The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) has rejected some of the claims by the BITA in an article last week about its new academy. In a letter to the editor of Forkliftaction.com, David Ellison, the association's chief executive, says:

I am writing to express my concern about a recent article you published on the subject of the new BITA Academy. While the FLTA naturally welcomes any initiative that increases the number of new apprentices entering our industry, some of what is claimed by BITA is either inaccurate or simply untrue.
Early in the article it states "The BITA Academy has been created to offer the only dedicated industrial truck apprenticeship scheme in the UK - leading to an Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) accredited fork lift truck apprenticeship." This is not true.
The FLTA has a long standing strategic relationship with North Warwickshire and Hinckley College (NWHC). This college pioneered the programme referred to by BITA, with significant assistance from the FLTA. NWHC has provided the IMI programme since it became available, and still does. Further, the FLTA-sponsored scheme managed by REMIT, offers both the local college scheme and the "dedicated" option now being offered by BITA.
Later on the article states: "Until now, there hasn't been a course on offer that delivers all aspects of the skill-set that BITA members are looking for in newly qualified engineers."
I feel it is important to make it clear that there is only one IMI Apprenticeship Pathway for Lift Truck Maintenance. There is just one formal Lift Truck qualification provided by IMI. This is available for all to see on the IMI website. We are all using the same qualification and working to the same high standard.
Developing this qualification involved a sizeable and significant collaborative effort that included people from a range of organisations, not least the FLTA, over the last 5 years or so. To set the record straight you should be aware that BITA had no input whatsoever into the development of the IMI Lift Truck Apprentice Framework.
The information provided by BITA is misleading. Current Lift Truck apprentices and their employers, who may have read the article concerned, should rest assured that their course is the same one being referred to by BITA.
I appreciate that BITA wishes to promote its new initiative as vigorously as possible. However I believe that its press statement is disrespectful to the many individuals and organisations who have worked tirelessly to create an effective framework that BITA is now claiming as its own.
We are all agreed that apprenticeships are vital to the well- being of our industry. I therefore wish BITA the best of luck with their recent initiative.

David Ellison
Chief Executive
Fork Lift Truck Association