SPOA The Scottish Plant Owners Association

20/08/2026

Five members of the SPOA Women in Plant (WiP) group recently travelled to Komatsu Ltd’s factory in Birtley, just outside Newcastle, for a fantastic day of learning, experience and hands-on opportunities. 👷‍♀️

🔗 Click below to read our latest blog post in which WiP member Zaya Grant shares her experience from the day.

https://www.spoa.org.uk/spoa-news/spoa-women-plant-group-tours-komatsu-uk

Komatsu Europe McHale Komatsu Scotland

07/08/2026

Can the plant industry flourish under the new Prime Minister?

That's the question SPOA President David Jarvie considers in our latest blog post. 👇

https://tinyurl.com/43ab97ud

07/08/2026

The SPOA Aberdeen Area Meeting, kindly hosted by ANM Group Ltd is happening in September.

This meeting is free to attend and open to members and non-members. It's been a while since our last Area Meeting at Scot JCB Ltd and we really hope to see you there.

It is a great opportunity to bring together members from across the industry to network and share knowledge. As well as a speaker programme, there will also be exhibitors.

Here is everything you need to know:

📅 Tuesday 8th September 2026
📍 Thainstone Exchange, Inverurie, AB51 5XZ
🕘 event starts 1pm

For full details and to book your free place, visit the event page below. 🔗
https://bit.ly/45kgcmK

Blackwood Plant Hire, Genny Hire Ltd, HRN, Howden Insurance

28/07/2026

As the wildfire continued to rage in the Cairngorms over the last few days, many members of Scotland's plant industry volunteered their time, resource and expertise to build firebreaks to try to stem the fire.

Thank you to Currie Contractors for sharing this post and to all SPOA members who have been involved in this operation.

27/07/2026

🚨 Last chance: Take our apprenticeship survey and help us shape the future of the plant sector! 🚨

To help us support members in attracting and developing the next generation of skilled workers and shape our work over the next 12 months, we are looking for data from SPOA members about apprenticeships in Scotland.

All responses are confidential and will help us understand the challenges and benefits of employing apprentices, and how we can support you.

Have your say and take the short survey by this Wednesday 29th July. 🗣
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NNVZLND

24/07/2026

If any of our members are able to help support this effort as the situation is currently getting worse instead of better.

*Anyone considering providing plant & equipment to assist with the wildfire containment efforts should ensure that they are complying with all of their own insurance requirements.

24/07/2026

The next SPOA Area Meeting, kindly hosted by ANM Group Ltd, takes place in September.

📅 Tuesday 8th September 2026
📍 Thainstone Exchange, Inverurie, AB51 5XZ
🕘 Lunch available from 12 noon, event starts 1pm

The meeting will bring together members from across the industry to network, share knowledge and hear from a range of organisations that support and work alongside the plant hire and construction sectors. As well as stands and exhibitors, there will be speakers each hour from the following organisations:

🚒 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
🚁 Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance - SCAA
🚨 Police Scotland
👷 JCB Hydrogen

For full details and to book your free place, visit the event page below. 🔗
https://bit.ly/45kgcmK

22/07/2026

In partnership with Setting Out for Construction, our next Machine Control Training course for plant operators takes place in Stirling on 10th August. 👷

The course provides hands-on training with advanced machine control systems, using our state-of-the-art Tenstar Simulator to create a realistic and safe learning environment.

This course is Tier 2 funded by CITB meaning that registered businesses can get £140 back in a short course grant.

Check out the full details and book your place via the link below. 🔗

This course is aimed machine operators who are required to work with machine control technology. Delegates will use a Tensar simulator to learn the essential basic information required for switching between different displays, working with layers, taking measurements using the bucket or blade and ca...

17/07/2026

Congratulations to SPOA member GAP Group Careers! 🎉

Last night at the Scotland Business of the Year Awards 2026, we're delighted to share that GAP Group took home the Large Business of the Year Award! 🏆

Thank you to our incredible GAP team, your hard work and dedication made this win possible. And a huge thank you to the Scotland Business of the Year Awards for a brilliant evening. Congratulations to all the other winners and nominees! 🥂

17/07/2026

What a summer of sport we are having!

Wimbledon, The Open and of course the FIFA World Cup. 🎾🏌️‍♀️⚽

Grassroots sports clubs today could produce the sporting champions of tomorrow. If there is a youth sports team in your community that is in need of funding, applications for the SPOA Youth Sports Sponsorship programme 2026 are open until July 31st.

A total of £6,000 is available for youth sports teams and clubs across Scotland to purchase new strips or training kits.

Details about the funding and how to apply can be found here. 👇

https://tinyurl.com/yztnbjsx