As an added value service to its members, the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) has entered into a partnership agreement with The Resources Group to provide material handling equipment training for its members’. Courses include fork lift truck, lorry mounted crane, overhead gantry crane, LGV licence acquisition and driver assessments. This means that, for the first time, UKWA – which is the leading trade association for the third party logistics sector – will be able to provide training throughout the UK to its members at preferential prices.

This service will be known as UKWA Training. Training can take place at members sites or at one of The Resources Group’s strategically-located training centres at Eastbourne , Leighton Buzzard, Bradford and East Calder.

“A determination to drive up professional standards in the warehousing sector underpins UKWA’s activities and a trained workforce is one of the keys to achieving higher levels of professional competence within the sector,” says Roger Williams , UKWA’s chief executive officer. “We are delighted to be able to offer members this service in partnership with The Resources Group,” he adds.

Roger Williams continues: “There are so many benefits to employing a professionally trained workforce. For example, with well trained forklift operators turnaround time is quicker and smoother, and accidental damage - to both the truck and the product being stored – is reduced. A sympathetically driven forklift also enhances truck reliability and, needless to say, improves general safety throughout the facility where the truck is operational.

“Most truck operators have realised the significant cost benefits that are achieved by choosing a forklift truck supplier with the service and maintenance credentials and infrastructure required to ensure that truck downtime is kept to a minimum, However, many truck users – both the bigger fleet operators and the smaller one-off buyers – sometimes fail to see the substantial performance benefits that professionally trained operators can bring to their business.

“Of course, no one should be allowed to operate a truck without first receiving training but even experienced employees can benefit from refresher training. Refresher training may be required if, for example, the operator is involved in an accident or a near-miss incident or if he or she has been observed operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner.

“It should also be considered if there have been changes to the workplace that could impact on the safe operation of the truck or, perhaps, if the operator is assigned to use a different type of machine – say a reach truck when before they had operated counterbalanced vehicles.

“Training is vitally important to industry. Both the private and public sector is suffering skills gaps and shortages and dealing with some fundamental underlying problems that are damaging the UK ’s productivity.”

Helen Peedell , business development manager at The Resources Group, commented: “UKWA members will have access to a nationwide network of fully qualified accredited instructors who undertake training with forklift trucks as well as a host of other industrial workplace transport equipment.

“We are very much looking forward to working with UKWA and its members and believe that the scheme will be welcomed by the whole industry.”

For details of UKWA Training contact Alex Croxton or Nikki Hill on 0870 770 7956