Kubota has sponsored this years ‘Micro-Excavator Operator of the Year’ category at the UK Plant Operator of the Year 2023 competition, hosted by UK Plant Operators Magazine in partnership with the CITB and Morris Leslie.

For the first time ever, the competition included a challenge specifically for micro-excavator operators. As part of its sponsorship of the event, Kubota supplied one of its leading servo controlled U10-5 micro-excavators for the competition, which was used in both the July semi-finals and the grand final which took place in September.

Andrew Walker, the first-ever winner of the Micro-Excavator Operator of the Year category, has almost 30 years of experience as a machinery operator.

On the competition, Andrew said: “The Plant Operator of the Year competition is a great thing for the industry. My main goal in participating was to learn and pick up new skills which meant it was such a great surprise to win. As an experienced operator, everything I know I have learnt on the job, so it’s great to have my experience recognised.

“I was very pleased that the micro-excavator used in the competition was a Kubota machine, as I have used them in the past on jobs. The latest upgrades to the U10-5 are brilliant and make the machine so easy to use.”

The largest annual event for construction machinery operators, The UK Plant Operator of the Year competition seeks to find the country’s most skilled operators. At the final, competitors were challenged to demonstrate their skill and knowledge in events that showcase the technological and engineered solutions that the machines can deliver.

Rob White, Division Manager for Construction at Kubota UK, said: “It’s an honour to have sponsored this new category. At Kubota we are looking forward to working with the winner of the competition”