All posts by Rachel Pallett

Driving for a living is a hugely rewarding career, but it’s vital that drivers make sure they take care of themselves in this sometimes fast paced and pressured environment. Read our top tips below for staying fit and healthy on the road.

Eat well and often. With all those service stops, the opportunity for fast food is everywhere – not good for long distance driving! Eat a meal heavy in fibre and protein before you hit the road, and take plenty of healthy snacks with you to enjoy on your journey. Snacking in the right way has huge benefits, and will keep drivers well nourished, full of energy and in good spirits.

Think exercise. It’s so important that drivers find the time for exercising before driving and in breaks to the journey. Even a small amount of exercise will keep drivers in top shape and give a big boost to energy levels.

Keep it social. Driving for a living can sometimes be lonely, so keeping contact safely with friends and family via social media channels or by phone can ease the loneliness and keep up morale. Even using audio books or the radio to fill the silence can make all the difference.

Rest when you need to. Although those who drive for a living are well experienced in the art of driving, it is so important that drivers take a rest from the road regularly.

For more information about our latest driving jobs, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

Warehouses are busy places and quite simply there are products that your warehouse cannot do without. Make sure your warehouse is efficient by investing in some of these must have items.

Pallet Rack – What warehouse could do without one? Pallet racks maximise the vertical space of your warehouse, and makes storing your products more efficient than ever before. Also, with fewer items on the floor, your warehouse will not only be organised more efficiently, but it will be safer.

Wire Containers. There are countless benefits to using wire containers. Not only are they durable and stackable, offering a space saving solution, they also give you the advantage of being able to identify your products quickly.

Steel Shelving. An all purpose solution to any warehouse, steel shelving is a space saving must have for storage. They are strong and offer an efficient way to view your products quickly. They can be used in conjunction with other storage solutions or alone, and are usually easy to install.

Steel containers. Do you specialise in heavy duty items? Steel containers provide the safety your workers need against heavy items, are stackable and can stand the test of time when storing heavy duty items.

For more information about our latest warehouse jobs, or to find out how we can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, almost. Although perhaps not for forklifts – to avoid any sticky situations in your warehouse, take a look at our top tips on keeping your forklift working this winter.

Start at the heart. The cold weather can cause a drain on your forklift batteries, so make sure they’re regularly checked. Hydraulics can seize in the cold weather too, so make sure they are well lubricated at all times! Always remember to test the antifreeze levels too.

Is your forklift safe? Winter can cause slippery surfaces – make sure your tyres are well cared for and kept at the right pressure. The tread should be checked regularly to make sure you’ve got great grip! Additionally, fully functioning lights in darker days are vital to ensure everyone is kept safe – check them regularly.

Get everyone on board. Your team may need a few helpful reminders about operating a forklift in winter – Make sure everyone is aware of how to efficiently safety check their equipment and key safety measure to ensure there aren’t any accidents.

For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your warehouse, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

When you’re job searching, it’s vital you demonstrate your skill sets, and how they match with the needs of your potential new employer. Whilst this can be varied, there are certain core skillsets every employer is seeking – here’s the skill sets you should be promoting and focussing on when job searching.

Leadership. You might not think that leadership skills are relevant to you if your role doesn’t include line management, but this isn’t the case. Leadership on projects and problem solving, demonstrating the ability to lead where required, is a must.

Problem Solving. Identifying problems is fine, but you need to demonstrate the skills to be able to solve problems and come up with solutions.

Personal skills. You need to be an effective communicator, able to build working relationships with colleagues and customers as required. Good communication is a must!

Motivation. Of course people are motivated to work according to salary, but employers want to see you’re motivated by other factors too, such as career progression and personal development.

For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how we can support your organisation, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

In many industries today, given the nature of the world we live in, lots of people work on varied shift patterns. It can be tricky to balance at times, but with these top tips below you can make sure you stay well and happy managing flexible working patterns.

How are you getting to work? If you are working outside of “normal” working hours, think about how you are commuting to work. You might be too tired to drive, so consider public transport or sharing driving responsibilities with a co-worker. Leave yourself plenty of time to get to and from work.

Think carefully about sleep. Try to find a sleeping routine that works according to your shift patterns and stick to it. Make sure your environment is suitable for sleeping where possible.

What are you eating? Try to avoid fast food where possible – although it’s tempting! Try having regular light meals or snacks, and always reach for the fresh foods where possible, including fruit and veg.

What about the coffee? It can be tempting to use coffee to keep you going. Try not to overdo it on the caffeine; using stimulants such as coffee can be helpful in small doses, but make sure you’re not having too much.

For more information on our latest warehouse, driving and office vacancies, contact Flexistaff on 01582 696959 or [email protected].

It’s a demanding world out there these days. B2C and B2B customers both expect a world class service when it comes to delivery, and there’s no room for anything but the best with so much competition out there. So what makes a great supply chain?

Data is key. The best way to guarantee an efficient supply chain is to use data to ensure productivity. Using data can ensure organisations identify any inefficiencies quickly to ensure a swift resolution.

Check the supply. Having too much or too little of any product can have a damaging impact on any organisation.

Is your supply chain flexible? In today’s market, demands change frequently and a successful supply chain has the means to be flexible in delivery.

Go green! The best supply chains are those that care about sustainability for the planet, and are consistently investing in new ways to use renewable energy and source products from sustainable sources.

Be compliant. A successful supply chain must adhere to legislation and protect its workers at all times.

For more information about our latest supply chain, warehousing and logistics vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

It goes without saying that if you’re looking for a new job, you’re prepared for change. However, it can still be a bit nerve wracking starting a new job, in a new place with lots of new people! Here’s our top tips on controlling those first day nerves and making the best start you can in your new job!

Remind yourself about your new job. Keep the job description from your application process and remind yourself of the key roles and responsibilities in your new job, so you can start with a clear sense of your purpose. Remind yourself why you applied and why you said yes when you were offered the job!

You won’t know everything overnight. Yes, you might know how to do the job, but you won’t know how your new employer operates on a day to day basis, what everyone’s name is and even where the tea and coffee is kept! No one expects you to know all these things straight off.

Make a good impression. First impressions count – Try to introduce yourself to as many people as possible, ask questions where you’re not sure, be polite and professional and show the team what you can bring and why you were hired.

You won’t be new forever! Before you know it there will be a NEW new person joining the team – and you’ll be part of the furniture!

For more information about our latest vacancies or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

If you drive for a living across the country, it’s handy to know what makes a welcoming and well stocked service station, and where they are. So, in case you missed it, Which named the top 5 service stations across the UK – And here they are!

1. Gloucester Services, Gloucestershire (M5)
2. Tebay Services, Cumbria (M6)
3. Cairn Lodge (M74)
4. Norton Canes (M6)
5. Wetherby (A1M)

Have you visited any of these service stations recently?

There are many features that make a god service station. Not only does the range of amenities available make a difference, but other factors such as levels of staffing can make a huge difference to the overall experience.

Long distance drivers should always aim to take regular breaks from driving – And the better the service station, the more satisfactory the break!

For more information about our latest driving vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact Flexistaff on 01582 696959 or [email protected].

Warehouses are busy places and at all times there are opportunities for accidents to happen. It’s important that any warehouse has robust safety policy in place, especially when operating forklifts. In this blog we’ll outline the most common accidents and injuries in the warehouse – and how to avoid them!

Watch out for pedestrians! Safety measures can only go so far if pedestrians or forklift operators are distracted; Designated warehouse routes, hands free equipment and warning lights and sounds can all help to avoid any collisions.

Is your pathway clear? A warehouse must be kept tidy at all times; with operatives carrying goods here there and everywhere falls and trips over discarded materials can be a huge risk. The easiest way to avoid these injuries to make sure everyone tidies up after themselves!

Crushing can also be a risk. Heavy machinery such as forklifts can become unbalanced and crushing can result if forklifts tip over. Drivers should brace themselves for impact if in a forklift that is tipping over, rather than jump out of the falling vehicle.

Watch your back! Lifting and carrying can be a big part of warehouse work, and it’s vital that operatives lift heavy goods in a way that is safe, to avoid long term back problems. The trick is to bend your knees!

For more information about our latest warehouse opportunities, please contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

Warehouses are predominantly busy places, and operating a forklift presents a number of safety precautions to consider. To ensure you’re safe when operating a forklift, take a look at our top tips below.

Who’s about? Pedestrians can present a number of difficulties when operating a forklift. Employees should ensure they all wear high visibility clothing. When driving a forklift, you should maintain a safe distance from pedestrians. All employees should be alert and aware of forklifts.

Are you driving safely? Ensure your forklift isn’t overloaded and ensure you drive to the correct speed limit to avoid any accidents.

What about the workplace? Forklifts should have designated areas for driving in, which should always be well lit and clear of any stored items. Drivers should be cautious when approaching corners or narrow areas.

Is it well maintained? Forklift operators should ensure their equipment is well maintained at all times – Read our earlier blog for advice on keeping your forklift in top shape!

For more information about our latest Forklift vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 08445562916 or [email protected].