The CITB National Construction College, in partnership with UK Plant Operator Magazine is pleased to announce the details of the 2024 UK Plant Operator of the Year campaign. With a record purse of £20,000, the campaign will search, find and crown the champion plant operator for 2024.
With finals day set to be even bigger and better, this ‘Festival of Construction’ based at the National Construction College in Bircham Newton will now spread over the 2-days of September 20th & 21st. This year, the campaign will however deliver so much more. With the progressive narrative being focused on three strategic pillars that are imperative to the industry body:
Apprentices & Training
Technology & Performance
Sustainability & Carbon Neutrality
Apprenticeship recruitment and training will be for the CITB the key objectives. Developing and preparing as they do, the next generation of plant operators and construction skills trainees, recognising the machine and business owners, key decision makers and influencers of the future. A future that over the next 10 years, will see more technological advancement than in any other decade since the introduction of mechanical construction equipment. Day one will therefore enable industry bodies, manufacturers, technology solution providers and distributors the unique opportunity to interact with the student construction apprentices and trainees. Day two will be the grand finale to find the champion plant operators for 2024. The CITB, National Construction College, will enable exclusive access to a world class training facility where the training and preparation of apprentices to enter the world of construction begins.
Chris Bushell CITB Curriculum Manager/ said: “We are delighted to partner with UKPO Magazine for a second consecutive year. The campaign will give a truly unique opportunity, as CITB apprentices, sponsored by leading UK contractors and hirers will be involved throughout the campaign, giving their perspective and insight, on both the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow. All to recruit the next generation into the industry”. Brian Coogan, UKPO Magazine Publisher said: “We are delighted the CITB has chosen to partner with us once again. This agreement demonstrates the success of last year’s campaign and the importance the CITB places on their participation. I would urge industry stakeholders to look at the 2024 event which will deliver an ‘always on’ marketing campaign, that across printed, digital and social media, will be guaranteed to reach the audiences of today with the solutions that will make their operations safer, smarter and more sustainable”. Brian concluded…
“The campaign represents a unique opportunity of reaching the critical and strategically significant customers of tomorrow, creating brand awareness and loyalty that will last throughout the lifetime of today’s Generation Z”. CITB are working with Industry to establish foundations that will support the net zero challenges, partner sponsors will be able to share their journey and promote the products and solutions that will support this and their respective commitment. Further enabling sponsors to showcase solutions that will educate the next generation of construction skills apprentices by experiencing machines that run on the fuels of the future. In addition to how digitisation and automation, connected technology, virtual and augmented reality and drone technology will improve the construction industry.
The bedrock of experienced plant operators will battle it out to be crowned Plant Operator of the Year and collect from the record purse, categories in this year’s campaign will also recognise the up-and-coming apprentices and newly qualified operators. Last year saw record applications to participate, and a record attendance for finals day…interest in the UK
Plant Operator of the Year 2024 (#UKPOOTY24) remains at an all-time high.
