The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has announced that it will attend an action-packed weekend at ScotPlant 2024.

A weekend full of activities, information and support for members of the plant industry at ScotPlant 2024 has been planned by the SPOA. The event is taking place on 26 and 27 April at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh and the SPOA will be located at Avenue C Stand 13. Members and partner institutions including Police Scotland, CITB and the National Construction College will join the SPOA. Visitors to the stand can also enjoy complimentary coffee from Flat Flat White and even a barbeque from Over Hot Coals.

Callum Mackintosh, Immediate Past President from the SPOA said: "ScotPlant is a real highlight for the plant industry. It is an opportunity to see the newest innovations in machinery and equipment, and importantly a chance for everybody to get together and share the challenges, experiences and opportunities we are facing.

"With that in mind, we have gone all out this year to make the SPOA’s stand at ScotPlant 2024 a social space where members can meet up informally over a coffee and a bite to eat but also have access to partners and valuable advice and information. Of course, we are also using the opportunity of having so many plant operators in one place to stage thequalifier for the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge and we’re looking forward to seeing as many as possible putting their skills to the test. I will be there all weekend along with colleagues from the Executive Committee. See you there!"

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SPOA has revealed that it has planned the following for ScotPlant 2024:

• Plant and fuel theft prevention – the SPOA will be joined by Police Scotland and the Police JCB 3CX, the machine on a mission that has been all over Scotland raising awareness of plant and fuel theft. Advice will be given on how to reduce the risk of being a victim of plant and fuel theft.

• Fuel management systems – aligned to the challenge of fuel theft prevention, there will also be an opportunity to find out more about fuel management systems which can remotely control fuel dispensing and link to machine telematics. Such systems could be a solution to fuel being stolen on site.

• Apprenticeships – representatives from the National Construction College will be at ScotPlant to talk to employers about how plant mechanic and operator apprenticeships work. Two of the SPOA’s award winning apprentices are also joining ScotPlant to talk to anyone interested in getting into the industry.

• Grants – a barrier to taking on apprentices is a lack of knowledge about grants available to employers. Barry Dawson, CITB Engagement Manager, will therefore be on hand to answer any questions about CITB grants.

• Careers – recognising the value of apprenticeships and trying to encourage more young people into the plant industry, a focal point of the SPOA stand will be the Tenstar simulator and its new SPOA branded trailer. Our ambition is for members to take the trailer and simulator to schools and careers fairs in their communities. Members are encouraged to come along and find out more about using this fantastic resource.

• Training and upskilling – it’s not just about attracting new blood into the industry, the SPOA is there to support members to train and upskill. Gail McEwen from Setting Out For Construction will be at the SPOA stand demonstrating the machine control training available through the SPOA.

• Women in Plant (WiP) – following the creation of the Women in Plant working group at the SPOA, members and plant operators Charlie Macgregor and Carly Sommerville will be at the stand talking about plans for WiP and sharing their personal experiences of following a career in plant.

• Member matters – representatives from the Executive Committee will at the SPOA stand all weekend ready to listen to issues and concerns on industry matters and offer support and solutions.

• Join on the day – members and non-members are all welcome to the SPOA stand and, for those who want to, non-members can join the Association at ScotPlant.

• Scottish Plant Operator Challenge Qualifier – last but not least, the SPOA stand will be hosting the qualifier for SPOC24. Again, members and non-members of the SPOA are all invited to enter this competition.

For more information ahead of ScotPlant 2024 contact the team at [email protected].