Heroes Awards Shortlisted in Focus: Aaron Davies, Flannery Plant – A Lifetime of Dedication

In an industry defined by machinery and infrastructure, Aaron has always known the most important component is people. For over 20 years, he has dedicated his career to ensuring that everyone—regardless of background or experience—has a safe, supported, and fair path into construction.

As Safety & Skills Director at Flannery Plant Hire, Aaron has transformed industry training. He pioneered the Flannery Skills Bootcamp and Skills Hubs, programmes now recognised across the UK as benchmarks for inclusive, future-focused training.

But the real impact is measured not just in numbers—over 1,300 new entrants trained and £4.5 million secured in investment—but in the lives changed: single parents balancing work and study, ex-military personnel finding direction, and young people who had been overlooked finally discovering careers they can thrive in.

Aaron doesn’t chase headlines. His legacy is written in the confidence and competence of operators across hundreds of sites, in the mentorship of trainees like James Grant, a veteran who transitioned into civilian life with purpose and stability, and in the culture of growth and support he has nurtured within Flannery.

He has reshaped how the industry thinks about training, focusing on dignity, confidence, and capability, proving that safe, productive sites start with empowered people. Quiet, hands-on, and consistent, Aaron knows the names and stories of every trainee he meets, listening and inspiring loyalty that lasts.

In a year of ongoing skills shortages and inclusion challenges, Aaron’s work is more vital than ever—and this nomination recognises a career spent turning belief into action.

Now in their fifth year, the Heroes Awards recognise individuals and teams who go above and beyond to make a difference in their industries—from improving safety and inclusion to driving positive social and environmental change. The 2025 ceremony will take place on Tuesday 26th November at the London Hilton on Park Lane, bringing together leaders and changemakers from across the UK to honour those who embody the true spirit of professionalism and purpose, including unsung heroes and those who place others above themselves.