Raising the profile

THE UKMHA has a number of aims for the coming year, but a key objective, perhaps underlining all others, is to raise the profile of the association and the wider sector. 

Rob explains: “We’ve been one of those industries, not unlike the logistics sector, that has been quite hidden and we feel that raising our profile will help with ongoing issues such as improving safety and talent attraction.”

The pandemic, for all its horrors, shone a light on the importance of the sector, and this perception of forklift operators and engineers as essential to the functioning of society is something to be fostered.

“The products and services that UKMHA members provide are pivotal to the UK’s future prosperity. Let’s face it, without material handling equipment, the country’s distribution network would grind to a shuddering halt,” adds Rob.

“We need to do more to highlight the sector’s importance and be that clear, coherent voice that promotes the industry.”

This dovetails with the UKMHA’s tireless behind-the-scenes work lobbying government and working on relevant national and international standards. Technical director David Goss is actively involved in technical committees that are helping to shape the future of the sector.

Safety

Much of this work centres on making equipment safer, and of course, safety is a top priority for Rob. 

“Safety is paramount. We all expect to work in a safe environment. The HSE reports there are more than 5,000 incidents annually involving transport in the workplace. While material handling equipment accounts for only a fraction of that, the figure is still shockingly high.”

The UKMHA has rolled out a number of initiatives to help reduce incidents and is calling on warehouse occupiers to get actively involved and ensure they are up to date when it comes to warehouse and site safety.

“The association runs the National Forklift Safety Day, which this year was a multi-month campaign to help highlight the seven stages of a forklift safety incident. Ultimately, we want to make sure every day is national forklift safety day,” says Rob.

“The injuries are often life-changing and as an industry we need to do more about it.”

The association operates a Safe User Group, which Rob is keen to develop.

“It's a real focal point for end users to get together and learn about best practices regarding safety. We also have Safer Site Pro, which is a 26-step guide to boosting site safety.”

 Skills

The industry has long faced a skills crisis, with the age profile of engineers climbing. The UKMHA is working hard to bring people into the sector, for example, with its apprenticeship programme in association with SMB College’s Stephenson Campus, situated on the outskirts of Coalville.

“It’s about asking our members to engage with educators and learners in their local region. We can provide help with accessing the Apprenticeship Levy along with practical guidance and advice when it comes to employing an apprentice engineer. The launch of this new scheme is timely, especially with the new Government placing a renewed focus on Skills England, which we are hoping to tap into.”

Events

It will be a busy year ahead, taking in the Archies awards and culminating with IMHX in September 2025. It is sometimes overlooked that UKMHA is part-owner of the industry’s biggest show in the UK, in a longstanding partnership with Informa. Rob is looking forward to the year with confidence.

“I’ve been really impressed with the team at UKMHA - their expertise is second to none,” he concludes. “They are a joy to work with. We are looking forward to championing our members and the broader intralogistics sector.”

For more information, visit www.ukmha.com