Speedy and Niftylift deliver first hydrogen- electric


platform. Speedy and Niftylift have joined forces in the development of what is claimed to be a world first – a hydrogen-electric powered boom lift. The new zero carbon platform is an alternative to diesel-powered


equipment, and it is ideally suited to construction sites where electric infrastructure is virtually non-existent. The hydrogen-electric boom lift can be operated for up to five days on a single electric charge, with additional range available from the onboard hydrogen fuel cell. The launch is part of a £9m investment in sustainable powered


access products and it also provides an insight into Speedy’s ‘Velocity’ business strategy, where the company has pledged to continuously innovate and collaborate with the value chain to deliver sustainable products and solutions for customers to meet their carbon reduction targets, while also being commercially sustainable. Manufactured at Niftylift’s facility in Milton Keynes, the new hydrogen-electric platform will begin to roll off the production lines


Fixing the skills gap Could a change of government mean more support for the


construction sector? asks Construction Equipment Association CEO Suneeta Johal. Will the new government make the ‘levelling up’ ambitions of


the previous government a reality? I'm sure many readers in both the construction and hire sectors will be asking the ‘new’ government these questions and many more. This reform is an opportunity to transform the construction sector and ensure our industry is fit for the future. We recognise that we have an ageing workforce, where around


22% of the current workforce is over 50 and 15% of the workforce are in their 60s. Yet we remain challenged to encourage young people to enter our industry. The CEA is relaunching its skills initiative this year to address


the skills gap and recruitment issues the sector is facing. As part of this, the Association joined the National Manufacturing Skills Task Force (NMSTF) at the beginning of the year. This task force is coordinated by Make UK and involves liaison with BEIS and DEFRA to influence government policy on skills and education to help the manufacturing industry, which will include a review of the Apprenticeship Levy to make it work better for all businesses. We also need to adopt a ‘progressive approach’ and engage with the ‘influencers’ within our sector to attract a younger audience. Rising fuel costs have also impacted our sector, which has


been elevated by the demise of the use of red diesel where construction companies will no longer be able to use red diesel and rebated biofuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO),


and be delivered to Speedy’s Innovation Centre in Milton Keynes in July – possibly by the time you read this. “We have a strong history of leading the market in combining


product innovation and sustainability, and our collaboration with Niftylift is yet another example of that. Our sustainable growth strategy, Velocity, sets out a clear direction for the business to deliver long term benefits to our customers, our people and our investors and this is a strong example of Velocity in action,” explained Speedy Chief Executive Dan Evans. “Our investment and collaboration with Niftylift enable us to


accelerate the sustainable and technological evolution in the sectors where we operate, and supports our ambitious plan to become a net zero business by 2040, ten years ahead of the government target, whilst also enduring commercial sustainability against traditional alternatives for our customers.”


to power construction equipment and generators on site. With the government unlikely to reverse this decision, the CEA will be lobbying for the improvement of infrastructure to support alternative fuels. The CEA is also calling on government to ensure that any


reforms to the Capital Allowance Regime provide long-term clarity, particularly at a time where the environment is particularly volatile and uncertain. This is critical to help with future investment decisions. Looking forward, the CEA


will have an increasing role in the opportunities and challenges faced by our industry – particularly decarbonisation and the road to net zero. We will continue to strengthen our relations with Government departments to ensure the needs of our sector are heard.


FORWARD PLANNING Find out more about the CEA and how it can represent your requirements at https://thecea.org.uk.


July/August 2023 - Executive Hire News 3


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