LEEA reveals 2022 awards winners

LEEA CEO Ross Moloney was host for the night along with a special guest, the 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 were as follows:

• Best Digital Innovation
  Winner – Select Plant Hire (Laing O'Rourke)
  Runner-up – LMS (Load Monitoring Systems)

For this award – which recognises a product or service that highlights successful digital innovation, providing a unique value proposition and tangible benefits to the lifting equipment industry – the judges were impressed by the excellent software for asset control provided by the winner. Select Plant Hire has developed the system further to set the standard for the management of everyday lifting equipment/accessories.

• Best Accredited Training Scheme (ATS) Member
  Winner – GGR Group
  Runner-up – JCD Training

In a category that recognises innovative approaches to ATS scheme membership and service delivery excellence, GGR Group was said to have a well-constructed process for the candidate and showed clear evidence of how it uses feedback to amend and improve courses. The judges recognised that a variety of resources are used, making the training attractive to learners, and client feedback is good, while the physical training sites themselves were called “impressive”.

• The Craig Morelli Award – Accredited Training Scheme (ATS) – Best Trainer
  Winner – Rob Ballantyne of GGR Group
  Runner-up – Andy Dowd of Speedy Hire

This is a category that focuses on the LEEA’s ATS and the professional trainers delivering high-quality end-user training courses. Ballantyne was rewarded for taking his trainer role beyond the usual limits, exceeding his job duties to serve customers to the highest possible levels, while it was said he also has very high personal standards in the safe operation of lifting equipment. The judges saw that Ballantyne was clearly more than a deliverer of training as he is involved in many other aspects related to the courses.

• The Outstanding Apprentice Award
  Winner – Lewis Barr of GAP Group
  Runner-up – Kai Carrick of Sunbelt Rentals

This award recognises talented apprentices who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to their professional development in the lifting equipment industry. The prize went to someone who, it was said, starts with a great attitude, has a clear desire to improve their skills, and has demonstrated a real passion for the industry and been keen to learn throughout his training.

• The Rising Star Award
  Winner – Connor Prentice of Emcor UK – Aviation Services
  Runner-up – Tyler Spendiff of GAP Group
  This category is for individuals who have 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. Prentice was identified as someone who strives to continually learn and progress his learning at every turn, which is reflected in a high level of knowledge and professionalism. Prentice was said to be proactive in his role and an advocate for the safe use of lifting equipment with LEEA principles to the fore.
• The Robert Gordon University Award
  Winner – Adam Blaikie

This award goes to an outstanding mechanical engineering student as nominated by Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University. Blaikie won 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 Kevin Holmes Award for Excellence in People Development
  Winner – Tony Bergman of Shell
  Runner-up – Nicola Tocher of First Integrated Solutions

This prize recognises HR professionals and training leaders who demonstrate excellence in supporting and facilitating the continual professional development of their teams. The winner was said to operate at a high level across the globe, making a large, positive impact on many different companies and people while being clearly passionate about competency development in lifting and hoisting.

• Best Contribution to GLAD Award
  Winner – The Crosby Group

GLAD – celebrated on social media platforms as the hashtag #GLAD2022 – is a global awareness day powered by LEEA that took place this year on 7 July and, according to the judges, Crosby’s content stood out.

Speaking after the presentation, Lisa Ehrborg, manager, global communication and marketing EMEA at The Crosby Group, said: “Our core values – safety, reliability and innovation – go very much together with GLAD, a day where we increase the knowledge of the lifting industry, to make it safer and better together.

“I’m extremely proud of the team spirit we have within the company – no win is a one-person show, and neither was this. We worked closely together in the marketing team to turn ideas into concepts and eventually a full GLAD campaign. We were especially proud of the many videos we created for the day. With a global footprint we had an advantageous position as we designed content for local audiences as GLAD swept across the globe from New Zealand to Europe and to the US.”

Ehrborg concluded: “We are delighted to receive this award; we have always been strong supporters of both GLAD and LEEA and we look forward to future collaborations – and to making the industry shine even brighter.”

• LEEA Member of the Year
  Winner – LEEA Regional Council of Australia and New Zealand
  This award is bestowed to the member that in the opinion of the LEEA Senior Management Team has demonstrated outstanding commitment to lifting standards in the lifting equipment industry.
• LEEA CEO’s Award
  Winner – Jonathan Djanogly MP

This is an award that goes to an exceptional individual or company who did something particularly notable in line with LEEA’s aspirations. Jonathan Djanogly is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon, where LEEA is based.

Moloney said: “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 Ross 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 UK 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 UK and beyond. I am particularly pleased to hear that the first cohort of students is set to begin the apprenticeship in October.”

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

The awards were presented at a gala night during the two days of LEEA’s annual LiftEx trade show.