The ERA Convention 2023 took place at the MECC in Maastricht, the Netherlands, on 7 and 8 June 2023 alongside the European Rental Awards, the International Rental Exhibition (IRE) and the International Access Platform Exhibition (APEX).
The ERA Convention is the premier event for the European equipment rental industry and brings together more than 300 leading voices from the industry to network, learn and share. This year’s event – ‘Investing in People’ – addressed the challenges encountered by the equipment rental industry in attracting people and will develop the topics of retention, development, training, diversity and inclusion.
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On the evening before the first day of the Convention (6 June, 18.00-22.00), there will be a walking tour of the historic centre of Maastricht, followed by a cocktail and canapés at Bold Rooftopbar.
There are a limited number of places, which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If all places have been allocated, people wishing to join the visits will be placed on a reserve list.
The price is €120 per person.
A perfect way to get to know Maastricht! An official Maastricht guide will take you through the historic city centre and show you the city’s most beautiful sights.
During the walk, you’ll discover the picturesque streets of the Stokstraat Quarter, the charming Onze Lieve Vrouweplein Square, and the famous Vrijthof Square. You’ll also see the city ramparts, the Helpoort and the Jeker Quarter.
Listen to the fascinating stories and amusing anecdotes to learn all about Maastricht’s history and its progression from Roman settlement to important garrison city and early industrial powerhouse. You’ll also hear about Maastricht’s typical way of life, known as the ‘Mestreechter Geis’ (the Spirit of Maastricht).
9.30 – 14.00
REGISTRATION
9.30 – 10.30
WELCOME COFFEE ON THE ERA STAND
10.30 – 13.30
TOUR OF IRE AND APEX | ROAMING INTERVIEWS WITH EXHIBITORS
14.00 – 15.30 (Auditorium 2)
PLENARY SESSION – PART 1 – NEEDS AND CHALLENGES IN ATTRACTING PEOPLE
Moderator: Maarten Bouwhuis
15.30 – 16.30
COFFEE BREAK AND VISIT TO IRE AND APEX
16.30 – 18.00 (Auditorium 2)
PLENARY SESSION – PART 2 – HOW TO ADAPT TO NEW GENERATIONS, DIFFERENT SKILLS, DIVERSITY, TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY?
Moderator: Maarten Bouwhuis
18.00 – 18.30
ERA GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Auditorium 2)
Open to direct members of ERA and volunteers
19.00 – 20.00 (ERA stand)
EUROPEAN RENTAL AWARDS COCKTAIL
20.15 – 23.00 (Expo Foyer)
EUROPEAN RENTAL AWARDS DINNER
Moderator: Maarten Bouwhuis
9.00 – 9.45 (Auditorium 2)
PLENARY SESSION – PART 3 – MARKET & FINANCE
Moderator: Maarten Bouwhuis
9.45 – 10.00
COFFEE BREAK
10.00 – 11.45
WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP PROMOTION – Image of the rental industry (Room Berlin)
Moderator: Pierre-Yves Rallet, Committee Chairman
WORKSHOP TECHNICAL – Adaptation of trainings to diverse staff (Room Athens)
Moderator: Klāvs Otisons, Committee Chairman
WORKSHOP SUSTAINABILITY – Diversity / safety / well-being in the rental industry (Room Rome)
Moderator: Douglas McLuckie, Committee Chairman
WORKSHOP FUTURE GROUP – How to make the rental industry attractive for younger people? (Room London)
Moderators: Michel Boels and Jonas Pärssinen, Future Group Members
11.45 – 12.45 (Auditorium 2)
CONCLUSION OF THE CONVENTION
Bringing your Attraction and Retention into 2023, Nicklas Pyrdol
Closing of the Convention, Stéphane Henon, President, ERA
Moderator: Maarten Bouwhuis
12.45 – 14.00 (ERA Stand)
NETWORKING LUNCH
14.00 – 17.00
VISIT TO IRE AND APEX
Nicklas helps organisations reinvent their definition of Talent to a more inclusive one and empower HR professionals to be the best possible support for the employees and for themselves.
From his time as a sport psychology consultant for Olympians and World Champions, HR Manager in a Tech company and Partner in a startup, he learned that we all have talents.
He also learned that the mindset of HR and ability to navigate in an ever-changing world with a complicated network of stakeholders is pivotal for maintaining engagement and motivation for HR themselves.
As he says, “In HR we are always servicing everyone else, but we also need to learn how to serve ourselves”.
As a keynote speaker he has inspired and empowered HR, leaders and employees across Europe, Asia and the United States. By combining humour and energy with research and real-life cases from the environments he have been a part of, he always leaves a the audience energised and ready to take on their challenges head on!
The 16th annual European Rental Awards will take place on the evening of 7 June 2023 at the end of the first day of the Convention. The Awards are jointly organised by the European Rental Association (ERA) and International Rental News (IRN).
Read more about the 2023 European Rental Awards here.
PLENARY SESSION – PART 1 – NEEDS AND CHALLENGES IN ATTRACTING PEOPLE
Introduction to the skill and labour shortage issues, Jean-Baptiste Annat, Eurogroup Consulting
PLENARY SESSION – PART 2 – HOW TO ADAPT TO NEW GENERATIONS, DIFFERENT SKILLS, DIVERSITY, TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY?
EU Year of Skills, Roman Horvath, European Commission
HAE ‘Careers in Hire’, Paul Gaze, Hire Association Europe
Diversity brings profit, Patrick Smets, McKinsey
PLENARY SESSION – PART 3 – MARKET & FINANCE
Inflation and Rental: Three focus areas to thrive with inflation, Jeff Eisenberg, Claremont Consulting
Trends in the European Rental Industry – Update Forecast 2023-24, Sevra Rende, S&P Global
WORKSHOP PROMOTION
Promotion Committee Report, Pierre-Yves Rallet, Committee Chairman
European Rental Week, Huw Longton, European Rental Association
WORKSHOP TECHNICAL
Technical Committee Report, Klāvs Otisons, Committee Chairman
Value is only real when shared, Francesca Marchesini, Kohler Engines
WORKSHOP SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability Committee Report, Douglas McLuckie, Committee Chairman
Mental health in the rental industry, Asif Latief, Boels Rental
WORKSHOP FUTURE GROUP
Future Group Report, Michel Boels, Future Group member
Technology as a driver for change in the rental workforce, Magnus Thibblin, Hexagon, and Jean-Francois Sourdoire, Trimble
GUEST SPEAKER
Bringing your Attraction and Retention into 2023, Nicklas Pyrdol
You can register for the ERA Convention and European Rental Awards here: https://na.eventscloud.com/eraconvention2023
Members*: EUR 550
Non-members: EUR 1070
Members*: EUR 330
Non-members: EUR 850
Members*: EUR 220
Non-members: EUR 220
* Member rates apply to
Maastricht is located just off the A2 motorway, the E25 interchange (Amsterdam-Brussels) and the A79 motorway (Liège-Aachen/Cologne) and has convenient connections to European motorways. The conference centre is just off the E25/A2 motorway. Take the Randwyck/MECC/AZM exit and follow the signs for MECC or MECC Parking.
Maastricht-Randwyck station is located 250 metres from MECC Maastricht and is part of the national and international railway network. There are frequent trains to Maastricht Central Station, which is also linked to the national and international railway network.
From the Randwyck train station you can reach the following travel destinations:
MECC Maastricht is accessible from a large number of airports all situated at one-hour driving distance:
Attendees can find a selection of hotels here.
ERA offers sponsorship opportunities for the Convention App, lanyard, luncheon and coffee breaks. If you are interested in sponsoring the ERA Convention, please find out more in the brochure and fill in the form at the end of the document and send it to the the ERA Secretariat at [email protected].
The latest participant list is available here.
ERA Convention | European Rental Awards | Pre-Convention Cocktail