ALL ABOARD FOR CATHELCO TRAINING INVESTMENT
A company that specialises in corrosion protection systems for the marine industry is celebrating the successful completion of four of its staff in their NVQ Level 2 in Specialised Plant & Machinery Operations with local training provider NLT Training Services.
Cathelco, which has recently moved into a new flagship building in Chesterfield with a distinctive ‘wavy’ roof and a highly sophisticated racking system for the storage of crates, wanted to enhance and formalise the skills of its fork lift truck team. The course was fully funded through the Government’s Train to Gain service, which is designed to upskill those who have not undertaken formal training before to at least NVQ Level 2.
Jim Erskine, production manager at Cathelco, explains: “It is important that we have a flexible workforce, which is fully trained in all aspects of equipment operation. Employees who work safely and efficiently are vital in helping Cathelco to compete more effectively in the global marketplace. It is also crucial to have staff fully qualified and to be aware of all the health & safety issues relating to their job, to ensure their own safety and that of others.”
Paul Dixon, fork lift truck driver at Cathelco, said: “Although I have been driving fork lift trucks for many years, the course has made me much more aware of potential risks and the need to be vigilant at all times. The course reinforced the importance of taking responsibility for the truck, carrying out safety checks and handling different types of loads the correct way. He continues: “We have recently moved into a new factory with a six metre high racking system. What I have learnt on the course has helped me in a number of areas, such as operating the lift trucks more safety, for example, by keeping the forks level when working at height.”
Some of the successful employees on the course, such as Paul Dixon, have gone on to train for their Assessors Certificate with NLT Training Services, which means they can train other people within Cathelco to also operate fork lift trucks safely.
Steve Meadows, chief executive of NLT Training Services, said: “We would like to congratulate the four staff from Cathelco on their success in their fork lift training. Train to Gain provides vital funding which businesses can access to help to enhance the skills of their workforce, as well as improving morale, motivation and business performance.
Train to Gain is fully funded by the Learning and Skills Council, which means that there are no financial costs to employers, all that is required of them is that they give their staff the time to train. Training is normally carried out at business premises, so there is minimal disruption for staff. Train to Gain is aimed at employees who may not have had any formal training before to bring them up to NVQ Level 2, which is equivalent to five GCSEs at grades A*-C. Large and small organisations can enroll in the initiative and each programme is tailor made to suit each individual company’s needs.
NLT Training Services provide a number of Train to Gain courses for employees to choose from, which range from NVQs in Team Leading and Customer Service, to the more specialised NVQs in Distribution, Warehousing & Storage Operations, Specialised Plant & Machinery Operations.
For more information on Train to Gain and how your employees could benefit from the programme call NLT Training Services on 0845 40 80 378
