Operator Challenge

JCB is back for its third year of putting the very best to the ultimate test. We’re on the hunt to find the UK’s top tracked excavator and Backhoe Loader operators. Taking place over eight regional heats across the country, we'll be testing your machine operating skills, in two timed trials, with the top three regional finalists competing in the final at the JCB Quarry in July. As well as being crowned JCB's Operator of the Year 2026, the winner will also get an all-expenses paid trip for two to New York*. Find out how to enter below.

Operator Challenge Registration

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Which event would you like to attend?

By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree with the terms and conditions of the competition, own a valid excavator operator's card and am over the age of 18. I’m also happy to receive direct marketing communications from JCB and understand that I will be able to unsubscribe at any future time if I wish to stop receiving information.

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Dates / times & locations

The JCB UK construction dealer network is hosting eight regional events from March through to June – find your nearest event below and sign up to take part in the JCB Operator Challenge today.

Date	Dealer	Venue
Wednesday 18th March, 9am - 3pm Thursday 19th March, 9am - 3pm	Greenshields JCB	Wrotham Quarry, Trottiscliffe Road, Addington, Wrotham, Kent, ME19 5DL
Friday 17th April, 10am - 5pm Saturday 18th April, 10am - 5pm	Holt JCB	The Construction Hub Academy, Oakdale, Blackwood, NP11 3XG
Friday 24th April, 10am - 5pm Saturday 25th April, 10am - 5pm	Scot JCB	Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB
Tuesday 19th May,10am - 5pm	TC Harrison JCB	Kevin Quarry, ST10 3BX
Wednesday 20th May, 10am - 5pm	Gunn JCB	Kevin Quarry, ST10 3BX
Thursday 21st May, 10am - 5pm	Dennison JCB	Kevin Quarry, ST10 3BX
Friday 5th June, 10am - 5pm Saturday 6th June, 10am - 5pm	Watling JCB	Kevin Quarry, ST10 3BX
Saturday 6th June, 10am - 5pm Sunday 7th June, 10am - 5pm	ECI JCB	Kevin Quarry, ST10 3BX
Tuesday 14th July	Final	Kevin Quarry, ST10 3BX

145XR reduced tailswing X series tracked excavator

Prizes

Regional prizes:
The top three operators from each regional heat will be invited to the Operator Challenge final in July, where they will be treated to a VIP visit to the JCB World Headquarters, including factory tour, hospitality lunch, an evening meal and one night B&B stay at the exclusive JCB Golf and Country Club. Each regional finalist will also receive a JCB goody bag.
Plus… every competitor who takes part will receive a JCB cap.

Final Prizes:

1st Place: A three-night stay for two people in New York, including flights, hotel and 5,000 USD spending money.
2nd Place: Two tickets for the ENG V NZ, Autumn Internationals Rugby 2026 on Saturday 21st November.
3rd Place: A two-night stay for two people in Edinburgh, with £500 spending money.

Prizes are none transferable and there is no cash alternative.

FAQs

The challenge is open to any excavator operator aged 18+ who hold a valid CPCS or NPORS 360 excavator operators’ card. Cards will be checked and verified at the event so please make sure you bring it with you.

Current JCB staff, dealer staff and their families are excluded from the competition.

Within the regional heats, you will be operating one of our X Series excavators, ranging from 13 to 24 tonnes, but likely to be the 145XR, alongside our iconic Backhoe Loader, the 3CX Dual Drive.

For more information about JCB's X Series tracked excavators, click HERE

For more information about JCB’s Backhoe Loader range, click HERE

In the race to win, you'll take part in two simple timed trials where you will test your precision and dexterity. Operators have a maximum of three attempts to get the best overall time from the two trials. There will be no practice time available for competitors and the best combined challenge time from any one attempt will be taken.

There are six regional heats being hosted by our UK Construction dealers across the UK - see above for dates and locations to find your nearest event. As part of these events, dealers are also organising a range of other activities – contact the relevant dealer to find out more about what is taking place. Catering and toilet facilities will be available on site at the events.

Backhoe operator training: Delivered by JCB training partners

Explore new career opportunities and unlock greater earning potential with backhoe training from JCB partners - novice and conversion courses available.

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Discover the JCB X Series

Featuring our CommandPlus cab, the JCB X Series is stronger, more durable, more productive, and more comfortable than any JCB tracked excavators before.

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DualDrive

Turn less and earn more with JCB DualDrive. This innovative solution gives operators the ability to drive in any direction whilst maintaining seating position - ensuring a productive and comfortable operation

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Terms and Conditions

JCB are looking to find the best operator in the UK by putting the very best to the ultimate test in the JCB UK Operator Challenge 2026 (the “Challenge”). The Challenge will take place over a series of eight regional heats (the “Heats”) across the country at various locations, by testing your machine operating skills, precision and dexterity in two timed trials. The top three regional finalists from each Heat will go on to compete in the final face-off at the JCB Quarry on Tuesday 14th July 2026 (the “Final”).
Entries to the Challenge will be accepted online prior to the Heats via the weblink https://www.jcb.com/en-GB/campaigns/2026/operator-challenge-2026 or on the day at the Heat Location.
Participants will have a maximum time limit of ten minutes to complete the two-timed trials. Participants are eligible to compete at multiple Heats if they wish to do so but can only have a maximum of three attempts at each timed trial per Heat. There will be no practice time for participants.
At each Heat, each participant’s fastest time from each timed trial will be combined as the participants entry time for the Challenge. Each participant can only have one entry time, therefore if a participant competes in more than one Heat, their fastest overall time from the Heats will be submitted as their entry time to the Challenge.
A full explanation of the tests and the rules regarding how you complete the Challenge will be explained by a JCB representative at the Heats.
Participants must be over 18, holding a valid and in-date CPCS or NPORS 360 excavators' operators card which will need to be submitted as part of the registration process and checked upon arrival. Under 18s are allowed to attend the events as spectators but must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Participants must provide and wear their own personal protection equipment - this will be a minimum of steel toe cap boots and a hi vis vest.
Each participant in the Challenge will receive a JCB gift.
The three fastest participants from each Heat (the “Heat Winners”) will go through to the Final to be held at JCB’s World Headquarters on Tuesday 14th July 2026. Once all of the Heats have been completed the Heat Winners will be notified by email. In the event of a tie in any of the first, second or third places, there will be a final challenge to determine an overall placing.
The Heat Winners will receive a JCB goody bag, factory tour, hospitality lunch, evening meal and one night bed and breakfast accommodation at the JCB Golf and Country Club or other local hotel (at JCB’s discretion) on the evening of the Final. No travel, sustenance, expenses or spending money are included other than as expressly stated.
The details of the Final challenge will be notified at the Final. There will be three winners of first, second and third by reference to the fastest time, with a tie-breaker challenge if necessary.
The prizes for the winners of the Final will be as follows:
1st Prize– A trip for two people to New York, economy flights from a UK airport, three nights’ accommodation in a New York hotel (room only basis), and 5,000 USD.2nd Prize – Two tickets for the Autumn Internationals Rugby 2026, details of which will be confirmed by JCB.
3rd Prize – A trip for two people to Edinburgh city, two nights’ accommodation (bed and breakfast) in a central location and £500 spending money.
For the first prize the flights and accommodation shall be chosen by JCB subject to availability and up to the value of £750 per person and £500 per night respectively, and booked via the JCB travel office. All airport taxes are included, and baggage is restricted to the standard airline minimums. Transfer to and from the airports are not included.
For the third prize the accommodation shall be chosen by JCB, subject to availability and up to the value of £500 and booked via the JCB travel office. Travel is not included.
No other sustenance, expenses or spending money are included other than as expressly stated.
Amendments to any booking details once confirmed will be at the expense of the winners.
The Autumn International Rugby tickets are subject to the terms and conditions of the organiser of the event.
One of the travellers must be at least 18 years of age (travelling as guardian of any younger traveller) and proof of age will be required.
The winners and any travelling companions are solely responsible for their own additional travel arrangements including but not limited to any passports, visas, insurance, spending money and any other additional travel costs or expenses.
All final prizes must be used before 31 December 2026.
If the winners of the Heats cannot be contacted within fourteen (14) days of the completion of the Heats JCB reserves the right to award the relevant Heat Prize to the participant who has the next fastest time.
All prizes are awarded ‘as is’ with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied. No substitution or transfer is permitted; the prizes are non-exchangeable and there is no cash alternative to any of the prizes.
The Challenge is not open to anyone associated with JCB or any authorised dealers or their staff.
JCB’s decision is final and binding in all matters and no correspondence will be entered into.
Participants accept that, if they win, JCB will have the right to use their name and country of residence for the purposes of announcing the Winner(s). The Winner(s) may be required to participate in reasonable publicity relating to the Challenge.
As the promoter of the Challenge, JCB reserves the right to withdraw or change the terms of the Challenge including any of the prizes without prior notice.
By entering the Challenge you consent to our processing of your information for the purposes of administration of the Challenge. If you also advise, at the time of submission of your information, that you consent to marketing from JCB we will also use your data for the purpose of us or your local dealer marketing products and services to you. You can opt out of marketing at any time by clicking ‘unsubscribe’ on electronic communications. We use our reasonable efforts to maintain the security of your information. Please see our Sales and Marketing privacy policy on jcb.com for further information.
By deciding to enter into the Challenge you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and acknowledge and agree that JCB shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, injury or disappointment suffered by any entrant resulting from entering the Challenge, provided that nothing herein limits or excludes JCB’s liability for death or personal injury though negligence.
The Challenge is organized and promoted by JCB Sales Limited, whose registered office is at Lakeside Works, Rocester, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 5JP.
Any queries regarding the Challenge should be sent to the Events Team at JCB World Headquarters, Lakeside Works, Rocester, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 5JP. The Winners name only (no further details will be provided) may be obtained by written request by sending a self-addressed envelope to this address up to 30 days after the Final.
These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising under or in connection with them shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.