The construction plant sector came together in an evening of industry celebration at the Construction Plant-hire Association’s (CPA) first-ever gala dinner hosted at St George’s Hall in Liverpool.
Attended by almost 300 guests from across the plant-hire and wider construction industry, the evening was packed with incredible moments – from Peter Haddock’s high-energy performance as Master of Ceremonies, to inspiring words from former football player and manager John Barnes, to plenty of laughs courtesy of comedy legend Bobby Davro. Beatbox band DUKE delivered a truly original fusion of live vocals, combining beatboxing and harmonies.
In a complete surprise on the evening, CPA Chief Executive Officer Steve Mulholland announced four recipients of Special Recognition Awards to recognise a lifetime of achievement in construction plant. CPA President Brian Jones also welcomed guests to the stunning neoclassical St George’s Hall – Liverpool’s architectural crown jewel. He said the CPA continues to innovate, reflecting the needs of the industry, and that the Gala Dinner was the latest development, enabling professionals to celebrate their achievements.
CPA CEO Steve Mulholland said: “We really are trying at CPA to pull the industry together – that’s what nights like this and the numerous events we have planned – both professional, social and a mix of the two – are all about. Ultimately, at CPA, we are here to provide a united voice supporting the sector, to do our bit to ensure that the voice of CPA and our members is heard for the good of the industry.”
On the night, Steve awarded Special Recognition Awards to Trevor Jepson of City Lifting, Josh Llewellyn of Gaia Group, Peter Brown of the CPA and Trevor Gamble of the Gamble Group.
In making the first award to Trevor Jepson, Steve praised Trevor for his “quiet passion and phenomenal knowledge of every facet of his business – not least of all his ability to keep up with the most modern technologies available in the crane sector.”
The next recipient was Josh Llewellyn. Steve said: “In my lifetime, Josh has been one of the original thinkers, continuing to be so. Starting up businesses with new ideas, equipment and services – with no sign of slowing down.”
The final two awards of the evening were made to the CPA’s Peter Brown and Trevor Gamble, in recognition of the role they played in establishing the first industry-accredited Plant Training Scheme CTA in the 1990s, which later became known as the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) – an exemplar scheme run by industry for industry.
Steve said: “Peter and Trevor ensured practical change for the betterment of Plant Operatives from within, rather than being mandated to by others. The amount of time and knowledge given selflessly by Peter, Trevor and others made it the benchmark for others to follow.”
The CPA Gala Dinner was an unforgettable night of fine dining, featuring legendary speakers and an industry celebration, accompanied by a three-course menu prepared by a team of Michelin-starred chefs.
NOCN Group was the headline sponsor for the event, the Drinks Reception Sponsor was NPORS, and Plant Planet was the Media Partner. Other organisations sponsoring the event included Ainscough Crane Hire, the Construction Equipment Association (CEA), the Construction Hoist Interest Group (CHIG), The Hire Exchange, Instagrid, JCB, and Point of Rental/Record360.
