Swindon mayor Abdul Amin has officially opened our new forklift training centre in Kembrey Park.
He even took part in a flip-flop throwing contest as the opening took place on National Flip Flop Day although centre manager David Gearon made it clear the flip flops were for fun only – and not suitable footwear in the workplace!
“It was a lovely event and we’re thrilled that Swindon’s mayor and his wife found time in their busy schedule to officially open our doors. He really entered into the spirit of the event and was a pretty good shot when it came to throwing flip flops!” David said.
We have seen growth in demand for our forklift training services which meant that our previous premises were no longer fit for purpose. Our family business is the only lift truck training centre in Swindon, providing forklift training to men and women looking for work or who want to expand their skill set. In addition, we offer training in first aid, health and safety, and courses for fire marshals and wardens.
David said: “The new site gives us so much more scope to expand and work with more people. It’s already proving its worth and we are able to offer more courses for individuals and for other companies in and around the town.”
We are approved by the RTITB (Road Transport Industry Training Board) as a training centre and as such can help businesses in the area maintain licences, knowledge and skills that are needed for their continued development and success.
We’ve also now added an additional truck, the Pivot Steer (or Bendi as it’s sometimes known) to complement training with our existing counterbalance and reach trucks. It was this truck which provided the ‘hook’ for the flip flop throwing contest on opening day.
“The winner of the flip flop throwing contest was Howard Feather of Be More Effective and he won an Amazon Echo, a bottle of Prosecco and a box of chocolates. All of the flip flops were then donated to Refuge.”
In addition, we have plans to offer further services in the future, including finance options, to make its training courses even more accessible. For more information, please contact david.gearon@keyperformancetraining.co.uk
Recent events have had a big impact on the culture of businesses, and our industry is facing skills shortages. It’s never been more important for businesses to embrace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
As employees return to work, training schedules kick in, and recruitment continues, it’s a great chance for logistics and supply chain employers to embrace EDI. EDI brings benefits to development, retention, and employee engagement.
Here are 4 ways that implementing EDI strategies could benefit your business and your employees.
Address staff shortages
The demand for talent is high, opening up your workforce to under-represented groups can help fill skills gaps. For instance, women may avoid entering the logistics industry because of the attitude they fear they may encounter in a sector where male workers still make up 83.4% of the workforce.
When companies show inclusivity to all genders through language, behaviour, and policy (such as maternity leave, childcare support and extra support to those going through menopause), it can encourage more women into roles.
Similarly, today’s younger professionals may feel that logistics isn’t an attractive career option. Newer generations are more attracted to working for a business that has a culture that reflects their own. This includes a positive attitude to EDI – pay and career development alone, aren’t enough.
Harness new skills and perspectives
Neurodiversity refers to a range of commonly co-occurring ‘conditions’ related to cognitive differences, and behavioural traits. It includes Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD, and more. Embracing neurodiverse people in the workforce creates an opportunity to incorporate a mix of talents, perspectives, and skills.
Employers should put their EDI initiatives into practice when considering how to support neurodiverse employees so that they feel able to thrive. This might mean taking a different approach to training. By asking trainees about their preferred methods of learning it can show that you understand that people think and learn differently.
Better staff retention
More and more people are realising that they don’t have to stay in a job where they don’t feel respected and safe, nor should they have to. The good news is that EDI can lead to higher levels of staff retention.
Employers could consider, for example, if there is a need to address unconscious bias. Unconscious bias is when we make snap judgments about people based on our background, experiences, stereotypes and cultural context. Bias can be triggered by gender, ethnicity, disability, body weight, names, and many other things.
To create a more inclusive and tolerant work culture, employers should take steps to eliminate unconscious bias. This can be a topic included in training. Leaving areas like this unaddressed can make your staff leave. Importantly, employees who are treated fairly will tell prospective employees, supporting recruitment.
Improved Communication
Good communication is key and taking a different approach to EDI can put this into focus. Training Managers, Instructors, and Warehouse Managers must be trained to communicate respectfully with trainees. This enables successful training. In a diverse workplace, trainers can improve communication by choosing different words. Talking in a way that makes different training candidates feel comfortable is important.
Remember, communication doesn’t just mean conversations. Communication also covers written materials used around the workplace. Keeping EDI in mind when developing written documents will help create better conversations throughout the company. This can help improve employee engagement.
It’s time to create a respectful and tolerant culture in your business. Now is the time to embrace EDI and create a culture that breeds respect. Make it clear to everybody that the business will not tolerate certain language and behaviours. Remember a work culture starts from the top, so practice what you preach.
Coming soon….Join us for our Launch Event at our new premises on 17th June 2022
Swindon-based Key Performance Training’s recent re-location to bigger premises in Kembrey Park will provide a welcome boost to the local workforce.
Our family business is the only lift truck training centre in Swindon, providing forklift training to men and women looking for work or who want to expand their skill set. In addition, we offer training in first aid, health and safety, and courses for fire marshals and wardens.
David Gearon, who runs the training centre, said: “We were outgrowing our previous training centre, so we decided to look for new premises at the end of 2021. We looked at a couple of properties, but our favourite was a unit in Kembrey Park. It’s a great location, with a larger office and more warehouse space.”
As a RTITB (Road Transport Industry Training Board) Approved Training Centre, we help businesses in the area maintain licenses, knowledge and skills that are needed for their continued development and success. We pride ourselves on providing a helpful and approachable pathway to employment, talent and growth through regulated industrial sector training and certification.
We also maintain links to all local recruitment agencies and help connect them to trainees in completion of each course.
“With a larger warehouse space, we’re now able to run more courses, which means we can increase the number of people we can train. We hope to help more and more people develop their skills and unlock their careers. We are already working with some of our new neighbours as well, so we hope to become a friendly addition to the Kembrey Park family,” said David.
With Swindon still showing high demand for skilled employees, there is a huge opportunity for people to either improve their existing skills or learn something new. With the investment by companies such as Amazon and B&Q, as well as the future businesses to come following Panattoni’s purchase of the Honda site, there has never been a better time to invest in yourself or your business.
For more information, please speak to us on 01793 975353.
Coming soon….3 Time Saving Tips for Reach Truck Operator Training
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