John Knowles rewarded for years of service

The announcement came as an enormous surprise to John as, despite his company organising the event, his nomination had been kept totally secret from him!

The founder and Managing Director of JKC Creative Marketing, John has spent 40 years lending his expertise and extensive industry knowledge to key organisations, from accrediting bodies and trade associations to manufacturers and forklift dealerships.

John said: “It was a huge surprise having my work and that of my colleagues recognised with this Award –  an award which, ironically perhaps, I helped establish more than 20 years ago.”

The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA), Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, Mentor Training, CFTS, Red Diamond Distribution, the Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT), and Forklift Training Engineering Centre (F-TEC) are among the organisations in the materials handling industry to benefit from John’s extensive industry knowledge and sage marketing advice.

Stuart Taylor, MD of Mentor Training and FLTA vice-chairman, said: “John is a wise counsel and trusted friend to many in the industry. As one of the forklift industry's true unsung heroes, he has spent four decades making the industry safer, and more prosperous.

“He is a stalwart of safety and has played a big part in developing the Safe User Group (SUG) along with many campaigns and events that are fixtures in the materials handling calendar, including National Fork Lift Safety Month (Safetember) and the National Fork Lift Safety Conference.”

John Knowles continued: “We work closely with a whole range of industries – from swimming pools to industrial automation – but materials handling has always been our main focus.

“It’s been my great privilege to see this industry mature and grow, and I am truly honoured to call so many people within it my friends.”