacturers, engineering businesses and supply chain SMEs are reflected in skills policy, training provision and future workforce planning.
Bringing employer voices into skills policy
Through the partnership, CEA will contribute sector-specific intelligence, employer perspectives and engagement opportunities to support The Policy Centre’s research and policy activity. The two organisations will also collaborate on policy advocacy, workforce development initiatives and industry engagement to help address current and future skills challenges facing the sector.
The partnership will also support joint engagement with government and policymakers, helping to ensure that skills policy is informed by real-world industry needs and the experiences of employers operating across the supply chain.
In addition, the collaboration will provide CEA members with access to insights, research and intelligence generated through The Policy Centre, helping employers better understand emerging skills trends, workforce challenges and opportunities to strengthen their talent pipelines.
Supporting workforce growth across the supply chain
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving workforce capability, productivity and resilience across the UK's engineering and manufacturing supply chains, while supporting economic growth through a stronger skills system.
The organisations will work together to identify practical solutions that support employers with recruitment, skills development and workforce planning, ensuring that businesses across the CEA network are equipped to respond to changing industry needs and future growth opportunities.
Nicola Dolan, Associate Director of Charity Operations and Impact at Enginuity, said: “The success of the UK's engineering and manufacturing sector depends on a skilled, adaptable workforce and policies that reflect the realities facing employers. By working closely with CEA, we can strengthen the evidence base that informs skills policy, amplify the voice of supply chain businesses and help ensure that employers have the talent they need to grow, innovate and compete. We are delighted to welcome CEA as a strategic partner of our Policy Centre for Supply Chains and SMEs.
“Through this partnership, we also look forward to supporting CEA members with access to valuable workforce insights, research and engagement opportunities that can help them navigate skills challenges and build a stronger pipeline of talent for the future.”
Viki Bell, Chief Executive Officer of the CEA, added: “Skills remain one of the biggest issues facing our members, particularly SMEs that are already dealing with day-to-day pressures around recruitment, retention, productivity and business confidence.
“Formalising our relationship with Enginuity gives us a stronger route to make sure the views of construction equipment employers are heard where it matters. Our members have first-hand knowledge of the skills gaps affecting the sector, and this partnership gives us a practical way to feed that insight into policy, research and future skills planning.
“This is about making sure support for engineering and manufacturing SMEs is based on real employer need, not assumptions. By working with Enginuity, we can help connect our members with useful programmes, research and policy work that supports the long-term strength of the supply chain.”
The collaboration will support joint research, policy development, industry engagement and communications activity, helping to build a more coherent and evidence-led approach to addressing skills shortages, supporting employers across the construction equipment sector and strengthening the future of the UK's industrial supply chains.
