Do you remember a time when you had an instructor or teacher who inspired you? What was their approach to their teaching techniques that really made the course click for you? Maybe their teaching approach resonated with you. Maybe you can use your experience to inspire someone else.
Becoming an instructor is a rewarding role for those who have a passion for what they do. And it could be your next career move. You could upskill as an instructor within the road haulage or construction industry.
You must have a passion about what you teach. It is no different as to why you embark on a particular career. It is because you love what you do and want to excel in it, and the principle is the same when becoming an instructor. If you have that passion, you will pass that on to your students, in which your attitude to your job will stick with them for years to come.
There are many benefits to the business and the individual when becoming a Forklift or Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) instructor. Find out what you will gain when becoming an instructor, what challenges you can overcome, and how to upskill and become a trainer.
Why Become an HGV or Forklift Instructor?
Saving Costs
Since businesses save money by training in-house rather than outsourcing, they often invest in their staff by upskilling current operators into industry experts. If you want to branch out as a freelance trainer, you can set your own rates, further increasing their earning potential.
Ensures Consistent Training
If you are training in-house, you will likely be working with the students you train. This gives you the opportunity to ensure that they are adhering to the appropriate procedures properly after course completion. Individuals will be less inclined to conduct improper practices if their co-worker is their instructor. You have the opportunity to shape the next generation of safe, skilled operators or drivers across the country.
You will have a catalogue of knowledge and insight you can provide to your students. You must also keep up to date with the rules and regulations you are instructing courses for, while being up to date with industry insights which could impact training. So, the longer you are an instructor, the more well versed you will be in your area of expertise.
Earning Potentials
As an in-house instructor, you can see an increased salary due to the costs being saved in your business. Using the source Talent.com, we identified the average annual salaries for an HGV and Forklift instructor across the country, and compared them to Forklift operator & HGV driver salaries.
An HGV Instructor can see an average annual salary of £31,500, which can increase to as much as £40,000. Whereas an HGV Drivers average salary is £28,279, with a high of £36,602.
A Forklift instructor can see a salary of approximately £29,000 annually, with an increased potential of £37,500. To put this into perspective, a Forklift operator can see an average salary of £23,400, with a high of £31,200.
In conjunction with becoming a private trainer, you can outline your own training rates, as well as consider additional costs to cover your expenses, such as travel.
The salary change is significant, so why not upskill? So, you know why you should upskill from an operator to an instructor, but what skills do you need for HGV or Forklift instructing?
Key Skills Relevant
Communication & Teaching Ability
It is imperative that you have coherent communication skills and a comprehensive teaching ability. You must be able to answer questions relevant to the course you are teaching and quash any uncertainties students may have.
Training the next generation of operators, it is vital to have the wealth of knowledge and experience needed to help your students operate a Forklift or HGV safely. After all, to communicate instructions with your student is essential for the practical training elements.
Patience & Adaptability
No two students are the same. During your instructor career, you will train many people with different personalities. You will also train students who excel in one side of the course, but struggle with the other elements. Some will find the theory aspect of the course challenging, while others may have issues with the practical elements. You must learn to adapt your teachings to accommodate for different learning styles. This will prevent stagnation in your training techniques and help you continuously refine your approach. Also, this will keep you engaged with the course you are teaching and training in.
Assessment & Feedback
One key responsibility as an instructor is to provide constructive feedback and highlight areas for improvement. It is all well and good ensuring you are giving positive feedback, but you must be transparent about the feedback provided. This will include identifying any issues with the students’ progress, while also providing the feedback when necessary to do so.
Also, training feedback must be something that is relevant to their course structure, as well as being actionable. This is normally directed at the practical elements of the course, since the hands-on learnings is a demonstration of the student putting their theoretical knowledge to practical use, which is important to get right.
A balance of constructive criticism and positive feedback will help gear the student in quashing any behaviours or habits which will hinder progress towards their licence acquisition or Forklift certification. Once the student passes their course, they will be in control of a machine or vehicle that can cause serious damage to an individual or the environment if not handled safely or appropriately. You must instil a safe system at work during the training.
Safety Awareness
You must reinforce safety awareness in students. Many situations could increase a risk of incident, so you need operators to understand the importance of maintaining best practices, which can make the student conscious of the decisions they make.
Utilising the Highway Code for HGV Driving, and for Forklift:
- Health & Safety at Work Act
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)
- Approved Code of Practice L117
- Lifting Operation & Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)
These are essential to refresh your knowledge when it is necessary to do so. This is why it is vital to be aware of any changes that are paramount to the training you are supplying.
Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them
It goes without saying that you will face challenges throughout your instructor training profession. It won’t always be smooth sailing, but how can you prepare yourself for these situations, and what could you encounter?
Your students
If you initially find it difficult to keep students engaged with their training. Make it more interactive for them. Implement quizzes, and if possible, small challenges to get them more engaged. Set milestones for the students to focus on, this will help them work on their abilities and build their confidence.
You may also come across nervous students who are doubting their ability. If you have a student like this, you should set small, manageable goals for them. With each small goal they accomplish, they will become more confident in their operating or driving ability.
Real-World Training Settings
You may have some concerns when teaching in a real-life environment. Whether this be taking the student out on the road in an HGV, or having students use a forklift in a working warehouse. You should always begin with small skill progression. For example, for Forklift operating, you should always begin with the smaller, easier tasks, such as understanding the controls of the Forklift before operating.
Regarding HGV training, allow your student to complete their reverse driving manoeuvre on a dedicated reversing area, rather than on the road (If possible). You don’t want to make your students overly confident, as that is where the most errors and incidents can occur. The goal is to ensure your student is aware of the procedures they must adhere to, while maintaining confidence. Then, once they know the basic controls in relation to the course they are completing, they can take the next step to implement these in real life situations.
How You Can Become an Instructor
2 Start offer HGV instructor training for the Register of Logistics Instructors (RLI) which is accredited by VTCT Skills for Logistics. You must already hold an HGV licence for three years for both Category C & C+E before you can complete your course.
During your course, you will be tested on:
- LGV Driving Instructor Theory
- LGV Driving Instructor Practical Driving Ability
- LGV Driving Instructor Instructional Ability
You must pass all three stages to be awarded your certification. After successful training and testing, you will be added to the register as an HGV instructor.
2 Start also supply Forklift Instructor training, certified by the Independent Training Standards Scheme & Register (ITSSAR). You can complete the entire course In ten days, or you can opt for our Direct-Entry (for those who want to change their current Forklift instructor certification to an ITSSAR accredited one) or the Re-registration course, which are both completed in five days.
You must have at least 12 months operating experience before you can complete our instructor course. In which, you will cover 9 stages of testing, which are:
- Conduct a Practical Demonstration
- Conduct a Practical Lesson
- Theory Health & Safety at Work
- Theory Instructional Techniques
- Theory Recommendations of Training
- Report Writing
- Conduct a Practical Skills Test
Once you successfully complete all testing, you will be awarded your Forklift Instructor Certification.
Career Opportunities & Next Steps
So, what job opportunities are there? You could work for a training school, like 2 Start! Then, you will be working with other instructors, which can help you either keep on top with any changes you are not aware of, or even refresh other instructors knowledge!
Alternatively, you could become an inhouse instructor for a business, or upskill in the company you currently work for. There are so many different avenues, and the choice is yours.
Ready to Train the Next Generation?
So, not only can you see an increase in salary, but you will be well versed in the rules and regulations, making you more competent as either an HGV driver or Forklift Operator.
If you are an experienced operator of either, why not take the next step in your career and complete one of our training courses at 2 Start. We offer instructor courses for Forklift and HGVs, and you can become an approved and certified instructor in as little as ten days.
Book your course today, or call our team on 02392 123 555, and discuss your training options today.
