Dynamic Load Monitoring (UK) Ltd. (DLM), of Southampton, is among industry stakeholders sharing content in support of Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD), which will be powered by the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) on 12 June. The annual event will be bound together across social media platforms at the hashtag, #GLAD2025.
DLM is a specialist in the design, manufacture, repair, and calibration of load cells, load monitoring, and cable working equipment for the offshore, renewable energy, marine, subsea, and lifting and rigging industries. They are all markets that rely heavily on lifting equipment and are target demographics for #GLAD2025, which aims to inspire the next generation to explore careers in the sector.
It is a cause close to the heart of Carly Collins, sales and marketing director at DLM, who is the fourth family member to join the business; after retirees, the dynasty is continued today by Collins and her brother, Martin Halford, managing director. As the industry looks to its leaders, Collins has delivered a wide-ranging video to LEEA, urging women and young people especially to consider a career in lifting, while debunking the myth that the sector isn’t a technologically advanced, dynamic place to work.
Collins said: “The lifting industry is truly unique. It’s a sector that underpins so many others — whether it’s offshore wind, construction, shipping, or defence. What I love about LEEA is that it brings the industry together with a focus on safety, education, and professional development. Supporting GLAD is therefore important because it gives us the chance to shine a light on an industry that often works behind the scenes but has a huge impact. It also helps us show the world just how rewarding and varied a career in lifting can be.”
Industry crossroads
As LEEA reports, the lifting industry is at a crossroads. As experienced professionals retire and fewer young people enter the trade, companies are facing an urgent recruitment crisis. A shortage of skilled labour is placing increasing pressure on operations, productivity, and safety standards. Coupled with growing demands for technical compliance and innovation, the industry must act fast to secure a sustainable future. If left unaddressed, these challenges could have serious consequences for business continuity and sector-wide growth.
“It’s clear that we’ve got some work to do,” Collins continued. “Lifting isn’t always seen as ‘exciting’ from the outside, but the reality is, the projects we support are fascinating, and the technology is cutting-edge. We need to do more to tell those stories — through social media, at schools, and in partnerships with technical colleges and universities. The lifting industry is quietly one of the most technologically advanced — particularly in safety and real-time data use. What we do with sensors, telemetry, calibration, and custom software is extremely technical. People are often surprised when they see the level of innovation behind the scenes.
“It’s an industry for everyone. Lifting isn’t just hard hats and heavy loads — it’s design, tech, leadership, innovation. There’s so much room for growth and contribution. I’d encourage any young woman who’s curious, creative, or problem-solving-driven to explore it. It’s an industry that needs diverse thinking, and that includes more women at every level. We are starting to see more come through — in engineering, in project roles, even in the field. Representation matters. The more women we have visible in these roles, the more others will feel like this could be for them too.”
Lifting Careers, Building Futures
LEEA is hoping its 2025 theme, ‘Lifting Careers, Building Futures’, will build momentum, supported by the findings of its recent ‘State of the Lifting Industry’ survey, which will be shared during a webinar on GLAD. Collins is enthused by the tagline and pointed to the breadth of careers available, even within her own company, where design, manufacturing, electronics, testing, marketing, and logistics are part of everyday functions.
“At DLM alone, we have design engineers, machinists, gauging technicians, calibration experts — all working together. There’s a place for every skillset,” she said. “And it doesn’t matter what background you come from. Before I joined, I was working in communications at a City Council; I had to learn the lifting and rigging world from scratch. I started in marketing, which turned out to be a great way to get a broad overview of the industry — seeing what others were doing and understanding where we could innovate and improve. Initially, I didn’t know the technical side at all, but I could learn the business from the ground up, while also helping tell our story in a clearer, more engaging way. I had to be a sponge — and I still am. It’s a technical world, but it’s also a people-first industry.”
DLM will publish other content during GLAD, sharing stories from the team; highlighting career paths within the company; and showcasing the diversity of roles in the business. It will be active on LinkedIn, offering behind-the-scenes insights and staff interviews.
Follow the GLAD 2025 campaign and share your stories using #GLAD2025.
For more information visit https://globalliftingawarenessday.com/
