Forklift training FAQ
Straight answers to the questions businesses in London and the Home Counties ask us most.
Questions and answers
Do you train individuals who want a forklift licence?
No. Forklift Agency trains businesses only, on site at premises where forklift trucks are available. If you are an individual in London looking for a course, our Forklift Training Centres website lists centres by region, or search for "forklift training centres" on Yell.
Where does the training happen?
At your premises, on your trucks, in the environment your operators actually work in. We do not run a training centre in London or anywhere else. The instructor brings everything else: the safety videos on a laptop or tablet, theory material, cones, test papers and the certificates.
Which accrediting bodies do you work with?
Our instructors are registered with RTITB, AITT or ITSSAR, the accrediting bodies whose certificates are recognised by the Health and Safety Executive under the Approved Code of Practice L117. Every instructor has been vetted by us, holds their own public liability insurance and has worked with Forklift Agency for years.
How long does a forklift course take?
A novice counterbalance course for three candidates takes three days. Reach trucks, VNA, telehandlers and articulated trucks take longer. Refresher and conversion courses are normally one day, and powered pallet truck courses can be half a day. We confirm the duration in the quote.
How many people can one instructor train?
Three novices on one truck is the accredited-body maximum. Refresher courses can take more candidates in a day. For bigger groups we send more than one instructor or run consecutive courses, whichever costs you less.
Do you charge more for nights or weekends?
No. Our instructors fit into your shift pattern, including early mornings, nights and weekends, at no extra cost, subject to availability. In London that often means starting before the roads fill up or training after the last delivery.
Is there a travel charge for London or the Home Counties?
No. Training anywhere inside the M25 and across the surrounding counties, from Reading to Southend and from Stevenage to Crawley, is quoted at the same rate, with no charge for travel or accommodation. Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire are covered by our Derby, Nottingham and Leicester sites, and the rest of the UK by Forklift Agency.
Our yard is small and the building is old. Can you still train here?
Almost certainly. Most of our London customers work in buildings that were never designed for forklifts: railway arches, Victorian warehouses, basements and yards the size of two lorry bays. The instructor sets out a compact course and uses your real racking, doors and vehicles for the rest. If we think the space is unsafe we will say so before the course, not on the day.
Does the instructor need parking?
One space for a car or small van, close enough to unload cones and equipment. If parking is impossible at your site, tell us when you book and we will plan around it.
When will we get the certificates?
Certificates are usually posted within 14 days of training where you have a credit account with us, or within 28 days of payment being received by other means. Operator ID cards are available for a small extra charge.
Can we open a credit account?
Yes. Credit accounts are available to businesses subject to a credit assessment and references. The first booking is always paid in advance. Existing account customers can log in to the customer portal.
Does a forklift certificate expire?
A certificate of basic training has no legal expiry date, but the HSE recommends refresher training at intervals, commonly every three to five years, and sooner after an incident, a long break from driving or a change of truck.
What do we need to have ready on the day?
A serviceable truck with a current Thorough Examination (LOLER) report, a safe area to work in, a room or quiet corner for the theory sessions, and the candidates. If you are short of a truck for the course, we can point you to local hire companies.
Will the training be on our actual trucks?
Yes, always. Operators learn on the make and model they will drive every day, in the aisles and yards they will drive them in. That is the whole point of on-site training.
Which parts of London do you cover?
All of it: every borough from Hillingdon to Havering and Enfield to Croydon, plus the City, and the surrounding counties of Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire out to Reading, Guildford, Crawley, Maidstone, Chelmsford, Stevenage and Luton. Each area has its own page on this site.
Do you train at airports, ports and secure sites?
Yes. We regularly train at Heathrow and Gatwick cargo estates, at Tilbury and London Gateway, on construction sites and at other secure premises. Our instructors carry identification and will complete your induction, security vetting and permit arrangements. Tell us about any site requirements when you book.
Are your prices quoted with or without VAT?
Forklift Agency Limited is VAT registered. Quotes are given excluding VAT unless stated otherwise.
Can you train on a live site without stopping production?
Yes. We agree a working area and a timetable with you so practical sessions happen around your operation. Many customers run training on a quieter shift or over a weekend for exactly this reason.
What is the 0330 number and does it cost more to call?
0330 330 9495 is our London enquiry line. 03 numbers cost the same as calling a normal landline and are included in mobile and landline inclusive minutes. It rings through to the same office team that looks after all our customers.
Where is your office?
Forklift Agency is based in Belper, Derbyshire, and has trained in London since our very first job in 2007. We have no London training centre, and we do not need one: our instructors live and work across London and the South East, and every course happens at the customer's premises.
Still unsure?
Questions about the law are answered in our guide to forklift training legal requirements. Questions about a particular truck are answered on its page under forklift types. Anything else, call 0330 330 9495.
Need forklift operators trained in London?