The outgoing year marked the end of an era for the UK Material Handling Association and with 2025 set to be such an important twelve months for the industry, the sector’s premier trade association is preparing for the challenges ahead with a twin focus on attracting new talent to the industry and improving safety standards.
Following the retirement of long-serving stalwart Tim Waples, the man charged with delivering the combined strategy is new chief executive, Rob Fisher. In addition to driving member engagement and overseeing day-to-day operations, the association will be looking at the bigger picture. Receiving special attention will be the attraction of new talent to secure the long-term future of the material handling industry.
Key to this is the launch of the association’s first apprenticeship scheme. This initiative has been created to help UKMHA members and the wider material handling industry develop and nurture the next generation of skilled workers.
“UKMHA recognises that apprentices can deliver a vast array of benefits to businesses,” said Rob. “Our scheme is a fantastic opportunity for businesses across the UK to ensure they have a highly skilled workforce in place so they can look to the future with confidence. Firms taking on new apprentices also benefit from funding schemes to cover training costs.”
To deliver the strategy, the UKMHA has partnered with SMB College Group to ensure the skills programme continues to meet the needs of the industry. With automation and new technology continuing to characterise future generation lift trucks, it is vital new recruits can keep pace with innovation.
In addition to the apprenticeship programme, UKMHA is also promoting 11 new technical training courses, including Lift Truck LPG Fuel Systems (Operating Safely), Working on High Voltage Lift Trucks, Lift Truck Electrical Charger Connection and Isolation, Lift Truck Hydraulics and many more. Taking place at the SMB’s Stephenson Campus in Leicestershire, each course is delivered by highly trained professionals.
Promotion of the apprenticeship and training programmes will be a key aspect of UKMHA’s involvement with IMHX 2025. The industry showpiece, taking place at the NEC Birmingham in September, will highlight all that is new in the industry, especially the advances in MHE design and the growing importance of automation.
Unlike previous years, National Forklift Safety Day 2024 was a multi-stage campaign involving the phased release of resources across a seven-month period. Focussed on incident prevention and response, and supported by the tagline ‘Prevent – Manage – Learn’, the programme helped to widen the scope of NFSD beyond a single day, helping achieve the ambition of making ‘every day National Forklift Safety Day’.
Rob added: “Our goal is to ensure that everyone working in the material handling industry can do so safely and securely. NFSD will continue to be the association’s strongest tool in the promotion of a safer industry.”
The long-term future of the UK material handling sector is being threatened by the twin challenges of an aging workforce and a lack of young talent being attracted to pursue careers in the industry. The perfect storm could also threaten the long-term viability of the myriad businesses which rely on efficient material handling equipment to fulfil their operations. In order to effectively tackle this growing skills shortage the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) has taken the proactive step of launching a series of new initiatives.
Since its formation in 2020,UKMHA has offered a diverse array of training opportunities for its members, as well as the wider industry. It does so to help businesses gain the necessary skills to perform tasks more effectively. The recent launch of its 11 new technical training courses, representing an impressive three-fold increase, is designed to equip companies in the material handling sector with the appropriate skills their workers need.
UKMHA’s training offer, combined with the association’s new dedicated apprenticeship initiative, is designed to support the industry in cultivating future talent whilst also enhancing the skills of the current workforce.
Rob Fisher, UKMHA CEO said: “We are excited to work in partnership with SMB College Group on these two fantastic initiatives which have been designed to address the unique requirements of the material handling industry.”
He continued: “SMB College Group is renowned for providing outstanding learning experiences, delivered at their impressive facility in Leicestershire.”
To launch its apprenticeship scheme, the UKMHA held an Open Day to showcase the programme to companies across the UK. Esteemed brands like Crown Lift Trucks, Linde, STILL and Toyota Material Handling UK have already committed to utilising the scheme to train their apprentices.
“Forklift truck service engineers play a crucial role in maintaining material handling equipment (MHE) to the highest standards, whilst reducing downtime and keeping operations running smoothly, which in turn keeps the whole logistic operation moving forward,” said Amit Mistry, Technical Product and Training Engineer at Toyota Material Handling UK.
He added: “Currently there is a shortage of skilled forklift truck service engineers. Forklift truck apprenticeship standards were developed to fill the skills gap in the industry. Having worked with MHE apprentices for over a decade, the Forklift Truck apprenticeship offers a great opportunity to jump start your career with prospects of progression in the industry.”
The UKMHA apprenticeship programme is an excellent choice for companies aiming to develop talent internally. It also offers aspiring material handling professionals a valuable opportunity to earn while they learn.
Commenting on the collaborative partnership between Crown Lift Trucks and SMB College, Crown’s Apprentice Training Manager Sam Ivey said: “At Crown, we are dedicated to developing the next generation of material handling talent, and partnering with SMB College has enabled us to provide our apprentices with exceptional training. Offering state-of-the-art facilities, a team of experienced tutors and outstanding student support services, SMB College goes above and beyond to provide the best possible education for aspiring engineers and technicians.”
Sam continued: “The relationship we have built with SMB College helps us ensure that our apprentices are trained to the high standards Crown is known for.”
Rob Fisher concluded: “Ensuring you have the right individuals for each role is crucial. This is why hiring an apprentice presents an excellent opportunity for businesses to recruit, train, and nurture future talent.” For more information, please visit: https://ukmha.org.uk/training-and-apprenticeships/
After months of eager anticipation, the esteemed winners of the Archies 2024 were announced during a spectacular awards ceremony and dinner held on Saturday 14th September.
This renowned event drew around 400 attendees, including UKMHA members and representatives from the broader material handling industry. They came together to celebrate the exceptional contributions made by inspiring individuals and teams over the past year.
Founded more than 30 years ago, the Archies’ enduring success serves as a testament to the industry’s innovative spirit and forward-thinking mindset. Their dedication to striving for improvement continues to enhance the environment for everyone involved in the industry.
The 2024 Archies awards winners are:
Highly commended: Hoppecke Industrial Batteries
Rob Fisher, UKMHA CEO said: “The Archies awards celebrate and acknowledge the exceptional talent and passion within our industry that propels our sector forward every day. This event allows us to highlight individuals who tirelessly demonstrate the creativity, dynamism, and innovative spirit of the material handling sector. Once more, we extend our warmest congratulations to all the winners this year.”
The fabulous evening was filled with entertainment including a fantastic after dinner party with live music, courtesy of the Kings. The compere for the evening was well-known actress, comedian and TV presenter Sally Phillips, whose natural wit and presenting style made this year’s awards ceremony an unforgettable occasion.
Andrew Woodward, UKMHA President said: “None of this would have been possible without the hard work and support of many people. On behalf of the UKMHA, I’d like to express gratitude to our sponsors, partners, volunteers and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this event happen.”
The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) is excited to announce the launch of its first apprenticeship scheme. This initiative has been created to help UKMHA members and the wider material handling industry to develop their own future talent.
UKMHA is a not-for-profit organisation representing all aspects of the UK’s material handling industry, including manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and other stakeholders. It is dedicated to advancing excellence in the sector.
The association is fully aware of the industry-wide challenge of bridging the current skills gap. It is paramount that the material handling sector attracts young individuals, along with experienced professionals from other sectors, and provides them with the required skills to join our fast moving, growing, and vibrant industry.
UKMHA recognises that apprentices can deliver a vast array of benefits to businesses. The skills developed, via our scheme, will add tangible benefits and value and, in addition to this, there are government funding schemes that cover apprentice training costs.
Rob Fisher, Chief Executive of UKMHA said: “Our scheme provides such a fantastic opportunity for businesses across the UK to ensure they have the right people with the best possible skills. Hiring an apprentice is a great way for many companies to recruit, train and retain future talent. Our initiative aligns well with the UK Government’s launch of its Skills England body which has been formed to boost the nation’s skills.”
The UKMHA apprenticeship scheme is specifically designed for the material handling industry with a focus on industry best practices. This ensures apprentices are trained to the highest standards and gain the relevant skills to support their career. All delivered by a scheme that is approved by UKMHA, which is recognised as the voice of the UK material handling industry.
Rob Fisher commented: “We are thrilled to have partnered with SMB College Group to develop and deliver a tailored apprenticeship scheme which will meet the needs of our industry.”
For more information, please visit: https://ukmha.org.uk/training-and-apprenticeships/
The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) recognises the crucial role material handling equipment and solutions play in the UK economy. Dedicated to future-proofing the sector’s workforce, UKMHA is thrilled to introduce 11 new technical training courses to help its members and the wider material handling industry ensure their teams have the right skills.
The provision of these new training courses recognises that it is crucial for material handling equipment organisations to have skilled workforces. UKMHA acknowledges that there is a pressing need to continually upskill staff through technical training, both for talent retention and to ensure that future staffing targets are met. The courses are designed to help businesses retain their engineers by providing them with professional development opportunities.
UKMHA is a not-for-profit organisation representing all aspects of the UK’s material handling industry, including manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and other stakeholders. The completion of a UKMHA training course carries a level weighting and recognition which demonstrates that the person has been trained to the highest standard in the relevant skills for the material handling industry.
The new courses start this autumn and include Lift Truck LPG Fuel Systems (Operating Safely), Working on High Voltage Lift Trucks, Lift Truck Electrical Charger Connection and Isolation, Lift Truck Hydraulics and many more.
The training provided by UKMHA, in partnership with the SMB College Group, will deliver fantastic benefits to members and non-members. These courses are a ‘must’ for any business within the material handling industry. Through improving their teams’ skills, they can become a ‘one-stop-shop’ for their customers by providing improved support and maintenance for a wide range of equipment.
Courses will be held at the SMB’s Stephenson Campus in Leicestershire and will be delivered by highly trained professionals. Along with classroom sessions, there will also be the opportunity to work with a wide range of material handling equipment. Additionally, UKMHA members receive discounted rates on any of these courses.
The new training programme is part of UKMHA’s plan to tackle the talent shortage that the sector is experiencing. This initiative also includes the first UKMHA apprenticeship scheme that has been created to attract new talent into the material handling industry, training the engineers of the future in best practice to support this vital industry.
For more information, please visit: https://ukmha.org.uk/training-and-apprenticeships/
As one of the UK Material Handling Association’s (UKMHA) most significant campaigns, National Forklift Safety Day aims to emphasise the importance of safe working practices for everyone working in the material handling industry.
Focussing on incident prevention and response, and supported by the tagline ‘Prevent – Manage – Learn’, this year’s initiative will begin on the 11th of June and run until the 9th of December.
Unlike previous years, National Forklift Safety Day 2024 is a multi-stage campaign that involves releasing resources on different weekdays across seven months, in line with the ambition to ‘make every day National Forklift Safety Day’.
Each release will focus on a different aspect of forklift incidents, the first of which the UKMHA has called Prepare. This opening stage will review the protections that should be in place everywhere that MHE is used.
Remarking on the first stage of this year’s NFSD initiative, UKMHA’s Technical Director David Goss said: “Workplaces should be safe environments where the risk of an incident occurring is reduced to the minimum. Our compliance checklists provide a simple method to verify that legal obligations ensuring the safety of staff and visitors are being met.”
He continued: “Our goal is to ensure that everyone in the material handling industry is safeguarded against the most serious consequences of forklift accidents, and the release of our preparation-focused resources will allow us to do just that.”
To support the campaign, the UKMHA will be releasing a selection of useful resources that educate people about what to do in the event of an incident, including compliance checklists, animation videos, and real-world case studies. They will share these materials via their website and social media pages, so those who wish to participate are advised to keep a close eye on the UKMHA’s posts on 11th June and the following days.
These resources will cover a range of important topics, including monitoring and recognising unsafe working practices, incident response, and accident investigation.
National Forklift Safety Day information is freely available to all, but additional resources will be available exclusively to UKMHA Safe User Group (SUG) members. Further information about the Safe User Group and a membership application form can be found at: https://ukmha.org.uk/safe-user-group/
For more information about this year’s National Forklift Safety Day campaign, please visit: https://nationalforkliftsafetyday.co.uk/
This year’s Archies awards, the UK’s national event for honouring excellence in material handling, is fast approaching, with only a few months to go before the Hilton Birmingham Metropole opens its doors on Saturday 14th September to the industry’s most innovative companies, teams, and individuals.
With IMHX – the UK’s largest logistics event – having confirmed their headline sponsorship for the Archies awards 2024, the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) is confident that this year’s ceremony will be as memorable as ever. As a highlight of the material handling industry’s calendar, the annual Archies awards has been recognising and rewarding exceptional products and milestones for more than 30 years.
David Goss, the UKMHA’s Technical Director, commented on IMHX’s sponsorship, saying: “We are delighted to welcome IMHX as the headline sponsor of this year’s widely anticipated Archies awards. Like the Archies, IMHX is a long-running event that brings people together to recognise innovation within logistics and material handling. Having a headline sponsor of IMHX’s stature is a testament to the enduring importance of the Archies awards.”
As the UK’s leading event for showcasing state-of-the-art supply chain solutions, IMHX has been connecting buyers and suppliers for many years. Established in 2001, the exhibition is run by Informa, the world’s premier B2B event organiser.
Rob Fisher, Group Director for Informa Markets commented: “We believe that IMHX is an ideal sponsor for the UKMHA’s Archies awards 2024. Both events serve a similar purpose – to demonstrate that the manufacturing industry should be regarded as one of the UK’s most crucial sectors and to support the industry with effective networking opportunities. We aim to see UK manufacturing compete at a global level, and celebrating the accomplishments of our companies and individuals is a step toward ensuring that.”
This year’s Archies awards ceremony will take place on the 14th of September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. Regularly attracting audiences of more than 500 people, the event presents a perfect opportunity for companies and professionals to connect and build long-lasting business relationships. The event also boasts award sponsors from leading companies within the sector, including HUBTEX, Combilift, Toyota Material Handling, TVH, and B&B Attachments.
To ensure that the ceremony represents the entire material handling industry, the Archies has a wide selection of awards categories, including Sustainability Award of the Year, Automation Product Innovation of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Apprentice of the Year, and Training Provider of the Year.
For more information, please visit: IMHX website
For more information about the Archies awards 2024, please visit: UKMHA website
National Forklift Safety Day is one of the UK material handling sector’s most important initiatives, aiming to spread awareness about the significance of operator training and the safe use of forklift. Beginning on June 11th, this year’s online campaign is supported by the theme ‘Prevent – Manage – Learn’.This succinct tagline reflects the UK Material Handling Association’s (UKMHA) ambition to educate people about what to do before, during and after an incident.
Commenting on the campaign, David Goss, the UKMHA’s Technical Director, said: “National Forklift Safety Day provides us with an ideal opportunity to reinforce the importance of safe working practices for those who work with material handling equipment. The UKMHA is committed to helping companies and operators to uphold the highest standards of safety, and this global initiative goes a long way towards achieving that goal”.
National Forklift Safety Day 2024 will largely focus on exploring the 7 stages of the forklift incident cycle. The UKMHA will be releasing impactful content relevant to each stage of the cycle across the following dates:
Each stage represents a specific strategy for dealing with a forklift incident. By spreading our campaign across 7 months, we hope to fulfil our ambition to ‘make every day National Forklift Safety Day’. The first stage, Prepare, delves into the preparatory steps that should be taken to minimise the chance of a forklift incident. We will be releasing various resources to support this part of the campaign, including compliance checklists, animation videos, and health and safety checklists.
The National Forklift Safety Day initiative has been raising awareness about the safe use of material handling equipment since 2014. NFSD took place in the United States until 2019, when the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) took over the campaign. BITA eventually merged with the Forklift Truck Association (FLTA) to create the UKMHA, the trade association that has organised National Forklift Safety Day ever since.
Dedicated to promoting safety standards across the entire material handling industry, the UKMHA invites everyone to participate in National Forklift Safety Day 2024. From forklift operators looking to enhance their knowledge of safety protocols to managers interested in improving their operator training programs, the campaign will be of great value to everyone in material handling.
Visit the official National Forklift Safety Day website for more information.
The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) has issued a jacking and blocking safety alert after a serious hand injury to an engineer.
The incident happened when the engineer jacked up a reach truck to check for free play in the steering bearing fitted to the top of the final drive gearbox. The engineer held on to the drive wheel in order to check for excessive play in the bearing.
The truck slipped off the jack and trapped the third and fourth finger of the engineer’s right hand between the wheel and the floor. The injuries to engineer’s hand included cuts, crushing and fractures.
The truck was only supported by the jack at the time of the incident. It had not been lowered onto supporting blocks, leaving the jack as the only load support for the task, which is unsuitable equipment to carry out this task.
The UKMHA safety alert identifies a number of contributory factors for this particular incident, including inappropriate equipment, inadequate training, failure to ensure a safe working area and a lack of proper job planning.
David Goss, Technical Director at UKMHA said: “No work should be carried out under any load that is supported by a jack. Failure to ensure adequate support of the load was very hazardous, and this incident could have led to far more serious injuries.”
He continued: “Our safety alert provides advice for those maintaining and servicing material handling equipment. We advise them to follow the guidelines as laid out in the safety alert and the associated jacking and blocking safety awareness video.”
The UKMHA plays a vital role in promoting improved safety standards within the material handling industry in the UK. The key aim is to ensure that the safety of its members and the wider industry is of paramount importance.
Download Safety Alert 0005 Jacking and Blocking
The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) announces Rob Fisher as its Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2024.
Rob Fisher will succeed Tim Waples, Chief Executive UKMHA, whose retirement was announced earlier in the year, and Cameron Burnett, CEO Designate.
Under Tim’s stewardship, which dates back to 2020 when BITA and FLTA combined, UKMHA has flourished. “Tim has provided UKMHA with excellent leadership at what was a very challenging period with the combination of two major associations and not forgetting the unique circumstances that we all had to deal with during COVID.” states Simon Barkworth, UKMHA Joint President. “We wish Tim a well-earned and happy retirement.”
Cameron, who joined in 2022, has been instrumental in advancing UKMHA’s marketing and events strategy and departs with the association’s heartfelt well wishes.
Rob Fisher steps into his new role with a mandate to drive member engagement, ensure seamless day-to-day operations, and collaborate with the board of directors to shape the association’s future trajectory.
With over 19 years leading IMHX, a pivotal event jointly owned by UKMHA and Informa Markets, Rob brings a wealth of industry insight and expertise. His proven track record in business management ensures UKMHA’s continued dedication to serving its members and advancing sustainability, safety, and excellence in the material handling sector.
Joint UKMHA President, Andrew Woodward, expresses enthusiasm for Rob’s appointment, highlighting his strategic acumen and industry knowledge as invaluable assets. “We are thrilled to welcome Rob to the UKMHA family,” says Woodward. “His leadership will be crucial as we champion our dynamic industry and empower our members to thrive in an evolving landscape.”
“I am honoured and excited by this unique opportunity,” says Fisher. “I look forward to engaging with UKMHA members along with our Safe User Group at the earliest opportunity. With an exceptional team by my side, I am confident in our ability to drive positive change and continue to elevate the profile of our industry.”
Andrew Woodward continues “I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Tim for ensuring a seamless transition during the merger of FLTA and BITA. His efforts, alongside Cameron’s, have been instrumental in the smooth operation of our association over the past 18 months”.
The Archies awards for honouring excellence in material handling, which will be held on September 14th, will be Rob’s first UKMHA event. “The Archies is a prestigious event that recognises excellence and outstanding achievements. I’m looking forward to welcoming our finalists, sponsors, and guests to what will be a true celebration of those operating at the highest echelons in our industry” finishes Fisher.
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