Enginuity and CEA join forces to strengthen skills policy for UK supply chains and SMEs

Enginuity and the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership supporting the development of Enginuity’s Policy Centre for Supply Chains and SMEs. 

The partnership combines Enginuity’s expertise in skills, workforce intelligence and policy development with CEA’s deep industry insight and employer network across the construction equipment sector. Together, the organisations will work to ensure that the voices of manufacturers, engineering businesses and supply chain SMEs are reflected in skills policy, training provision and future workforce planning. 

Bringing employer voices into skills policy 

Through the partnership, CEA will contribute sector-specific intelligence, employer perspectives and engagement opportunities to support The Policy Centre’s research and policy activity. The two organisations will also collaborate on policy advocacy, workforce development initiatives and industry engagement to help address current and future skills challenges facing the sector. 

The partnership will also support joint engagement with government and policymakers, helping to ensure that skills policy is informed by real-world industry needs and the experiences of employers operating across the supply chain. 

In addition, the collaboration will provide CEA members with access to insights, research and intelligence generated through The Policy Centre, helping employers better understand emerging skills trends, workforce challenges and opportunities to strengthen their talent pipelines. 

Supporting workforce growth across the supply chain 

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving workforce capability, productivity and resilience across the UK's engineering and manufacturing supply chains, while supporting economic growth through a stronger skills system. 

The organisations will work together to identify practical solutions that support employers with recruitment, skills development and workforce planning, ensuring that businesses across the CEA network are equipped to respond to changing industry needs and future growth opportunities. 

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.”   

Viki Bell, Chief Executive Officer of the CEA, added: “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.” 

The collaboration will support joint research, policy development, industry engagement and communications activity, helping to build a more coherent and evidence-led approach to addressing skills shortages, supporting employers across the construction equipment sector and strengthening the future of the UK's industrial supply chains. 

Find out more about The Construction Equipment Association Explore The Policy Centre for Supply Chain and SMEs