LiftEx and LEEA Awards 2022

Event recap celebrates award winners.

submitted by LEEA

LiftEx, the flagship event of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), was held over two days in October at P&J Live in Aberdeen, Scotland. The event provided a one-stop shop for services, products and the latest knowledge and insights. LiftEx 2022 was the association’s 17th exhibition and the first after the pandemic lockdowns. The exhibition floor was packed with major lifting suppliers. LEEA CEO Ross Moloney said: 

“It was great to see attendees from multiple markets meeting LEEA members to discuss ways they can help achieve best lifting practice, as well as gaining vital lifting related knowledge and insights from our programme of speaker sessions, delivered by the LEEA team and industry experts.”

This year’s event also included the LiftEx Industry Careers Day on 6 October, organized with TechFest, a local specialist in the promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), an organization that makes it easier for employers to connect with students in schools and colleges across Scotland. Senior pupils aged 16-18, and their teachers, with an interest in learning more about the lift industry were able to engage with the industry professionals, companies and organizations present. Speakers from the industry and partners from universities and the military introduced the students to learning opportunities and career routes. After trying the interactive experiments, which are part of LEEA’s Think Lifting program, the students explored the show hall to meet exhibitors. 

LEEA has also announced that LiftEx 2023 and the fifth annual LEEA Awards will take place on 21-22 November 2023 at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

LEEA Awards 2022

The fourth annual Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) Awards winners were announced 5 October at the Awards Ceremony held at P&J Live in Aberdeen, Scotland. Moloney was host for the night along with special guest, London-based Irish comedian Jarlath Regan. 

Congratulating the winners and thanking the sponsors and all those who entered, Moloney said: 

“The LEEA Awards continues to develop as a chance to give people, companies and colleagues who have made significant contributions to lifting standards in our industry the recognition they deserve. They play a vital role in promoting excellence to customers and supply chains around the world, as well as encouraging new recruits. I am pleased to say that we received an outstanding level of entries. Through rewarding the best of the best, the LEEA Awards broadcasts the positive signal that our industry is coming together to celebrate the raising of standards.”

The winners of the LEEA Awards 2022 are as follows:

• The Stuart Everitt Award for Outstanding Contribution to LEEA, given at the will and recommendation of the LEEA Board, went to Richard Money, former chair of the LEEA Board.

• Best Digital Innovation, which recognises a product or service that highlights successful digital innovation, providing a unique value proposition and tangible benefits to the lifting equipment industry, was presented to Select Plant Hire (Laing O’Rourke) and was received on its behalf by LEEA’s Robert Wilson. The judges were impressed by the excellent software for asset control. Select Plant Hire has developed the system further to set the standard for the management of everyday lifting equipment/accessories. LMS (Load Monitoring Systems) was runner-up.

• The Outstanding Apprentice Award — sponsored by Bridger Howes — recognises talented apprentices who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to their professional development in the lifting equipment industry and was awarded to Lewis Barr of GAP Group. This award goes to someone who starts with a great attitude and has a clear desire to improve their skills. Barr demonstrates a real passion for this industry and has been keen to learn throughout his training. Kai Carrick of Sunbelt Rentals was the runner-up.

• Best Accredited Training Scheme Member recognises innovative approaches to ATS scheme membership and service delivery excellence. It was presented to GGR Group. This company has a well-constructed process for the candidate and shows clear evidence of how it uses feedback to amend and improve courses. A variety of resources are used, making the training attractive to learners and client feedback is good. The physical training sites themselves are impressive. JCD Training Ltd. was runner-up.

• The Rising Star Award — sponsored by LHI Magazine — is for an individual who has demonstrated excellence in their work at the beginning of their career in the lifting equipment industry and exceptional talent that will support their career development. It went to Connor Prentice of EMCOR UK — Aviation Services. Prentice strives to continually learn and progress his learning at every turn. This is reflected in a high level of knowledge and professionalism — proactive in his role and advocating safe use of lifting equipment with LEEA principles to the fore. Tyler Spendiff of GAP Group was runner-up.

• LEEA Member of the Year, bestowed to the member who in the opinion of the LEEA Senior Management Team has demonstrated outstanding commitment to lifting standards in the lifting equipment industry, was awarded to the LEEA Regional Council of Australia and New Zealand.

• The Robert Gordon University Award was presented to Adam Blaikie. This award goes to an outstanding mechanical engineering student as nominated by Robert Gordon University. Blaikie was awarded the LEEA Award for Excellence for his final year project, which was based on comparing the analysis methods used to determine the allowable sea states and loading on structures during subsea deployment.

• The Best Contribution to Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD_ Award went to Crosby Group. Crosby’s content on social media during GLAD 2022 stood out.

• The Kevin Holmes Award for Excellence in People Development recognises human resources professionals and training leaders who demonstrate excellence in supporting and facilitating the continual professional development of their teams. It was presented to Tony Bergman of Shell. Our winner operates at a high level across the globe. He has made a large positive impact on many different companies and people and is clearly passionate about competency development in Lifting and Hoisting. Nicola Tocher of First Integrated Solutions was the runner-up.

• The LEEA CEO’s Award, which goes to an exceptional individual or company who did something particularly notable in line with LEEA’s aspirations, was presented to Jonathan Djanogly, MP.

• The Craig Morelli Award — Accredited Training Scheme — Best Trainer focuses on LEEA’s Accredited Training Scheme and the professional trainers delivering high quality end-user training courses. It went to Rob Ballantyne of GGR Group. Ballantyne takes his trainer role beyond the usual limits, exceeding his job duties to serve customers to the highest possible levels and he has very high personal standards in the safe operation of lifting equipment. He is more than a deliverer of training: He is involved in many other aspects related to the courses. Andy Dowd of Speedy Hire was the runner-up.

LEEA CEO’s Award

The LEEA CEO’s Award 2022 was presented to Jonathan Djanogly, Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon, during the LEEA Awards 2022. LEEA is a global trade association based in Huntingdon in the U.K. It comprises 1,200 members in approximately 80 countries who collectively support industries essential to everyday life. 

Moloney said: 

“Together we wrestle with gravity on a daily basis so that people and products are moved safely in environments as diverse as theatres, ports, warehouses, offshore operations, building sites and many more.

“Our annual awards ceremony gives us the chance to recognise and reward excellence across the industry. The CEO’s Award goes to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the lifting industry in the sense of helping us to deliver our vision of lifting at height in safety, which has eliminated accidents, injuries and fatalities. I am delighted to present the 2022 award to Jonathan Djanogly, MP, who has been supportive across our work and has been particularly interested in our endeavours regarding apprenticeships within the industry, in addition to helping us with the issue of post-Brexit marking of products.”

Thanking Moloney, the LEEA Board and the membership for the award, Djanogly said: 

“Your industry is one that is fundamental to almost every part of our modern lives, and I am delighted to be able to support its work. Trade associations can be powerful and helpful voices in finding solutions to the real and everyday problems that U.K. businesses face. I commend LEEA for its efforts and its work with young people, schools and the progress it is making in establishing apprenticeship routes across the U.K. and beyond. I am particularly pleased to hear that the first cohort of students is set to begin the apprenticeship in October. Thank you for this award. I offer my on-going help and support and look forward to our future work together.”