FORK LIFT TRUCK DRIVERS IN DEMAND

Friday 11 November 2005

Two local training companies, TBG Learning and West Midlands Training, have combined their areas of expertise to help unemployed people qualify as Fork Lift truck drivers. The innovative partnership is helping satisfy demand from local employers who need trained people for moving goods in their warehouses and in large retail outlets. The training, valued at £400 per person, is Government funded and equips people with the right license to win jobs that are available locally.

TBG Learning, whose West Midlands centre is in Great Charles Street, Birmingham, provides a two-day theoretical course for the Fork Lift Truck driving license, also known as the ‘Counter Balance’ license, led by TBG Learning tutor Marie Simmons, who has experience of this sector. TBG Learning also provides English and maths tutoring if required and then arranges the practical five-day course with West Midlands Training in Halesowen, whose recruitment division also provides help in job searches.

“This is directly training the unemployed for jobs that are available locally and the partnership between TBG Learning and West Midlands Training provides a complete solution. Funding for all the long term unemployed participants is provided by Learndirect, the Government’s national programme of online learning support”, said Adrian Downing, Regional Manager, TBG Learning West Midlands.

Anyone interested in joining the Fork Lift truck training, which runs regularly, should contact TBG Learning by calling in at the centre at 145 Great Charles Street, Birmingham, or by telephoning 0121 200 246. The centre is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.

TBG Learning offers a number of tutor-led and computer based English language courses for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and a Learndirect computer suite with online courses in IT, literacy and numeracy. The centre, where over two hundred adults are currently on courses, provides a wide range of free courses in computing and business administration, all of which lead to nationally recognised qualifications and enjoy a high success rate.