Regardless of the type of business or premises, safe practice is at the heart of any logistics operation, from large supply chain warehouses to storage facilities within a manufacturing business or retailer.
Being able to adapt to the wide variety of needs and requirements of clients is what has seen Phoenix Training continue to grow and evolve over more than 40 years, and the team, led by Managing Director Emma Williams, is now offering bespoke health and safety courses, written and developed to suit individual clients’ needs.
Founded in 1983, the award-winning ITSSAR accredited training centre in Wellingborough delivers courses that cover everything from beginners to those that are trained and need either refresher courses or conversion training, and includes instruction on fork lift trucks, very narrow aisle, pivot steer, overhead gantry cranes, scissor lifts, cherry pickers and abrasive wheels, as well as health and safety.
Introducing the bespoke health and safety option was prompted by identifying how clients often needed specific areas covered that might not be included in standard courses, and that there were sometimes elements of courses that weren’t relevant to clients’ needs.
“It’s all about being able to give our clients exactly what they need, and we could see that some of them needed health and safety training that was specific to their business operations,” said Emma. “I’ve been delivering training for a long time now and I could see how creating bespoke courses would help. The standard courses can’t cover everything, and different clients have different needs. Making sure health and safety standards are high is the most important thing, and so now they have the option of having a bespoke course that ensures all aspects are covered.
“The training includes manual handling, working at height, electrical safety, forklift safety, trips and hazards. We also get a lot of enquiries about risk assessment training but using the clients’ own resources and risk assessment documents.”
Emma heads up a team of four full-time instructors, mainly delivering training sessions on rider-operated equipment, pedestrian pallet trucks and stackers, counterbalance and reach trucks, as well as health and safety. Phoenix Training also offers IOSH Managing Safely and Working Safely courses, and Managers’ and Supervisors’ Awareness courses as well as manual handling training.
Experienced operator training is specifically aimed at those who have been using equipment for years but have never had any formal training and need certification, or those who have trained in other countries and need UK certification.
Around half of the courses Phoenix Training delivers are at the company’s dedicated training centre, with the rest being carried out at clients’ own sites.
With companies currently having to adapt to changes to employment law and increased tax contributions, as well as a lot of uncertainty about rising costs, particularly fuel costs, and global events, training can often be a means of keeping tighter control on budgets without compromising on service.
“Firstly, when there’s some uncertainty, I think we often see companies making more efficient use of the storage space they have available to them rather than having to move or extend premises, and that’s where equipment that can be used in much tighter spaces becomes invaluable,” said Emma.
“Training existing staff is more cost effective than hiring new people to cope with increases in demand, and where you do have a high turnover, having a trusted training partner to come in and get everyone up to speed is important.
“Because our team is qualified in all aspects of training, we can look at individual needs and work with the customer to put together a programme that ensures they’ve got everything properly covered.
“Our approach has always been centred around the customer, almost everything is driven by demand. If someone comes to us with a specific need, we can react to it. Our courses cover everyone from a complete novice to those that are trained and need either refresher courses or conversion training. And we can also train instructors so that they can deliver training within their own company.
“Workplace safety is of the utmost importance to us and to our clients, and we want the candidates we work with to train to operate forklifts and other mechanical handling equipment safely, and to understand the health and safety requirements of their workplace.
“Whatever the customer’s needs, we’ll work with them to make sure they have their people trained to as high a level as possible.”
Find out more on their website, email info@phoenixsafetyservices.co.uk or call 01933 677708.
