by Richard Colligan | Aug 13, 2021 | Forklift Friday, Our News
With restrictions now easing we are happy to announce that we can officially run our ‘Forklift Fridays’ on the first Friday of every month starting from the 10th September. Forklift Fridays are a chance to come into the warehouse and get a feel for the courses we offer within a 2 hour, FREE taster session.
Although these sessions are optional and we can still book you in for a course if you do not attend, there are a multitude of benefits that you can gain from coming along, so we highly recommend!
In this blog I will be highlighting what is included on the day and how these elements can put you at an advantage before starting a course.
1. Meeting our team.
One of the most crucial aspects as to whether you will succeed on a course is whether you feel comfortable enough around the team- especially our trainer, David. We hope that once you meet David you will feel at ease immediately and all those initial nerves will fly out the window!
Many delegates come in for a course very nervous and apprehensive and within a couple of hours of speaking with David already begin to feel comfortable. Coming along for a taster session will therefore mean you are ‘ready and raring’ to go when course week comes around!
2. Learn more about the courses and forklift trucks
On the day, you will listen and take part in several activities such as presentations, video clips, demonstrations and some light hearted competitions\quizzes; all to open your eyes to the world of forklift trucks!
From these activities you will gain a better understanding of the need for adequate forklift training, the types of forklifts and the difference between them, what is included in the courses and also learn some interesting facts and stories from David’s 10 year+ experience with FLT.
Once again, you will then be more prepared and insightful on the week of your course.
3. Ask questions to our highly experienced trainers.
We understand that you want to be 100% sure about a course before booking, so we will always give you a chance to ask any questions that you may have regarding any aspect of the courses or trucks. Our trainers are highly experienced and knowledgeable so no questions are out of bounds.
4. Have a go on one or both trucks
After a couple of demonstrations, we will also allow you to have a quick go on the trucks and get a feel for the kind of practical learning you will be doing throughout your course. This may be the ultimate decider as to whether you do a Counterbalance, Reach course, or both.
This will also reduce the initial worries about how to operate controls, turn around etc on the week of your course which will also put you at a further advantage.
5. Meet new people
The previous ‘Forklift Fridays’ have all been a positive experience, even for those who don’t end up going on to do a course. We like to make the day as fun and interesting as possible. Ultimately, it’s a chance to meet new people who have similar interests, drink tea\coffee and eat biscuits. The best bit? The session is completely FREE. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to attend?
If you are interested in attending a ‘Forklift Friday’ or have any questions surrounding the day then please contact us;
Email- mia.davies@keyperformancetraining.co.uk
Phone- 07788259738
by Richard Colligan | Aug 8, 2021 | Employment & skills, Our News, RTITB, Training courses
At Key Performance Training, our aim is to provide delegates with a pathway to employment and help them find a job, a better job or a career.
In Swindon and the surrounding areas there are many job opportunities and a demand for Forklift Truck operators meaning that employment is easy to find after completing training. We see ourselves as the stepping stone between a delegate and their future in employment.
Below are the 4 steps towards the pathway of employment.
Step 1- Free Taster Session: Our free taster sessions or ‘Forklift Fridays’ are an opportunity for potential delegates to come along to the warehouse and find out more about the courses we offer. The session is up to two hours and includes demonstrations, information sheets, having a go on one or both trucks and also being given a chance to ask questions to our highly experienced trainers.
We want to be sure that all delegates are committed to a course before booking so we will always give feedback to either the delegate, the company or job coaches as to whether they are likely to succeed.
Step 2- Training: The duration of training can be anywhere from 1-5 days depending on the type of course, your level of experience and the delegates:trainer ratio. In all FLT courses there are elements of both theoretical and practical training that need to be completed before test day. At the end of the training you will be given both a theory and practical test that will be completed in a non- pressurised environment. Don?t worry though, as our trainers will make sure you are 100% ready before putting you in for the test and have the skills to put you at ease beforehand.
Step 3- You have your license: Successful learners will be presented with an RTITB approved certificate and photo ID card and will also be registered onto the RTITB National Operators Register Scheme database of approved forklift truck operators (NORS) for 3 years. We will then put you in contact with local employment agencies that can help you find work and also keep you updated on any new job vacancies that come up in the local area.
Step 4: Finding work- There you have it, you have now unlocked your pathway into employment! Often delegates find work 1-2 weeks after completing a course with us and although it is not certain you will find work straight away we always make sure you are the first people to know about any new job vacancies.
by Richard Colligan | Jul 15, 2021 | Employment & skills, Our News, RTITB, Training courses
About Bob Hayward- The Managing Director and owner of Key Performance Training
Bob has had quite a journey from humble beginnings near Broad-water Farm in Tottenham (yes, he is a Spurs fan) failing his A levels and even the entrance exam for a Postman. Then a bad motor bike accident changed the course of his life forever. The six-week stay in hospital and the one year on crutches it took to recover led him to become a nurse. First a Registered General Nurse, then a spell in Intensive Care before taking a second-degree course in Psychiatric Nursing. After a 12-year career in nursing he took up selling and built a nursing agency from scratch to a 5.6 million turnover in five years. In his business career, Bob has started four businesses from scratch and built each of them to 1M turnover or more.
Bob actually hit the national headlines in 2001, but not for his business or consultancy skills, this was when he ran 33 marathons in only 40 days to get from Lands End to John O’groats in aid of a burns victim called ‘Podge’. He continues to raise money for charities close to his heart through marathon running and completed a further major test of endurance in October 2005 by running 6 marathons over 6 days across one of the hottest places in the world~ Death Valley~ this time in aid of Swindon food bank, tackling issues of poverty and deprivation.
How Key Performance Training started:
In 2017 Bob was involved in one of his many business ventures throughout his life; a recruitment firm recruiting pickers and packers for warehouses. He became aware that there was a huge demand for Forklift Truck Drivers in general but specifically in Swindon and the surrounding areas. As the business minded man he is, he decided to try and meet this demand by setting up a FLT training company to get as many people their license as possible and also to upskill pickers and packers.
The next stage? He needed to find a warehouse. After searching, he found a suitable location in Upper Stratton Headlands Unit trading estate where ‘Mr Shifter’ a local house moving and storage company were located and had enough room to rent out half of the warehouse for KPT. Bob and the 3 owners of Mr Shifter came to an agreement that they would all co-own the business and after months of finalisations on the 19th December 2017 Key Performance Training was born.
Although Bob had expertise and business knowledge behind him, he had no idea how to operate, let alone teach people how to operate Forklift Trucks. This was where the expert came in – David Gearon.
David had years of FLT training experience behind him from working as a trainer at Honda for 5 years, being a subcontractor for a company called Mentor for a further 2 years and then going on to turn around a company with a particularly bad reputation of their safety around FLT and getting them to do things the proper way. Whilst Bob was creating KPT, David was working in a job that he wasn’t enjoying and wanted to get back into training. By chance, as his contract was coming to an end, he saw advertised a job as a FLT trainer for a new company Key Performance Training and applied instantly. The recruiters knew how amazing David was at what he does and was surprised that he was out of training work. He was invited in for an interview at the warehouse which solidified that he would be the perfect man for the job.
Now , 4 years later and with Bob now as the sole owner and David as the head trainer. KPT is still surviving; even through a pandemic where nobody could be trained!
by Bob Hayward | Mar 1, 2020 | Our News, RTITB, Training courses
In support of International Women’s Day on the 8th March, Key Performance Training are running a competition
1st Prize = Free Forklift
Novice Course worth £750
2nd Prize = A Free
Conversion Course worth £300
3rd Prize = A Free
Refresher Course worth £150
The theme
for the 2020 International Women’s Day campaign is #EachforEqual. An equal
world is an enabled world.
How to enter the competition
Take a photograph or selfie in front of a forklift truck with your arms in the position shown and add it to your social media account. This can be on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn. Remember to use ALL THREE hashtags #IWD2020 #EachforEqual #KPT and tag the relevant Key Performance Training Account on that platform, or that of David Gearon or Bob Hayward.
How the winner will be decided:
The winner will be the person whose social media post gets the most likes and shares. The photograph must be of the person who owns that social media account, they must have their arms in the position demonstrated, the post must contain all three hashtags and tag Key Performance or one of the two owners.
Why are
we doing this?
At Key Performance Training, we are choosing to challenge stereotypes, broaden perceptions, and seek to be a pathway to better equal employment opportunities.
In the last two years, only five of the 80 delegates who have become qualified forklift operators through Key Performance Training were ladies. There is no reason for forklift operating to be the preserve of our male colleagues. There is no reason that anyone, male or female, must be big, strong or bulky to operate a forklift. The fact is that Forklift Trucks are just as suitable for men and women to drive as are cars.
A career as
a Forklift driver is an underrated profession and often overlooked by women who
may not recognise the high demand for Forklift operators. Anyone over 16 can
drive forklift truck and earnings are above average for warehouse and logistic
roles. Forklift driving can be a great pathway into better employment for
everyone #EachforEqual
For more information contact Bob Hayward at bob.hayward@keyperformancetraining.co.uk
by Bob Hayward | Feb 28, 2020 | Employment & skills, Our News, RTITB, Training courses
The International Women’s Day 2020 campaign theme is #EachforEqual. An equal world is an enabled world.
At Key Performance, we are choosing to challenge stereotypes and broaden perceptions. We seek to be a pathway to better equal employment opportunities.
Anyone over 16 can drive a forklift truck. As the career employment opportunities are plentiful and earnings above average for warehouse and logistic roles. At £21,000 to £23,000 forklift driving can be a great pathway into better employment.
In the last two years, only five of our 80 trainees were ladies. These 80 delegates became qualified forklift operators through Key Performance Training and the vast majority went straight into paid work. This number, five from 80, is obviously not proportional to the population of people working in the logistics and warehousing industry. And yet there is no reason for forklift operating to be the preserve of our male colleagues. There is no reason that anyone, male or female, must be big, strong or bulky to operate a forklift. The fact is that Forklift Trucks are just as suitable for men and women to drive as are cars.
Job expansion in the manufacturing, warehousing and logistics sector looks promising for the economy. What does this news mean for the women out of work? Male workers have dominated the industrial workforce and have naturally gravitated towards these types of jobs, while women can easily take advantage of these job opportunities.
A career as a Forklift driver is an underrated profession and often overlooked by women. Many do not realise there is a high demand for Forklift operators. Operators drive Forklifts and use them carry heavy loads and stack pallets onto warehouse shelving or trucks. One can earn a respectable salary, opportunities for promotion. and enjoy flexible shifts as a Forklift operator. In order to secure employment, a training course and certification is mandatory but easy to obtain. A novice course takes only five days and you could be working the very next week…
So, to challenge that false assumption and in support of International Women’s Day Key Performance Training are putting on a LADIES ONLY forklift taster session. Friday 6th March at Unit 1 Headlands Trading Estate, Swindon, SN2 7JQ.
The free two-hour session has been designed to help people decide if they could operate a forklift truck and whether they could earn more as a forklift driver. We invite all ladies to come and try out some simple moves of both a Reach and Counterbalance Truck as well as to meet an Employment Agency to discuss the job opportunities locally right now.
For more information contact Bob Hayward or David Gearon at Key Performance Training #IWD2020 #EachforEquality
by Bob Hayward | Aug 30, 2019 | Employment & skills, Our News
Our Background
Key Performance Training (KPT) opened in February 2018 with a mission to be “A Pathway to Employment” initially using Forklift Truck Operator training. The idea is simple, either to enable someone who is not working to qualify with a much-needed skill and get “A Job” or enable someone on minimum wage as an unskilled worker to get a “Better Job” or help someone change “Career” KPT operates from a purpose-built high forklift training arena with two classrooms. The only such training arena in Swindon. Having established itself initially with forklift trucks KPT went on to run HGV Driver classroom training and now wishes to extend further into certificated training for the workplace; for instance, Manual Handling Equipment Training, First Aid Training and Health & Safety Training.
Business Development Executive Apprentice Job Description
The company is seeking to add a talented college-leaver as an apprentice to their sales team, to work closely with and learn from two serial entrepreneurs. The aim is to develop your potential so you can, once fully trained, lead the end-to-end sales interaction with prospects and customers as well as internally within KPT and its associated businesses. Provided you meet the standards you will achieve an NVQ Level 4 Sales Certification with the Association of Professional Sales (APS); a highly sort after qualifications in the sales industry Remuneration will be a basic of £8,500pa plus commission, during the 18-month apprenticeship. With the sales commission and bonuses paid for achieving pre-agreed targets, the On Target Earnings (OTE) should be £20,000 to £25,000 in your first year.
Ideal Person Profile – Does this describe you?
The ideal person will have plenty of drive and energy along with a strong desire to win and to lead. They want to come across as enthusiastic, dynamic, assured and opinionated as well as being firm in their convictions. They are quick to talk and act. They enjoy being at the heart of things, making decisions and organising people. They are likely to be able to influence others with a combination of a more powerful personality than most along with an ability to put forward convincing arguments in a verbally fluent way. Professional. Polished. Disciplined. Responsible. Self-critical. Formal. Logical. They will have high standards and be self-directed. They accept there is a right way to do things. Charming. Able to influence others and persuade others. They will have some natural commercial instincts, a nose for identifying commercial opportunities along with the collaborative mindset and the people skills develop ‘win-win’ partnerships. Naturally able to concentrate and perseveres with detail. Able to work toward objectives while remaining flexible. Someone who uses logic and objectivity in processing information Quick to make decisions. Does not worry much. Thick-skinned and down-to-earth.
Main Responsibilities
- Assisting with marketing activities, including organising special promotions, displays, and events to generate leads. Helping with Social Media, Email-campaigns, Mailshots, and leaflet drops
- Helping identify new prospects and learning to follow up leads generated by the marketing to land new clients
- Accompanying one of the experienced team members to joint sales visits to both introduce the company and its services as well as to gain their agreement to run training programmes. After training and some months of experience, you will do much of this yourself with the MD in support.
- Learn how to handle and resolve any customer complaints and feedback
- Learn how to analyse sales figures and trends, forecasting future sales to facilitate planning
- Maintaining awareness of market trends in the industry, understanding forthcoming customer initiatives, and monitoring competitors
Main Competencies Required
Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment.
- Ability to network to reach the right decision-makers and to network through existing clients to gain new business
- Strong two-way communication skills. Can ask questions as well as present ideas fluently. Can persuade, influence and build the need for change within a prospect’s mind
- Excellent written communication skills
- Able to sell value over price and can differentiate from the competition
- Be resolute, bold and stubborn when required, focusing on results, tackling any problems or conflicts which get in the way, dealing with people professionally and effectively despite their feelings or importance
- Be alert to changing situations, gathering intelligence and insights to gain competitive advantage, showing flexibility in approach, adaptability in difficult circumstances and continuously strive to achieve a result
- Enjoy challenging situations and have the flexibility to work in an unstructured environment where there is freedom to act and the authority to make decisions
- Solve customer problems and implement appropriate remedial measures
- Actively participate in the internal company culture which dedicated to continuous improvement, challenging the status quo and developing best practice
- Can prioritise and work smart by being well-prepared and doing the required preparation and practice
To Apply: Please email your CV to bob.hayward@keyperformancetraining.co.uk
