UK's AITT reports MHE training certificates increased in 2025The UK’s Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT) reports that more than 105,000 accredited certificates for materials handling equipment (MHE) training were issued in 2025, according to the latest figures from the Accrediting Bodies Association for Workplace Transport (ABA).
This is a 2.6% increase on 2024 and continues the year-on-year growth on accredited provision, the AITT states.
Of these, counterbalance refresher accounted for the most with 48,721, followed by counterbalance (novice, experienced & conversion) with 41,379; reach truck (novice, experienced & conversion) training certificates were 9,223 and; reach truck refresher 6,576.
“Every one of those 105,899 certificates represents an operator who has been properly trained, properly tested, and properly certified,” says Liam Knight, managing director of AITT. “That matters.
“But the number we can’t count is the one that keeps us awake at night: how many non-accredited certificates were issued alongside them?”
Of the number of people undertaking counterbalance training, Knight says it is an “encouraging sign”.
“Refresher training is often the first thing that gets cut when budgets tighten,” Knight continues. “Seeing it at this volume tells us employers aren’t just ticking a box to get someone on the truck — they’re investing in keeping their people competent over time.
“That’s exactly what the law requires, and exactly what keeps workplaces safe.”
Regarding the number of reach truck certificates issued, Knight says it is an improvement on 2024 and may be a sign of renewed investment in higher-density warehousing operations.
“Growth is good news,” Knight adds. “But we have to be honest about what it doesn’t tell us. 105,899 is a strong number — and still only a fraction of the operators working on MHE across the UK.
“Every employer who doesn’t ask for accredited training is taking a risk they probably don’t fully understand.
“Accredited training is not a premium option — it’s the baseline. If a certificate can’t be traced back to an accredited provider, there is no way to know whether the training was adequate, the assessment was fair, or the instructor was even qualified to be in the room.
“That’s not a risk any responsible employer should be comfortable taking.”