ScotPlant 2026 once again proved a standout date in the plant industry calendar, with a strong presence from the Scottish Plant Owners Association. The full Executive Committee attended, with Vice President Gail McEwen, newly appointed Skills and Industry Engagement Officer Cheryl MacLennan, James Currie and members of the Women in Plant (WiP) group staffing the SPOA stand.

A Tenstar simulator formed the focal point of the stand and sparked extensive discussion about apprenticeships and recruiting fresh talent into the sector. Interest was high both in trying the simulator and in hiring it for careers events in communities local to SPOA members.

The Association reaffirmed its commitment to helping members attract young people into the industry. Following the show, the Tenstar simulator has been booked for multiple events across Scotland, with further demonstrations to be highlighted on SPOA's social media channels.

Digital transformation was another major theme. With advanced machine control systems on display across the showground and a suite of SPOA member support measures announced last year, visitors were keen to discuss practical steps towards digitalisation. Further initiatives are expected to roll out throughout the year; in the meantime, members can contact the SPOA's digitalisation lead, Gail McEwen, at [email protected].

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Interest in the Women in Plant group also continued to grow. Visitors asked about the challenges the group is addressing, how to get involved and its social events. WiP plans to announce new dates soon via SPOA's social media channels.

Sharing her first impressions, newly appointed Skills and Industry Engagement Officer Cheryl MacLennan said: "It was my first time at ScotPlant and it was such a great event to be part of. I'm already looking forward to 2028!"

Vice President and digital lead Gail McEwen highlighted the sense of community among members: "I enjoyed seeing our members and seeing their amazing stands. It was great that the SPOA stand acted as a meeting point, with so many members coming together at our stand to meet each other and learn about each other's businesses."

Members reported strong outcomes from the event. Darren Gilmour, Managing Director at HRN, said: "We were delighted with how ScotPlant 2026 performed for us. A larger stand meant we could showcase more machines from CASE, Kubota and Mecalac which customers responded well to, and our hospitality marquee created a great space for conversations. It's still early days, but the show has generated strong enquiries and valuable opportunities that we'll be working hard to convert."

Alan Rose, Managing Director at Wm W.M Rose & Sons Ltd, concluded: "A fantastic couple of days at ScotPlant 2026 – a well-attended and highly successful show showcasing the very best in construction innovation. It was great to see such strong interest and engagement at the Royal Highland Centre, with our stand attracting plenty of attention, particularly around the Merlo products on display. Wm W.M Rose & Sons was proud to be part of such a key event in the industry calendar."