Understanding the skills opportunity is critical

Flannery Plant Hire's Aaron Davis on the importance of understanding the skills opportunity

At the recent CPA Stars of the Future Awards, Peter Haddock caught up with Aaron, who in his role as Safety and Skills Director at Flannery is passionate about the people in our sector.

Aaron was representing Flannery as one of the sponsors, but the business also had one of its most successful years ever with the national awards.

They included wins for Plant Technician Richard Nnadiri, Young Plant Operative Molly Gill, Plant Operative James Grant and Technical Support Person, Charlie Jackson.

Aaron: "Stars of the Future is a fantastic event as we get to celebrate young people, their mentors and the colleges that support them. It reflects the changes in our industry with the new Technical Support Person award highlighting the new skills opportunities that now exist.

"It's also why both industry and wider educational partnerships are so important to the future of our sector. For example, we are working with clients, educators, training boards, and the government to create opportunities from our expanding skills centres, like boot camps.

"As a sector, we also need to turn up the volume when it comes to shouting louder about the brilliant careers on offer so we can bring new people into the industry.

"And these individuals can be from all walks of life, from school leavers to career changers, veterans and those coming from rehabilitation programmes."

"Ultimately, when it comes to skills, it's all about leaving a legacy not just of projects completed but of people trained, careers started, and communities supported. If we do that, the whole sector benefits."