Constructing the Future – the CEA’s Construction Equipment Conference 2012- with guest speakers including – Richard Noble OBE.

The CEA (Construction Equipment Association) is busy finalising its ‘Constructing the Future’ conference, which will take place on Tuesday 15th May 2012 (11.00 hrs – 16.00 hrs), at One Great George Street, Westminster. As with all the previous CEA conferences, a number of very interesting speakers from the construction and related industries, will be sharing their business experiences with like-minded delegates, which include professionals from construction equipment manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and other associated organisations. BBC News Correspondent, Nick Higham, will once again play the role of moderator for the day’s proceedings.

The CEA is delighted to announce that one of the key speakers planned is none other than Richard Noble OBE, pioneer of the Thrust2 programme, which brought the World Land Speed Record back to Britain. Noble is now the leader of the Bloodhound Project which is hailed as the engineering adventure for the 21st century!
The primary objective of the Bloodhound Project is to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in science, engineering, technology and maths – by demonstrating how they can be harnessed to achieve the seemingly impossible, such as the Bloodhound 1,000 mph land speed record. The Bloodhound SSC (Super Sonic Car) has been designed to run at speeds up to 1,050 mph. The car, which will be piloted by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, will take part in the race to reach 1,000mph in South Africa, later this year.
Wing Commander Green OBE was at the wheel of the successful JCB Dieselmax project that secured the world record run for a diesel-powered car in 2006 averaging over 350mph. He had previously set the world land speed record when he became the first man to go supersonic on land at over 760 mph.
CEA Chief Executive, Rob Oliver, commented, “The Bloodhound Project is very much about enthusing the next generation of engineers about what can be achieved. This chimes in well with the CEA’s concern that manufacturing in the UK should be seen as a great career move – whether having a hand in designing and producing a 1,000 mph car or playing a part in manufacturing an environmentally friendly, low noise, excavator. Our annual conference is always a good day for industry people who need to know about what is happening in the market and our wider concerns of promoting manufacturing and construction investment in the UK” “We have been concerned for some time about the skills shortage in our industry and the need to do more to capture the imagination of school leavers and graduates. There are some good opportunities to work in equipment manufacture and the many supplier and service companies that comprise our industry.”
Noble’s motivational talk sets the scene for the conference session on Educating for Business – where inter alia will highlight the academy work being done by JCB and Caterpillar in the UK.
Delegates will also be hearing from more inspirational key speakers from our industry, these include, Terry Scuoler the CEO of EEF, the Manufacturers Organisation. David Bell, the Chief Corporate Development Officer, JCB. Robert Droogleever, General Manager, Caterpillar UK. Colin Timms, Senior Analyst, Off-highway Research. Neil Dickinson MD, Finning UK & Ireland and Nick Ground, President, CEA.
Delegates will also enjoy a networking lunch, sponsored by PLANTWORX 2013, the UK’s new biennial construction event and view CEA member showcase exhibits.
The conference is free to CEA members, and PLANTWORX 2013 exhibitors. If you are a non-CEA member the cost will is £160 (exclusive of VAT). With such an impressive line-up of speakers the CEA is expecting a high turnout and reservations will be taken on first come, first served, basis. If you are interested in attending then please email [email protected] or call 020 8253 4502
 
Source: CEA News Room