Going for Gold - CMPE

engineer
Plant
September 2011 ISSUE 01
Staffs and midlands newsletter
Topaz Services Ltd presents
its first CMPE Gold Card
Going for Gold with
the Certificate of
Competence (CoC)
scheme
CMPE AGM 2011

CMPE Gold Card
Topaz Services Ltd presents its first CMPE Gold Card
Topaz Services Ltd was
formed over 6 years ago as a
health and safety, training and
consultancy business. The
company, based in Barrowin-
Furness, Cumbria, is now
an approved training centre
with the Health and Safety
Executive, City & Guilds, CITB-
ConstructionSkills, Energy and
Utility Skills, and more recently,
the Contractors Mechanical
Plant Engineers (CMPE).
Topaz is also a member of
The Federation of Small
Businesses,
The Chartered Institute of Waste
Management, The International Institute
of Risk and Safety Management and The
Institute of Quarrying. Quite an impressive
profile for such a relatively young company!
Through its recently acquired membership
of CMPE, Topaz is now qualified to offer all
types of heavy plant and agricultural plant
training with CMPE accreditation. John
Woodcock, MP for Barrow in Furness and
South Cumbria, who Topaz is delighted to
have as a supporter of its work, recently
attended an open evening promoting the
company’s alliance with the CMPE. He
presented Craig Jury, from a Morecambebased
plant hire and repairs centre, with
Topaz’s first ‘CMPE Gold Card’ Certificate of
Competence.
Company background
Topaz offers a wide range of training in
construction, heavy plant, quarrying, recycling
and Railtrack, and has also developed its
expertise to envelop the wind farm industry.
Agriculture is prevalent in the company’s local
area, and the experience and qualifications
at Topaz mean it can provide an excellent
service to the farming community, recently
being employed by Myerscough College,
Preston to undertake their training in the area.
Topaz has also previously worked in
partnership with Addaction and Probation
Services and has a proven track record of
training, and subsequently placing, long term
unemployed and ex-offenders back into work -
an achievement it is very proud of.
The company possesses a health and
safety capability that can offer considerable
personnel experience. A recently formed new
partnership with Jimmy Tongue at the training
company Accounting for Safety, has enabled
Topaz to offer training to a higher level of
safety qualification, leading up to project
management.
Following a restructure and move to new
premises, the new management team at
Topaz, spearheaded by Jack T H Platt,
continues to forge excellent links with
industries encompassing construction,
process, engineering and manufacturing. With
a growing reputation as a quality provider,
Topaz aims to be a ‘one stop shop’ for health
and safety training and consultancy needs.
Presentation of first CMPE Gold Card by Topaz.
From left to right: Mr John Woodcock MP, Mr Jack Platt, Project Director, Topaz, Mr Craig Jury (receiving
the Gold Card) and Mr Gerry Bingham, CMPE.
For more information contact:
Topaz Services Ltd
Unit 8B, Peter Green Way, Furness
Business Park, Barrow In Furness,
Cumbria, LA14 2PE.
Tel: 01229 823784
Fax: 01229 839810
1 CMPE�������������������� Newsletter September 2011

More Volvo minis
for Morrison
Utility Services
Morrison Utility Services has taken delivery
of 45 Volvo EC17C compact excavators from
Chippindale Plant Ltd, Volvo’s utility dealer for
Yorkshire and north east England, swelling its
fleet of Volvo minis to over 100 machines.
The machines have been supplied in the
Morrison Utility Services’ red and white livery
and feature the Cesar P1 identification system
and Enigma skyline P2 immobilisation package,
track locks, and manual quick hitches. All
the digging buckets have been supplied with
heavy duty cutting edges as opposed to teeth
to minimise the risk of damage to underground
utility services whilst excavating.
Whilst joining a mixed fleet of equipment, the
Volvo 1.5 tonne machine has carved a niche
for itself in Morrison Utility Services’ armoury
due mainly to product reliability and ease
of serviceability. Covering the whole of the
U.K., good after sales coverage for parts and
service is vital so Morrison Utility Services
can rely on the nationwide
support provided by Volvo
Construction Equipment.
The Volvo 1.7 tonne EC17C
compact excavator was
selected for its additional
benefits , specifically the
two speed automatic travel
motors, load sensing
hydraulics and operating
weight for towing. The
machine is powered by a
12.3Kw (16.8hp) engine,
being one of four ranging
between 1.5 and 2.0 tonnes
and is a direct replacement
for the EC15B XT model.
One significant change
on the new models is that
hydraulic hoses for the
digging equipment are now
routed through the boom and
cylinders are top mounted
to minimize on site damage.
The hammer lines have been
modified to allow the fitting of
remote hand held hydraulic
equipment.
New refined design for the Cat ®
D11T and D11T Carrydozer
Since 1986, the Cat® D11 has set the standard for machine productivity,
durability, reliability, safety and operator convenience in high-production
dozing applications. The new D11T and D11T CD elevate that standard with
their new design refinements:
A new Enhanced Auto Shift (EAS) system conserves fuel by automatically
selecting the optimal reverse gear and engine speed, based on load and
desired ground speed. When not activated, an Auto Downshift feature
automatically changes gears down to most efficiently handle loads.
CMPE ��������������������Newsletter September 2011
NEWS
A new Dynamic Inclination Monitor provides a
read-out of tractor pitch angle and side-to-side
slope angle, and Automated Blade Assist Control
uses preset blade-pitch positions to simplify
positioning.
The spacious, well-appointed cab features new
automatic climate control plus single-joystick
blade control, fingertip steering and Cat Comfort
Series seats, available in a heated and ventilated
option.
A new operator-presence system locks out
the power train and hydraulic system to avoid
unintentional machine movement when the
operator is entering or leaving the cab
An ‘OK-to-Start’ system electronically checks
critical fluid levels, whilst a fast-fill fueling system
incorporates a positive shutoff to prevent spills.
The D11T and D11T CD’s 850-net horsepower
(634 kW) Cat C32 engine can work fuel efficiently
anywhere in the world, and with ACERT technology
is configured to meet U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emissions
standards. The machine can also work productively
in the toughest of materials with blades ranging in
capacity up to 57 cubic yards (43.6 m3) and operating
weights up to 248,456 pounds (112 698 kg).
2

COC Scheme
In an era where the costs of
operator training continue
to escalate, the Contractors
Mechanical Plant Engineers
(CMPE) Certificate of
Competence (CoC) scheme
continues to find the niche
markets that have allowed it
to remain one of the largest
and most prominent schemes
within the UK.
Headed by the National Registrar, Mr
Chris Miller of the Staffs and Midlands
Branch CMPE, the scheme has
successfully survived, and indeed grown,
where others have fallen by the wayside.
In a true tale of David and Goliath,
thousands of new operators each year
purposefully choose CMPE and its CoC
or Gold CoC card (where the latter is tied
into the government recognised Scottish/
National Vocational Qualifications (S/NVQ)
scheme), despite the availability of other
card schemes in the market place.
Perhaps a success of the scheme is
its affordable cost? Or perhaps, it’s the
fact that the scheme explicitly ties the
Going for Gold with the Certificate of
Competence (CoC) scheme
employer into holding a duty of care to its
employees? Such a duty of care is of course
a legal requirement, but is this made as
explicit in competitor schemes?
Whatever the reasons underpinning the
scheme’s success, there is no doubt that the
CoC continues to maintain its appeal with
industrialists.
Mr Miller himself has become quite a genie
within the industry because ten years ago,
there were some who were ready to dismiss
the CMPE CoC card scheme, predicting that
it would eventually disappear. Indeed, the
converse has happened so how has Chris
achieved this success?
In a recent interview with PEP, Chris told
us: “There will always be a market for the
CMPE CoC card scheme because although
professionals within the industry want to
ensure that their operatives are both trained
and competent, they do not wish to pay the
extortionate fees charged by some of our
competitors - especially in a recession when
funds are tight and profits minimal, if there
at all.
“Our philosophy has always been to work
with employers, who ultimately hold a legal
and moral obligation to ensure that their
employees are trained, competent and
ultimately safe and productive. Schemes
may come and go but that obligation always
remains intact and indeed, so it should – the
rate of plant and equipment related accidents
continues to cause major concern throughout
all of industry not just the industry that I
predominantly work in [construction and civil
engineering].”
Chris continued: “The problem as I see
it, is that some employers out there try to
exonerate themselves from any liability
and attempt to place the onus and total
liability upon the operator in the event of
an incident or fatality. This is absolutely
ludicrous as managers, site supervisors
and fellow operators must all take some
responsibility for their acts and / or omissions
– this is written in the Health and Safety at
Work Act etc. 1974. No card out there can
guarantee totally infallibility all of the time as
behavioural issues can lead to a competent
operator making a mistake or overlooking the
obvious.
“Within CMPE, we have a dedicated and
stalwart band of committed members who
are determined to raise the standards of
training and competence, and market the
much respected CMPE brand. The success
of CMPE is very much down to the hard work
and passion of its branch members and long
may this continue.”
Chris is certainly an enigmatic man and
a highly rated professional, with vast
experience of plant and machinery within
industry; he has witnessed first-hand the
many changes
that the industry has experienced over the
past 30 years. Under his leadership, the
CMPE’s flagship initiative is set to continue
well into the next 30 years.
If you would like to find out more about the
CoC card scheme, please contact:
Mr Chris Miller, National Registrar
Contractors Mechanical Plant Engineers (CMPE)
Woodside House, Pedmore Road,
Dudley, West Midlands, DY2 ORL
Tel: 01384 352403
Fax: 01384 350269
Email: millplant@aol.com
3 CMPE�������������������� Newsletter September 2011

Meet Giovanna Papp - the new
National Secretary for CMPE
In a recent move to improve
the professionalism and level of
administration service offered
to members of the CMPE, Mrs
Giovanna Papp was appointed
as the new National Secretary
earlier this year. Giovanni, or
Giv as she is known, has had
a most varied and interesting
career path and in this article
we find out more about her work
experiences and how these have
turned full circle with the help of
friends and colleagues at CMPE.
Giv said: “My first experience within the
construction industry was at the tender
age of 19 when I became a sales and
marketing executive for Unipas Services Ltd
(the company owned by CMPE’s National
Treasurer, Mr Gerry Hill). My range of roles
and duties were extensive and covered
selling and hiring manhole shuttering, laser
levels, road forms, lifting pins and pipe
testing bungs. It was a varied job which also
opened my eyes to a new industry. I eagerly
embrace any active role available to me
and was also involved in the recalibration
of the aforementioned laser levels and the
delivery of the varying plant to construction
sites nationwide. It was a superb learning
experience for any youngster, male or
female!”
Unfortunately, due to the early 1990’s
recession, activity within the construction
sector grinded almost to a halt and Giv
was made redundant. However, she soon
took up a role as administrator within the
communications industry, plotting out
customer service calls and installations for
the newly introduced fibre optic reverse path
telephone and television services provided
by Telecential, who later became Virgin
Media.
Once more however, due to a decline in
workload, Giv found herself without a job,
but once again she showed her aptitude and
determination, by pursuing a different type
of work. Giv decided to exploit her academic
skills, and knowledge of varying learning
and behavioural difficulties with children,
becoming a learning support mentor, with
a role of reducing the barriers to a child’s
learning. She worked extensively with both
pupils and class teachers to establish the
correct learning environment for pupils and
identified difficulties with learning pathways,
for whatever reason, ensuring that the
children achieved their best potential without
being excluded from main stream school.
Giv said: “Over the years that I worked for
the school, I continued my learning and
in turn taught the problematic lower level
classes on subjects such as Maths, Science,
French and Humanities. With the skills and
knowledge that I had acquired
as a mentor, I became
involved in the setting up of a
specialised Reintegration and
Assessment Centre (RAC) unit
within the school. The RAC
looked at barriers to learning
and took individuals out of the
mainstream class into small
work groups to focus on their
needs and again encourage a
positive attitude to learning and
build on individual strengths.
CMPE ��������������������Newsletter September 2011
People
This in-turn led to a job offer within a Pupil
Referral Unit where I taught disaffected youths
who had been excluded from mainstream
school. Although it was an extremely
challenging role it was also extremely
rewarding as you could see the difference that
could be made to the lives of young people.”
However, after yet another recessionary
period and another redundancy in December
2010, Giv began to rethink her career path
once again.
She said: “As luck would have it, I bumped
into Gerry Hill in December and he mentioned
that the National Secretary position was
available, so I expressed my interest, became
successful and commenced my part time
position as of January 2011. At the same
time I have also taken on a new role as a
personal fitness instructor putting my people
management and teaching skills to good use.
I am a true believer that as one door closes
another opens providing you are willing to
move with the times and adapt as life itself
never stands still.”
Giv is certainly a formidable and highly
determined young woman and we wish her
well in her latest venture. She certainly sends
out all the right messages to other young
women working within a traditionally male
dominated industry – never give up and never
accept no for an answer.
For more information about CMPE and its
professional services contact:
Giv Papp
CMPE National Secretary
Tel: 07796 138 979
Email: cmpenat.secretary@hotmail.co.uk
4

CMPE events
CMPE AGM 2011
This year’s Annual General
Meeting of the Contractors
Mechanical Plant Engineers
(CMPE) was held at the Marriot
Hotel in Northampton and
very professionally organised
by Mr Gerry Hill, National
Treasurer and Northampton
Branch member. In idyllic
surroundings, CMPE members
converged for a day of lively
debate, formal business
matters and networking.
Top of the agenda items were marketing
and promotion of the association (led by
Mr Gerald Bingham, Preston and Fylde
Branch) and a comprehensive update on
the Certificate of Competence (CoC) card
scheme. Mr Bingham emphasised the need
for CMPE to continue in its commitment
to market itself far more vigorously and
provided examples of major national
events, including Scotplant and Hillhead,
where CMPE exhibition stands had been
extremely well received, attracting new
members and generating considerable
attention for the new CoC Gold card.
Welcoming in the new
National Chairman
Each year, the CMPE rotates the post
of National Chairman, with the outgoing
Chairman retiring to make way for the
previous year’s National Vice Chairman
to step up to the post. This year the
association extended its thanks to retiring
National Chairman, Mr Malcolm Webb
(Sussex Branch) and issued a warm
welcome to the incoming one, Mr Bob
Nugent (Northampton Branch).
Outgoing Chairman, Mr Malcolm Webb, Sussex
Branch
In his closing speech, Mr Webb
thanked CMPE members for
their help and support during his
tenure as National Chairman,
and extended particular
appreciation to the branches he
had visited for their hospitality
and encouragement. Although he
was sad to step down, Mr Webb
said he was confident that the
incoming Chairman would do
equally well in his tenure.
The incoming National Chairman,
Mr Nugent, was unfortunately
Mr Pete Attwood, Wessex Branch (left), receiving the Frank
unable to attend the AGM due to Hooper prize shield from Mr Pat Bowring, acting National
a hip fracture he had incurred in a
recent incident, a real tragedy for
Chairman (right).
a man who has always been passionate about an outstanding contribution to the CMPE
the CMPE and industry affairs.
and industry. This year’s deserving winner
was Mr Pete Attwood who has made a
One fellow branch member paid tribute to tremendous contribution to enhancing the
Mr Nugent and said: “Bob has been a long
term member and stalwart support of CMPE
professionalism of the industry.
over many years and has an industry insight Mr Bowring said: “Pete has made an
and professionalism that is second to none. outstanding contribution to improving
He has made some superb contributions industry standards and has tirelessly worked
to the management and promotion of the to ensure that both his branch and CMPE
Northampton branch and the members have National are promoted within the heart of
every confidence that Bob will be an invaluable
asset to National Council as our Chairman.
industry. No one deserves this award more.”
These are difficult times given the economic Incoming National Vice
crisis that we still face as an industry and so Chairman
members in the association will appreciate and A surprise announcement was that Professor
value his strong leadership at the helm over David Edwards (Staffs and Midlands
the next 12 months.”
Branch), Founder of OPERC and Director
of the Centre for Business Innovation and
Mr Frank Fiveash (Sussex branch) added: Enterprise at Birmingham City University,
“Bob joined the CMPE Northampton Branch in had been approached to apply for the
1986, serving the branch well since that time, position as National Vice Chairman.
and in 1996 he became National Chairman Professor Edwards accepted the position
for the first time. Joining John Laing and Son upon the understanding that he wished to
as an apprentice at 15, he worked his way work in partnership with National Officers to
through all the vast range of mechanical plant
owned by that company, repairing everything
bring about changes to CMPE.
mechanical from a BSA Bantam motor bike to He said: “I have been a member of the
walking draglines and Euclid dump trucks. He CMPE for many years and it provides a
has spent the last 10 years involved with crane conduit through which I can maintain healthy
hire and its operations. We wish him a speedy links with industrialists and also share my
recovery and look forward to seeing him in ideas and research work. CMPE has always
action again.”
been proud supporters of my research
work and the time is now right to make a
Frank Hooper Prize
contribution in return. My intention is to
In Mr Nugent’s absence, Mr Pat Bowring evoke change and to promote and grow the
(Wessex Branch) adopted the role of acting association for the greater good and benefit
National Chairman and had the pleasure of of members. We have to invest in products,
presenting the annual Frank Hooper prize for services and support for members to give
5 CMPE ��������������������Newsletter September 2011

New National Vice-Chairman, Professor
David Edwards, Staffs and Midlands Branch
value to that membership fee
paid. However, before any plan
is made, a wider consultation
is required to ensure that work
undertaken fully meets the
majority of member expectations.
I look forward to working with
colleagues at National Council
and I anticipate exciting times
ahead – there is great latent
potential within the CMPE and we
must now cease that opportunity.”
Speaking on behalf of the Staffs
and Midlands branch, Mr Nev
Rowell, Branch Secretary said:
“After meeting David, I found that
his lifestyle was very energetic,
enthusiastic and full of the joys
of plant and machinery - things
that I enjoy myself. Consequently,
we have a lot in common and I
believe that the people he has met
in CMPE, whilst he has been
part of the association, hold
similar views on the industry
and look to do the very best
they can do. Over the years
David has achieved a lot more
success than many people first
anticipated and he is today
one of the most respected
professionals and academics
across industry. I genuinely
wish David every success
with this new position over the
next 12 months as National
Vice Chair and as National
Chairman 12 months after.”
Another colleague, Mr Chris
Miller, National Registrar said:
“I am very pleased that David
has taken up the challenge;
it needs someone like him,
who is widely respected, to
push the CMPE forwards
with a new approach. He is
someone who sees all sides of
the industry - manufacturers,
hirers, contractors, quarrying
companies etc. David has
a great knack of taking a
disparate range of opinions and
views on board and producing
some first class publications
and guidance for industry.
Bringing these skills to the
CMPE will be a great thing in
terms of making membership
more exciting and attractive to
younger generations of new
members.”
Mr Nev Rowell, Branch Secretary, Staffs and Midlands Branch
CMPE Staffs and Midlands Newsletter September 2011
World scout jamboree
leads to huge JCB order
Scouting leaders lived
up to their motto of being
prepared by deploying 80
JCB machines to build and
operate a massive campsite
at a world jamboree for
40,000 participants. The
company won a multimillion
pound order from its
Swedish dealer Söderberg
& Haak Maskin AB for a
fleet of wheeled loading
shovels, telescopic handlers,
a backhoe loader, a wheeled
excavator and 60 JCB
WORKMAX utility vehicles.
The machines were used
initially for the construction
of a huge campsite for
the 22nd World Scouting
Jamboree in Rinkaby,
Sweden. The WORKMAX
UTVs then played a huge
role for the duration of the
August event, carrying
people and materials
around the site, with some
even being converted
into fire tenders complete
with emergency medical
equipment and 12 fire
extinguishers on board.
NEWS
Now in the aftermath of the
Jamboree, the whole fleet
of JCB machines is hard at
work helping remove the
infrastructure that was put in
place for the event.
Thomas Svensson, CEO, of
Söderberg & Haak Maskin
AB, said: “This was a very
successful partnership and
all the machines performed
very well and helped
towards the success of the
World Scouting Jamboree.
The highly visible role of the
JCB WORKMAX machines
in particular throughout the
jamboree has helped put
that product on the map in
Sweden and really raised its
profile here.”
A total of 30 of the fleet were
factory-fitted with a special
design of seat on the cargo
deck to enable up to six
people on each vehicle to
be transported around site.
About 20 worked with trailers
as waste collection vehicles
for general waste and
wheelie bin replacement.
6

Position Name Contact Details
President Frank Fiveash ffiveash@btinternet.com 01903 815100 / 07989 815100
Chairman Bob Nugent robertnugent357@btinternet.com 01733 343069 / 07789 980915
Immediate Past Chair Malcom Webb malcomwebb1@yahoo.co.uk 01273 306192 / 07836 237760
Vice Chairman David Edwards drdavidedwards@aol.com 01902 820200
Treasurer Gerry Hill unisurv@aol.com 01933 665580 / 07740 487007
Secretary Giv Papp (Mrs) cmpenat.secretary@hotmail.co.uk 07796 138979
National Registrar Chris Miller millplant@aol.com 01384 26240 / 07836 503241
Branch Name Contact Details
Aberdeen Steve MacKay steven@demackay.co.uk 077688 650708 / 01467 633388
Glasgow John Longmuir aslw03@dsl.pipex.com 01698 269468 / 07951 907247
Hampshire Rob Mulleady mulleady1@btinternet.com 01730 267968 / 07860 452625
Manchester David Wynne david.wynne1@ntworld.com 0161 748 8272
North East Graham Carr g.j.carr@virgin.net 0191 268 4944
North West E Forshaw c/o kmorgan4@uwclub.net 01704 876 889
Peterborough Edward Hudson cmpenat.secretary@hotmail.co.uk 07796 13897997
Preston & Fylde Malcolm Saddington malcsadd@btinternet.com 01257 252132 / 07714 152639
South Wales Terry Thomas trthomas@hotmail.co.uk 01656 771400 / 07711 563691
Staffs & Midlands Nev Rowell C/O bill@logisticstrainingservices.co.uk 01543 504133 (Nev)
Sussex Janet Searle janet.searle@live.co.uk 01403 275 846 / 07729 849749
Wessex Emma Farrington info@mjfarrington.co.uk 02380 225644
Yorkshire Janice/Paul Hardman cmpeyorkshire@hotmail.com
jan.hardman@btinternet.com
Branch Name Contact Details
07889 604200
Aberdeen Ken Chapman kchapman@mansell.co.uk 01358 721231
Glasgow Hugh Brown hughbrown@live.co.uk 01236 433111 / 117587 133414
Hampshire
Manchester David Wynne david.wynne1@ntworld.com 0161 748 8272
North East Graham Carr g.j.carr@virgin.net 0191 268 4944
North West Ken Morgan c/o kmorgan4@uwclub.net 01695 722067 / 07753 440409
Peterborough Mary Lancaster malan100@aol.com 01933 663929 / 07707 745245
Preston & Fylde Janet Bingham janet.bingham@btinternet.com 01524 730833 / 07899 778093
South Wales
Staffs & Midlands
National Officers 2011/12
Branch Secretaries 2011-2012
Branch Liaison Officers 2011-12
Contractors Mechanical
Plant Engineers
Sussex Margaret Webb emanem_uk@yahoo.co.uk 01273 306192
Wessex Peter Attwood salpet28@sky.com 07860 464834
Yorkshire David Fielding dave.gill@live.co. uk 07801 694852