Counterbalance Forklift Training in Tewkesbury

Counterbalance forklift training for Tewkesbury businesses

Vally Plant Training provides counterbalance forklift training for Tewkesbury employers needing operators trained, refreshed or assessed.

For businesses with suitable equipment and facilities, training can be delivered directly at your workplace. This is particularly useful where several employees require the same training and taking a complete team away from the business would be inconvenient.

For full national course information, visit our Counterbalance Forklift Training Course.

An important point about our Tewkesbury training centre

Vally Plant Training is based at Newton Farm Business Park in Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, where we deliver many of our plant operator courses.

However, our Tewkesbury centre is not currently set up for counterbalance forklift training.

We want to make this clear so candidates looking for forklift training in Tewkesbury know exactly where their course will take place before booking. If you need a training facility and forklift provided, counterbalance courses are delivered at the partner training facility we use in Gloucester.

Alternatively, businesses in Tewkesbury, Ashchurch and surrounding areas can arrange training at their own workplace where the site and equipment meet the necessary requirements.

Group forklift training for Tewkesbury employers

If several employees need forklift training, it often makes sense to look at the requirement as a group rather than booking each operator individually.

You may have a mixture of:

• New starters with no previous forklift experience
• Experienced operators requiring formal assessment
• Previously trained drivers needing refresher training
• Employees moving onto larger forklifts
• Operators requiring a different truck category
• Several employees using the same workplace forklift

Tell us the number of operators, their existing experience and the forklifts they use.

We can then help establish the most appropriate training route for each candidate.

Companies requiring other operator competencies can also browse our full range of training courses.

Which forklift course do I need?

The correct route depends on the operator’s existing experience and competence.

Novice counterbalance forklift training

Candidates with little or no previous forklift operating experience will normally require novice training.

Training can take up to five days, with a maximum of three candidates.

The course develops practical skills progressively, covering machine checks, controls, manoeuvring, stability, load handling, stacking and safe operating techniques.

If you’re new to forklift operation, our NPORS Novice Training Guide explains the novice route.

Experienced Worker Test

Operators who already have sufficient practical experience and can operate a counterbalance forklift competently may be suitable for an Experienced Worker Test.

The EWT is a one-day test-only route, with a maximum of four candidates.

Candidates aren’t taught how to operate the forklift during the test. They should already have the skills and knowledge needed to meet the assessment standard.

Read our NPORS Experienced Worker Test Guide before choosing this route.

Forklift refresher training

Refresher training is available for previously trained operators who need to update their skills or knowledge.

This could follow a period away from forklift operation, changes in equipment, unsafe operating practices or an employer’s competence review.

There isn’t one universal legal expiry period for all forklift training. Employers need to monitor operator competence and decide when further training or reassessment is appropriate.

Our NPORS Refresher Training Guide explains the refresher route.

What does counterbalance forklift training cover?

Course content depends on the candidate and training route but can include:

• Operator responsibilities
• Pre-use inspections
• Forklift controls
• Steering and manoeuvring
• Travelling loaded and unloaded
• Forklift stability
• Rated capacity and load centres
• Capacity plates
• Safe load assessment
• Lifting and lowering
• Stacking and de-stacking
• Loading and unloading
• Working around pedestrians
• Ramps and gradients
• Parking and securing the truck
• Defect identification and reporting
• Attachments where applicable
• Theory and practical assessment

Training is designed to develop an operator who understands why a forklift behaves as it does, not simply somebody who can move the controls.

Which forklift category do I need?

Counterbalance forklifts range from relatively small warehouse trucks to specialist heavy-capacity industrial machines.

Training is available across:

Up to 5 tonnes

Common across warehouses, builders’ merchants, factories and general material-handling workplaces.

5 to 15 tonnes

Used where businesses need to move heavier materials, machinery or industrial loads.

Over 15 tonnes

Specialist heavy-capacity forklifts used for substantial machinery, equipment and industrial load handling.

Training on a smaller forklift shouldn’t automatically be assumed to make an operator competent on a substantially larger machine.

If you’re unsure which category is required, give us the forklift make, model and rated capacity when enquiring.

Forklift safety and daily checks

A counterbalance forklift may appear extremely stable, but poor load positioning, excessive speed, gradients, raised loads or incorrect manoeuvring can quickly affect stability.

Operators need to understand the machine’s rated capacity and load centre, as well as how attachments and different loads can alter its operating characteristics.

Daily checks are equally important.

Operators should identify obvious problems with items such as forks, tyres, mast, lift chains, hydraulics, steering, brakes, warning devices and restraint systems before starting work.

Defects should be reported rather than ignored.

Our Plant Defect Reporting Guide explains the process in more detail.

On-site forklift training in Tewkesbury

On-site training can be particularly suitable for Tewkesbury businesses with their own forklift and several employees requiring training.

Training on the company’s equipment also means operators are working with a machine relevant to their normal duties.

Suitable workplaces may include:

• Warehouses
• Engineering companies
• Manufacturing premises
• Distribution businesses
• Builders’ merchants
• Industrial yards
• Logistics operations
• Machinery businesses
• Construction-related companies

The forklift and workplace must be suitable for training and assessment.

Before booking, read our On-Site Plant Training Requirements.

Forklift training around Ashchurch and Tewkesbury

Our local business base means we’re well placed to support employers throughout the Tewkesbury area. On-site training can be considered for suitable workplaces around:

Tewkesbury • Ashchurch • Northway • Newtown • Walton Cardiff • Teddington • Bredon • Twyning • Bishop’s Cleeve and surrounding areas.

Businesses further afield can also enquire about on-site delivery.

NPORS forklift certification

Vally Plant Training is an NPORS Approved Training Provider.

Although people commonly search for a forklift licence, forklift ticket or forklift certificate, there is no government-issued forklift driving licence in the UK.

The important requirement is appropriate training and operator competence for the forklift and work involved.

Successful candidates following the appropriate NPORS route can gain recognised evidence of their training and assessment.

Our Complete NPORS Guide and NPORS Cards Explained provide further information.

In-house forklift training

Some businesses only need operators certified for work within their own organisation.

Where appropriate, an in-house training route may be considered.

An in-house certificate can provide evidence of training and assessment but is not the same as an NPORS Operator Card.

Acceptance depends on the employer, workplace, client, principal contractor and insurer requirements.

Our In-House Training vs NPORS Training Guide explains the difference.

CITB funding for forklift training

Vally Plant Training is a CITB Training Provider Network Member.

Eligible CITB-registered employers may be able to access funding for qualifying training, subject to current CITB eligibility and funding requirements.

If you’re arranging training for several employees, mention your CITB registration when requesting a quotation.

Counterbalance forklift training prices in Tewkesbury

Forklift training prices depend on the actual requirement.

When requesting a quote, tell us:

• Number of candidates
• Existing operator experience
• Novice, refresher or EWT where known
• Forklift capacity
• Make and model where available
• Whether training is required at your workplace
• Any attachments requiring training

Remember that although Vally Plant Training is based in Tewkesbury, counterbalance forklift training isn’t currently delivered at our Tewkesbury centre.

Candidates needing a training facility attend the partner site we use in Gloucester.

For businesses with several operators, group training at your own workplace may provide a more practical and economical option.

Why choose Vally Plant Training for forklift training in Tewkesbury?

Vally Plant Training is a family-run training provider based in Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, and has delivered plant and operator training since 2014.

We’re a direct training provider rather than a course broker.

Reasons local businesses choose us include:

• NPORS Approved Training Provider
• Local Tewkesbury-based company
• Novice, refresher and EWT routes
• On-site company training
• Nearby Gloucester forklift training option
• Up to 5t, 5–15t and over 15t categories
• Group workforce bookings
• Experienced instructors
• Practical operator-focused training
• CITB Training Provider Network Member
• Family-run business established in 2014