Face to Face with Paul Taylor of NOCN.
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We recently caught up with Paul Taylor, Head of Card Schemes at NOCN Group, at finals day of Super Trowel 2026. In an exclusive interview Paul gave us further insight into Groups objectives.
UKPOM.
Paul, tell me a little about your role, why NOCN are here at Super Trowel and what you’re hoping to achieve today.
PT
Yes, I’m head of card schemes, which includes CPCS, which is the Construction Plant Competency Scheme, and we also manage the Construction Industry Scaffolds Record Scheme on behalf of CISRS.
NOCN are here today to showcase the education routes and careers within the construction industry, especially plant. This can be an addition to the current skill set a person has, which can enable career progression. In summary we’re here to showcase what type of careers are available in the construction plant industry.
UKPOM
Perhaps you could outline the types of career Opportunities there are?
PT
Lot of people start off within the industry where plant is concerned, in groundwork, construction, utilities, etc. Progression comes, once they get experienced in those trades, for them to move onto plant. This includes dumpers, rollers, excavators, with others looking to crane hire, becoming a crane operator. As their career develops, they can add further categories to their core categories and specialize in piling, ground remediation works. From here careers can progress into management and supervisory roles, a real option we have seen for plant operators.
In a way I too am an example of this progression. I started off as a plant operator in the Royal Engineers, came out of the army after serving my time, went on to be a site supervisor, utilizing my skills that I gained within the army as a plant operator.:
UKPOM
The statement last week from new Andy Burnham, around having more practical skills on the curriculum to encourage more young people to consider a career in construction. Do you see a shift in the sands on this?
PT
So, we are seeing Plant Operators for example getting qualified earlier. No matter you must be eighteen to twenty-one to start operating on plant.
What we’re trying to do in construction with Gallagher’s and the Kent Construction Hub is to work with a young person called Digger Finn, who you will find on Instagram and social media.
We want to communicate that careers in plant can start at a young age. However, you may not be able to operate plant straight away on site, but you can start doing the ground preparation, understanding health and safety, understanding the roles on construction sites, and that can start as early as fourteen. So, by the time you’re eighteen, you’re in a far better position to be able to be employed on a construction site and understand the basics, so you’re not totally fresh from eighteen.
UKPOM
That covers people for whom the industry feels the right fit. What about folks working in say a warehouse or fast-food outlet…Who may be looking to retrain and start a new career.
PT
This is where we’re using social media. We’re targeting them with a plan to re-educate generations. Not everyone see’s young people operating machines, the perception may be is that it is an older generation’s role. Plant Operators earn a good living and have a good career prospect using the skills of communication and work ethics learnt in other industries.
UKPOM
How much of a worry is the aging population in plant operation?
PT
We have an issue with an aging generation within the construction plant industry, especially with regards to training. It’s an issue that not only impacts operators, but there is also a significant issue with trainers as well. We need to identify young people who’ve got the skills to be able to train people.
Construction plant is very specialized, so again, you can earn a good living training operators to use this equipment. We need to encourage people to come off machine to then train the next generation.
UKPOM
I’ll finish if I may by asking you about what your message would be to anybody that’s not in the trade as to why they should consider a career in construction?
PT
A career in construction is extremely rewarding, especially when you can see an end product. As an example, I’m the son of a roofer. my dad’s now 80, as I drive him around the town, he points out buildings that he’s worked on. He takes immense pride in what he has achieved and what has stood the test of time around the buildings he’s worked on.
With the world getting smaller you can travel far and wide and go work on international projects.
UKPOM
I’ve got just got one final, final question. In this interview you may have enticed people to consider a career in construction. What’s the next step? What do they do? If I’m working in that warehouse, if I’m working in that fast food outlet, and I’m intrigued by what you’re saying and what I’m seeing more frequently day by day on social media. What should they do? Where should they go?
PT
Simple just search CPCS – Construction Plant Competency Scheme – there’s over two hundred training centres throughout the UK. Just enter your postcode and it will tell you the local training provider who can deliver what you need. Have the chat with them, that’s where you start.
UKPOM
Great advice, Paul. Thanks ever so much for that insight, and thanks very much for taking the time to talk with UK Plant Operator Magazine.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB6i4F_yq4s
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