chuck,

the various awarding bodies set up training programs for instructors that teach how to deliver a lesson/ different teaching techniques and learning styles. they have a set syllabus of knowledge of you must be familiar with and they set a minimum level of operating ability for the instructor to demonstrate practical competence. this training has to be refreshed every 5 years as well as an annual on site audit to ensure compliance. the course is really quite good and comprehensive.

as for the operator trainnig, there is specific course content established for each machine type which has been standardised across all awarding bodies and includes things like knowledge of best practice, stability factors etc and also dictates that certain practical manouevres can be carried out by the operator. there is also a standardised set of tests that any operator must be able to achieve to be successful.

the standardised nature of the training means that any employer who takes a new operator on knows that regardless of prior experience they have achieved a minimum standard or ability.