LiftEx opens with call for training investment

In his opening address at LiftEx 2025, Ross Moloney, CEO of LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Association) encouraged the lifting industry to invest in training.

The Thought Leadership Conference, took place on the first day of LiftEx (18 November) in Liverpool, UK, running alongside the annual exhibition.

Ross said that in the face of, “getting on with the business of business, training can be put on the back burner.” When companies are under increasing financial pressures it is easy to put a hold on training when it should be viewed as an investment in the continuing success of the company.

He talked about the importance of training being relevant to the role and that it should suit the learning style of the participants. Suitable training adds to employees’ feeling valued and adds to general wellbeing, which in turn helps to counter the challenging economic circumstances being experienced across the world.

Ross warned that by 2050 25% of the workforce will be over 65 and 30% will be ‘experienced’ workers in the 50 to 64 age bracket.

Already, one third of job vacancies relate to skills shortages – pointing to a skills mismatch.

In its recent survey, LEEA found that its members perform better than average on training their staff but would still point towards its importance and encourages the lifting industry to take advantage of the training assistance and support offered by LEEA.

You can read more about the conference in the November/December issue of ILH.