Our Training Locations
Our six training depots are located in: Portsmouth; Otterbourne; Aldermaston; Theale; Worthing and Havant. Our training centres are conveniently situated within the local areas of the following counties to provide the maximum coverage within: Hampshire; Isle of Wight; West Sussex; East Sussex; Surrey; Buckinghamshire; Oxfordshire; Berkshire; Wiltshire and the eastern side of Dorset.
Our range of forklift courses:
Powered Pallet Trucks
A Powered pallet truck or electric pallet mover is a piece of equipment that is used to move pallets at ground level, as well as load and offload pallets from various vehicles. A common place you’ll see people working with powered pallet trucks would be in a warehouse environment.
Counterbalance Forklift Truck
A Counterbalance forklift truck is a straightforward forklift that allows you to manoeuvre up to the exact position of the load you are trying to move. This is because of the forks that extend from the front of the forklift. One advantage of a counterbalance forklift is that they can be used both indoors and outdoors.
It is important not to overload a counterbalance forklift because if the load is heavier than the weight at the back then the forklift can tip over.
Reach Forklift Truck
A Reach forklift truck is an extremely agile forklift, which works well in tight spaces, they are usually found in warehouses. A major benefit of a reach forklift, is obviously the heights they can reach too. The main use of a reach truck is to load and offload products at big heights. However, unlike a counterbalance truck, a reach truck works best indoors. We can also offer a conversion course to counterbalance forklifts.
Bendi Forklift Trucks
The difference between a bendi forklift and a regular forklift is its design, having a “bend” in the middle between the forks and the body of the vehicle. A Bendi forklift truck, which can also be called a pivot steer forklift, comes with a lot of advantages compared to other types of forklifts, such as: being easy to operate and manoeuvre, good in tight spaces (similar to the reach forklift) and generally being a more comfortable ride than a lot of other forklifts.
Moffett Truck
A Moffett truck is a truck-mounted forklift. It can perform a number of tasks that regular forklifts can, such as carrying loads, but it is light enough that it can be transported on the back of a truck. A major advantage of using a Moffett truck is that it can save money and time as you won’t need to pay to deliver a forklift, as well as the products.
Looking to book your forklift training?
We have a wide range of forklift courses available for you to book online now!
We have industry-leading forklift training facilities in Portsmouth, Southampton, Reading, and Worthing, giving us great coverage of Hampshire, Berkshire, West Sussex, and the surrounding areas.
We have worked hard to ensure that we have the best forklift and plant training facilities available, with all of our training depots having dedicated forklift training facilities, which include extremely spacious, well-lit, and clean warehouse facilities.
Additionally, we have fully equipped classroom facilities where our students can complete their theory training in an air-conditioned and distraction-free space.
Off-Site Forklift Courses Available
We are also able to carry out off-site forklift training on our customer’s sites, using their equipment.
Off-site training is a good idea as it gives operators the chance to practice in their working environment and allows them to train using the equipment they will be operating daily.
There are several requirements that you need to meet before training can be completed at your site, such as sufficient room must be given for practical off-job training.
What is forklift training?
Our Forklift courses are designed to give students the correct skills and knowledge that they need to be able to safely and efficiently operate a forklift, specific to the machine used within their chosen forklift course. Furthermore, completing forklift training will show employers that you have the proper training & qualifications as well as helping to ensure the safety of other employees in your workplace.
We offer forklift courses on five different types of forklift trucks, all of which have a variety of courses that cater for different skill and confidence levels. The forklifts we offer training on include:
- Counterbalance Trucks
- Reach Trucks
- Pivot-steer Trucks
- Moffett Trucks
- Powered Pallet Trucks
What is a forklift licence?
There is no such thing as a licence to operate a forklift.
A 'forklift licence' is a common term used in this industry as many people refer to their certificate of basic training as a 'licence', but this is not the case.
The certificate is issued upon successful completion of a training course.
Does everyone need to be trained on a forklift truck?
Your employer has a general duty under section 2 of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 to provide information, instruction, training, and supervision to ensure the health and safety of their employees.
Under the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 employers are required to ‘ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for purposes of health and safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken’.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 also place duties on employers to provide training. By not providing you with any training at all, your employer could be breaking the law. Rider-operated lift trucks includes the requirements for basic lift-truck training.
Requirements to get a forklift licence
What age do I need to be to operate a forklift?
To be able to operate a forklift, you must be over the minimum school leaving age of 16, unless operating in dockyards, where the age requirement is 18 or over.
If I don't drive a car, can I operate a forklift truck?
Yes, you don’t need to hold a driving licence to operate a forklift truck.
The only time this would become applicable would be when the forklift would be traveling on the public highway. The factors you need to consider include:
- If you’re planning to operate your forklift on a public road or use it to travel along a public road, your vehicle must be registered with the DVLA, taxed, and insured. The Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 specifies that all mechanically propelled vehicles, when used or kept on public roads, must have appropriate registration and taxation, along with the display of registration plates.
- Appropriate lighting is also needed for public roads, including an amber beacon that lights up (this is for occasions when the forklift will be travelling below 25mph). License plates will also be required, like any other road vehicle.
- Drivers must also have passed a forklift operator course and have a full UK driving license. Depending on the different weights of the forklifts when fully laden, there may also be different age restrictions on the driver – this is worth investigating in case you assign a vehicle to a driver who is underage.
I have a learning difficulty, or I don't speak English will I struggle on the course?
Our instructors are trained to give assistance to students that have learning difficulties. They can read the theory test questions to the students if required and assist in any way to make the learning process as easy and comfortable as possible for the student.
I have never used a forklift before, what is the best course for me?
For those candidates who don’t have any experience in operating a forklift, we suggest completing a 5-day novice forklift course. This training could be reduced to 4 days if the training is 1:1.
If you want to complete the day refresher forklift course, you’ll need forklift certification to prove you’ve had prior training.
If you have lost it, you must do a 3-day experienced operator course.
If your certificate has run out, you need to complete a 1-day refresher course.
I have lots of experience but have lost my certificate, what length of course do I require?
If you have a lot of experience as a forklift operator, you would be required to do a 3-day Experienced Operators course.
Although you have lots of experience, you would need to produce a certificate of previous training to be able to do a 1-day refresher course for Forklift training.
Alternatively, you may be thinking, my certificate has run out, what course do I do? In this situation, you would be required to do a 1-day FLT refresher training course.
What is involved in the examination process?
Testing is broken down into 3 parts.
- Pre-shift check test
- The theory test, consisting of 20 multiple choice questions and 5 short explanation questions.
- Practical operational test. Driving through a chicane and 3 lifts at different heights.
Forklift Training Courses Costs
Many ask what a forklift licence costs. However, you don't actually get a licence. When completing your forklift training, you obtain certification from the training provider, but for an extra charge you can have certification from the accrediting body (ITSAR).
Your forklift course price will depend upon which of our courses you decide to complete, with those candidates who are less experienced in operating a forklift being more likely to require a longer course, which will give you more time to train and become familiar with the machinery.
Our team are dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals.
Every 2 Start instructor is fully qualified to educate and examine on a staggering 22 industrial groups. From pedestrian pallet trucks to telescopic masted rough terrain trucks.
If you need some extra tuition or English isn’t your first language, please don’t be put off completing one of our courses. They are designed to be accessible for everyone and our instructors are fully trained to assist students who need a bit of extra tuition and theory tests can be read to students if needed.
Speak to our team today about how we can help you. 2 Start Training Ltd is accredited by ITSSAR (Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register). They are one of the most recognised accreditations for forklift training in the UK.
Do operators need to be retested?
Yes, under Health & Safety guidelines operators of forklift trucks have to be retested at regular intervals, normally every 3-5 years.
Once your forklift licence is over 5 years old, you will need to complete a Refresher training course.
Do managers or supervisors need to be trained?
Yes, managers and supervisors do need to complete the relevant forklift training as PUWER Regulations 1998 state that “all persons who supervise or manage the use of work equipment have received adequate training for the purpose of Health & Safety”.
Do trucks have to be inspected daily?
Yes, a qualified forklift operator must inspect forklifts at the start of every shift. (We can provide daily check sheets for equipment).
Will the certification cover our company for Health & Safety and Insurance purposes?
Yes, 2 Start Training Ltd Forklift truck training Instructors and Examiners are fully accredited with ITSSAR (Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register). All training courses are to the National Standards.
Forklift Training Near Me?
2 Start have 5 locations in the South where you can complete training:
Our Portsmouth depot is situated in Hampshire, which covers this area, as well as the Isle of Wight.
Out Southampton depot is also situated North of Hampshire, and covers this location, as well as Wiltshire and Dorset.
Our Worthing Depot is located in West Sussex, which covers this area, and Surrey.
Our Reading depot covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxford areas.
Our Theale depot also covers West Berkshire, as well as Buckinghamshire.
Here at 2 Start Training, we are able to give our students the opportunity to complete their forklift operator training on one of their own sites and using their own equipment. This is not an opportunity that is offered by all training providers, but we feel this gives our students the advantage of training on the machines and facilities that they will be using day in, day out.
The additional areas we cover include; Chichester, Fareham, Romsey, Eastleigh, Newbury, Crawley, Basingstoke, and Brighton. This enables the students to be training on the machines that they will be working with on a daily basis.
To find out if you can complete a forklift course near you, call out team of advisors on 02392 123 555.
