Myerscough’s construction plant apprentices recognised in national ceremony

The ‘Stars of The Future’ Awards is an annual event organised by the Construction Plant-Hire Association, in conjunction with training providers from across the country who offer plant courses.

Nominees were assessed on their attitude and quality of work throughout the year, both at their college and in the workplace environment and there are separate prize schemes for Level 2 and Level 3 apprentices, at both regional and national level.

Myerscough was awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the category of College of the Year.

Myerscough College also had several regional finalists:

Plant Mechanic of the Year - South

Luke Piggott, Vp Brandon Hire Station - Highly Commended

Mike Kinnane, Sunbelt Rentals - Highly Commended    

Plant Technician of the Year - North

Thomas Joynt, Sunbelt Rentals - Highly Commended

Plant Technician of the Year - South

Thomas Fuentes-Moreno, Vp Brandon Hire Station - Highly Commended

This was the twelfth year that the CPA - the UK’s leading trade association for the plant hire sector - has hosted the awards, which rewards apprentices across a number of categories.

Apprentices are assessed throughout the academic year on their work in college and in their work environment, and the enthusiasm and commitment they bring to learning. The awards are intended to recognise and reward outstanding apprentices who not only bring ability and commitment to their learning and their work, but also possess those extra capabilities which mark them out as being not only the foundations of the future of the industry, but also potentially its leaders - the Stars of the Future.

Almost 300 people attended the awards ceremony which was hosted at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Fillongley, near Coventry, by former TV newsreader, presenter and journalist Merryn Myatt.

Stars of the Future was originally introduced to recognise outstanding Apprentice Plant Mechanics and Plant Technicians, but the scope of the event has been extended over the years to reward other job roles in the construction plant sector. It is now widely recognised as the sector’s premier event for recognising and rewarding trainees and apprentices who are earmarked as future leaders of the industry.

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 in itself 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.’’

Graham Black, Editor of Earthmovers Magazine, who was part of the external judging panel, said: “It was a genuine honour to be asked to be a CPA Stars of the Future judge once again and the quality of the candidates was exceptional this year.

‘’Our job as judges was to identify the mega stars of the future and what often separates these high-achieving individuals is their video submission that they submit as part of their nomination.’’