The competition in action. Click for larger image.

With the RTITB Operator of the Year Grand Final less than two weeks away, RTITB are set to light up the industry once again.

The competition, now in its second year, has been widely celebrated as an innovative way in which to allow qualified counterbalance operators the opportunity to showcase their operating skills. At the same time, the competition also acknowledges the hard work and dedication of their trainers.

The 2011 competition has evolved since the original in 2008, thanks to

RTITB and TNT Staff at the Scottish National Finals. Click for larger image.

sponsorship courtesy of TNT Express Services UK & Ireland and Toyota Material Handling UK. Laura Nelson, Operations Director at RTITB, said of the sponsors: "Both TNT and Toyota Material Handling are RTITB accredited organisations and have long established working relationships with RTITB. Both organisations place safety at the forefront of their businesses and this was essential for any competition sponsor."

In order to showcase their dedication to setting the standards within the material handling industry, RTITB ensured that the 2011 competition would be bigger and better than ever, starting with the first ever National Finals. Commenting on the success of the competition Laura Nelson said: "The chance to take the competition out to the regions for the National Finals was fantastic (and challenging!), giving us a great opportunity to meet customers and industry representatives that we would not normally have the chance to spend time with. I hope that those who attended the National Finals got a sense of what the competition is all about and how important safe, correctly trained lift truck operators are to the logistics industry."

As sponsors of the competition, both TNT and Toyota have been provided with an opportunity to align their companies and brands with a nationally recognised lift truck operator competition. Whilst Toyota provided both a venue for the Northern England National Final and the trucks required throughout the National Finals, TNT played host to the Midlands & South National Final and supplied the logistics for the events.

Of their involvement in the competition, Tony Wallis, Operations Director for Toyota Material Handling UK said: "At Toyota we believe that investing in quality operator training can not only help customers improve safety in the workplace, but also work more productively. By partnering with RTITB, who are respected in the industry, we wanted to show the industry how dedicated we are to promoting the benefits of operator training." Commenting on the benefits of being associated with the competition, Dave Copping, Operations Learning and Development Manager at TNT Express Services UK & Ireland said: "Sponsoring the competition has enabled us to improve on our already great relationship with RTITB, as well as promote some healthy competition amongst our FLT operators. RTITB strives for consistency in operation across all FLT operators and the competition showcases the skills of these individuals and demonstrates how it should be done!"

The Grand Final will see all 10 finalists battle it out for the chance to be declared Operator of the Year 2011 and win the coveted grand prize of a brand new Toyota Aygo Ice. The competition welcomes operators of all experiences and backgrounds and the 10 competitors will be supported by all at RTITB, Toyota and TNT. Dave Copping said: "To operate this equipment to the standards demonstrated in the regional heats takes time, dedication and a commitment to the profession. We wish good luck to all of the finalists." Tony Wallis also wished to send a few words of encouragement: "Enjoy the day and be proud of what you have already achieved. The 10 finalists are already winners to get this far so no-one is a loser at this stage."

The Grand Final is guaranteed to be a success, following in the steps of its predecessor and can only continue to grow. On the future of the competition Laura Nelson said: "Lift Truck Operators are all too often forgotten but they do a very demanding and essential job and this competition is all about that fact and giving good operators the recognition they deserve. I sincerely hope the competition will get bigger and better and I really encourage employers to ensure all lift truck operators receive good quality accredited basic and refresher training."


The Grand Final is open to the public who can register their attendance via the RTITB website at www.rtitb.co.uk/fltcompetition/registertoattend - (attendance should be registered in advance as places are limited).

Follow all the news about the competition on the RTITB Operator of the Year Twitter Page.

About the Competition

The RTITB Operator of the Year Competition gives lift truck operators, their employers and their trainers the chance to showcase excellent training and operating skills. The event is a nationally recognised lift truck safety competition and prides itself on being safety and standards conscious. The competition sets out to acknowledge the hard work and skill that lift truck operators deliver daily in their job, whilst also raising awareness of the need for accredited training. The 3 stages are: an online theory and hazard perception test; national final testing held throughout the UK and Ireland and finally the Grand Final held at RTITB's headquarters in Shropshire. All prizes and trophies at the Grand Final will be awarded by Jane Willis Director of HSE's Cross-cutting Interventions Directorate. The 2nd runner up will receive £1000 of high street vouchers, the 1st runner up will receive a luxury holiday and the champion will receive a brand new car. TNT Express Services UK and Ireland and Toyota Material Handling UK are platinum sponsors of the competition.

2011 Operator of the Year Northern England National Final,

With the RTITB Operator of the Year Grand Final looming, watch some of the highlights from this year's competition so far. This video brings you the highlights from the Northern England National Final

RTITB
The core business of RTITB is the accreditation of materials handling equipment training, an activity carried out under HSE, HSE NI and HSA recognition. We accredit the training provided at over 600 training locations throughout the UK and Ireland and have a register of instructors in excess of 8000, all qualified by examination, along with a register of operators in excess of 250,000. The scope of our accreditation schemes include lift trucks and large goods vehicle as well as bespoke accreditation of equipment used in ports, airports, construction, agriculture, horticulture and by rescue services.

In 2003 RTITB purchased its current headquarters in Telford, Shropshire and established The RTITB Academy which provides Lift Truck and LGV instructor training, in support of its accreditation activity.

RTITB has monitored the development and introduction of the Driver CPC Directive since the late 1990s, resulting in the introduction of the Master Driver Consortium. The consortium already has a 160 strong membership and covers over 200 training locations throughout the UK. The Master Driver Consortium offers a high quality total management solution to the challenges faced by the logistics industry following the introduction of Driver CPC.

RTITB aims to set standards in accreditation and raise the standard of training by modernising training materials and systems. We are Centre for Assessment Ltd registered and operate Quality Management System BS EN 9001:2008 and operate an environmental policy. We will continue to strive for excellence together with the organisations we work with.

For more information click to view the RTITB website.

The National Finals are open to the public; however attendance (via www.rtitb.co.uk/fltcompetition/registertoattend) should be registered in advance as places are limited.