The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with Enginuity to strengthen support for SMEs across the engineering and manufacturing supply chain.

The partnership will see the organisations work together to help ensure industry needs are reflected in national skills policy, with a focus on construction equipment manufacturers and their supply chains.

Through Enginuity's Policy Centre for Supply Chain and SMEs, the CEA will contribute industry insight to support research, policy development and workforce planning. The collaboration will also cover apprenticeships, future skills requirements and initiatives aimed at addressing skills shortages.

CEA chief executive Viki Bell said, "“Skills remain one of the biggest issues facing our members, particularly SMEs that are already dealing with day-to-day pressures around recruitment, retention, productivity and business confidence.
 
“Formalising our relationship with Enginuity gives us a stronger route to make sure the views of construction equipment employers are heard where it matters. Our members have first-hand knowledge of the skills gaps affecting the sector, and this partnership gives us a practical way to feed that insight into policy, research and future skills planning.
 
“This is about making sure support for engineering and manufacturing SMEs is based on real employer need, not assumptions. By working with Enginuity, we can help connect our members with useful programmes, research and policy work that supports the long-term strength of the supply chain.”

Ann Watson MBE, chief executive officer of Enginuity, said, “Working with the CEA gives Enginuity direct access to valuable employer insight from an important part of the UK engineering and manufacturing supply chain. SMEs are central to the sector’s strength, and this partnership will help ensure their needs are better understood and reflected in future skills policy and support.”