FLTA Awards for Excellence 2016 winners

The UK forklift industry honoured its achievers at last week's FLTA Awards for Excellence 2016.

Awards were presented across 11 categories, with winners chosen either by the FLTA board or the industry as a whole.

According to the association, while the greatest honour is reserved for winners, all finalists can feel secure in the knowledge that anybody reaching their level is justifiably considered to be one of the industry's finest.

This year's winners were:
Apprentice of the year: Gavin Hersom of Jungheinrich
Runner-up: Stewart Meikle of W R Material Handling
Dealer of the year: Welfaux Materials Handling
Supplier of the year: Investec
Safe Site Award: Heineken UK
Highly commended finalists: NHS National Services Scotland, The Bury Black Pudding Co Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric, Brett Building & Landscaping Products
Environment Award: Impact Handling
Ergonomics Award: Crown Lift Trucks
Safety Award: JCB Industrial
Innovation Award: Cavion Baumann UK
Services to the Industry Award: Richard Shore of Mentor Training
Services to the Association Award: John Chappell of Rushlift
Lifetime Achievement Award: Peter Wooldridge of Flexi

Wooldridge, founder and managing director of articulated forklift truck technology pioneer Narrow Aisle Ltd, was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the UK logistics industry.

Guest presenter at the awards, broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, said: "Peter's long and distinguished career as a designer, innovator and entrepreneur, together with his expertise - both as an engineer and as a businessman - has helped to change the face of the warehouse materials handling industry.

"Long-term British-owned design and manufacturing business success stories
are all too rare these days and in the fast-moving warehouse handling industry they are almost unheard of - which makes Peter a very worthy recipient of the FLTA's Lifetime Achievement Award."