TRAIN WITH LYNCH

Gez Bonner - Head of Operator Plant Training

With over 30 years of experience across groundworks, civil engineering, construction, rail, airports, and building sectors, Gez, our National Training Manager brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. Leading a dedicated group of plant trainers and assessors, he ensures the highest standards in training and assessment across the business and our industry. 

His qualifications include a Level 5 CMI in Coaching and Mentoring, CPCS Trainer and Tester certification, and NVQ Level 3 Assessor credentials. Additionally, he holds the TQUK Level 3 Award in Education and Training (QCF), an NVQ Level 3 ILM Certificate in Leadership and Management for Construction & Build, and IOSH SHE certification for Construction Site Managers.

Gez lives by the ethos that we don't train people to merely pass a test. We train individuals to be site-ready, equipping them with the essential skills they need to excel in their career in plant.

Ruairi Coffey – Head of Skills and Sustainability

Ruairi Coffey is Head of Skills and Sustainability at Lynch, bringing over a decade of experience in workforce development and business growth. Before joining Lynch in 2024, Ruairi spent more than 10 years at a labour supply company, developing his expertise in strategic leadership and operational delivery.  

At Lynch, he is dedicated to advancing people development and creating innovative training programs that empower individuals and teams. Ruairi is passionate about continuous improvement and focuses on building environments where talent can thrive and skills can grow, ensuring long-term success for our people, the business and our industry. 

Chris Kent - Trainer

When Chris left school without any qualifications, he was uncertain about his career path. He initially trained as a chef but soon found himself working as a laborer on a building site, as he did not enjoy kitchen work. Chris quickly adapted to working on-site and advanced through the ranks, earning his machine tickets and eventually moving into foreman roles after demonstrating his skills. He later became an assessor, achieving his Adult Education Teaching qualification, Assessor qualification, and CPCS Trainer credentials.

Chris has played a key role in establishing our award-winning training facility in Cambridgeshire. He now spends his days conducting nationwide training sessions for operators and site personnel. Chris particularly enjoys sharing his knowledge with our talented operators and takes great satisfaction in teaching.

Nikki Payne – Training Administrator

Nikki Payne joined the construction industry after training and qualifying as a legal secretary, seeking a role that was the right fit. She initially worked as a Fleet and Piling/Plant Administrator, where she gained valuable plant knowledge, forming a strong foundation for her current role as Training Administrator.

In her day-to-day work, Nikki liaises with assessors on site, ensuring that all administrative and compliance processes are accurate and up to date. She also manages Lynch's onsite ITC centre and coordinates Site Right courses.

Nikki's proudest achievements include successfully passing all audits this year and contributing to the team's efforts in the Careers in Plant scheme, reflecting her dedication to quality and excellence in training.

Sam Ryan Proudfoot – Training Manager

Sam began his construction career in Health and Safety Administration and gradually advanced to training and compliance. He is currently a Training Manager at Lynch. Daily, Sam schedules and coordinates training sessions, engaging with a variety of customers. He also manages customer engagement events nationwide.

In addition, Sam oversees the 'Career in Plant' training scheme and manages several systems for our ITC centre, including ATO and Brampton. He takes great pride in being part of an award-winning training team and helping individuals achieve better and more fulfilling careers in plant operating through the Careers in Plant scheme.

Dave Rogers – Trainer

With over four decades of experience in the construction industry, Dave Rogers brings a unique passion and expertise to the Lynch training team. After many years operating machinery, he took the initiative to self-fund his training and earn his qualifications, a step that transformed his career. For the past three and a half years, Dave has flourished as a trainer/assessor at Lynch, having quickly made an impact from day one.

His daily focus includes training and assessing operators on dozers, loading shovels, tracked loaders, and graders. Dave appreciates the variety of his role, balancing assessments with site-based training, and values the freedom to dedicate time to developing operators who need extra guidance.

Dave is especially proud of helping novice operators build confidence. A standout moment for him was coaching a new apprentice who was on the verge of quitting; through Dave's mentorship, the apprentice gained confidence and chose to stay in the role.

John Grimes – Trainer

With over 25 years in the construction industry, John Grimes has extensive experience in civils and road rail vehicle operations. He began his training and assessing career in 2018, earning his NVQ Assessor’s certification and later achieving a Level 4 in Education and Training in 2020, which he found both challenging and rewarding. Joining Lynch three years ago has been one of his best career decisions.

John enjoys the sociable aspect of his role, meeting new people daily and serving as Lynch’s face on-site, especially for northern projects where he builds rapport with operators and customers alike. John relishes setting a high standard for continuous professional development and is committed to helping the operators he meets.

John is proud of his achievements, recently earning the IOSH gold card for site safety supervision. As part of a fully accredited training team with NOCN, John is excited to pursue his tester’s qualification in January, further enhancing his expertise and impact.

Paul Head – Trainer

Paul began his construction journey following in the footsteps of his dad, who was a plant operator. He joined Lynch about a decade ago and quickly distinguished himself, particularly on the A14 project, where he developed his skills driving a dozer. After gaining significant experience operating plant, Paul left to complete his assessor course. He later returned to Lynch as an assessor, where he now shares his extensive knowledge with others.

Based out of our Cambridgeshire training facility, Paul plays a role in the Careers in Plant scheme and upskilling operators, particularly on dozers and excavators. He also delivers GPS training as part of the program. One of Paul's proudest achievements is transitioning into a teaching role, where he now combines his practical skills with digital tools, inspiring other operators.

Valon Krivenjeva – Trainer

Valon Krivenjeva began his career nearly three decades ago as a plant operator with Lynch, quickly gaining expertise in various types of machinery. He later advanced to the role of Operator Foreman, where he led teams, coordinated equipment, and helped deliver excellent service to our customers. 

Six years ago, with support from Gez Bonner, Valon transitioned into his current role as a plant trainer and NVQ assessor, fulfilling his goal of mentoring new operators. Today, he travels to various sites to pre-assess and assess operators, ensuring they meet industry standards. Valon is dedicated to supporting operators around the clock and promoting a positive, inclusive environment. 

His greatest reward comes from seeing new operators succeed, especially when they receive awards for their progress. Valon holds multiple qualifications, including CPCS, NVQ Level 3 in Site Supervising, and IOSH Safety. He takes pride in his journey and is committed to developing the next generation of plant operators.

Lee Monk - Plant Trainer

Lee began his career in earthmoving nearly thirty years ago before transitioning into the rail industry. During his time in rail, he held various positions, including operator, foreman, supervisor, and lift planner. In 2014, he joined Lynch as a spare operator and low-loader driver. After a few career breaks, he advanced to the role of Operator Foreman in 2018.

In February 2022, Lee earned his Assessor Award and is currently working toward obtaining additional teaching qualifications. With his extensive experience and commitment to professional development, Lee is passionate about training and sharing his knowledge with the next generation of operators.