Hire body HAE EHA to attend CECE Congress in London as CEA hosts European event

Hire Association Europe (HAE EHA) will attend and support the CECE Congress 2026 at IET London: Savoy Place from 27 to 29 October, following its reciprocal membership agreement with the Construction Equipment Association earlier this year.

The hire body said it would be represented by its chief executive, Paul Gaze, and its director of public affairs, Mark Bradshaw. The event features two days of congress sessions, HAE EHA said, with topics including creativity in engineering, the current geopolitical landscape and technical discussion.

Paul Gaze, Chief Executive of HAE EHA, said: "The CECE Congress is a great opportunity to meet with global business leaders, OEM's and hirers to discuss the challenges facing the industry".

He said the 2026 Congress themes of Create, Innovate and Inspire highlight the opportunities for people joining and collaborating in the industry.

Why London

The Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) Congress is being delivered in the UK this year by the Construction Equipment Association (CEA). The CEA announced on 7 May 2026 that it would host the Congress in London from 27 to 29 October, and said the UK takes on the role in 2026 because Phil Layton of JCB is CECE President, with the CEA leading delivery of the event.

Layton is Technical Service Director at JCB and holds the CECE presidency for 2026 and 2027, according to the CEA.

Phil Layton, CECE President, said the Congress matters now "Because the decisions shaping our industry are being made now." He said the sector needs engineers, technicians, digital specialists, operators and leaders.

The CEA said the Congress would attract over 150 delegates from across the UK and Europe. Its Congress page lists the programme topics as creativity in engineering, how innovation drives progress, the current geopolitical landscape, technical discussion and market insights. CECE said the event would explore how creativity, technology and people are shaping the future of construction and mining equipment.

Viki Bell, CEO of the CEA, said bringing the Congress to London is a real opportunity for the UK to host the European industry, and that the Gala Dinner on the Thames will be a highlight. HAE EHA said the Congress includes a Gala Dinner and a cruise on the River Thames.

The sponsors

HAE EHA said the event is sponsored by several of its member businesses, including JCB, Datatag/CESAR, Caterpillar, PlantWorx/Nineteen Group and Safety Shield Global.

The CEA-HAE agreement

HAE EHA's attendance follows the reciprocal membership and cooperative agreement it formed with the CEA earlier in 2026. Under the deal, announced on 30 July 2026, each organisation becomes a member of the other.

The CEA said it represents around 150 businesses across the construction equipment supply chain, while HAE represents about 700 members across the hire sector, including around 100 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers.

At the time, Gaze said HAE already works closely with the CEA on topics including theft, asset management and taxation, and that trade bodies working together can achieve so much more. Bell said there is a natural fit between the two organisations.

HAE EHA describes itself as a Birmingham-based trade association for the plant, tool, equipment and event hire sectors, with over 700 member companies in the UK, Europe and elsewhere.

Registration

The CEA's Congress page states that registration for the event is now closed.