ERA People Committee moves from priorities to action

People Committee moves from priorities to action and welcomes new members

People are at the heart of the rental industry. Behind every piece of equipment are the people who design it, rent it, operate it and maintain it. The industry’s ability to attract, develop and retain the right people will be essential to its future.

The ERA’s People Committee moves forward with initiatitves for the rental industry. (Image: ERA).

This was the thinking behind the creation of ERA’s People Committee, launched in June 2026 as part of ERA’s new Strategic Plan. The Committee provides a dedicated forum to address the people-related challenges and opportunities facing the European rental industry.

The Committee held its first in-person meeting on 27 October, bringing together representatives from rental companies across Europe. The objective was to move from the priorities identified at the first meeting in June towards practical projects and actions for ERA members and for the European equipment rental industry.

The Committee’s discussions focused on several closely connected areas: career pathways and skills mapping; mentorship and succession planning; continuous learning; broadening who enters the industry; and the new skills and worker profiles needed as technology evolves.

Members discussed where ERA can provide practical value to the industry. Two first projects were identified, focusing on career and development opportunities within rental, and on exploring how the industry can better understand and measure people-related trends.

The Committee also looked at how the rental industry may evolve in the coming years and what this will mean for people and skills. Areas such as robotics, energy, data and digitalisation will create new skills needs alongside the mechanical and operational expertise already central to the industry.

Join the People Committee

The People Committee is still growing, and ERA would like to broaden participation further.

ERA welcomes representatives from rental companies and national rental associations, as well as OEMs, suppliers and other associate members interested in contributing to discussions around people in the rental industry.

The Committee is not only for HR specialists. Its work covers skills, technology, sustainability, career development, knowledge transfer and the future of the rental workforce.

ERA members interested in joining the People Committee or contributing to its projects are invited to contact the ERA team, at [email protected].