Blog

There’s been lots of coverage on the news about the HGV driver shortage – but unfortunately there’s also a shortage of forklift drivers too at the same time, meaning even more of the supply chain is under pressure.

Forklift drivers are in demand more than ever before due to a variety of reasons, and this demand is likely to continue as demand for a fast-paced supply chain grows. As we know, forklifts are a vital component of every warehouse, and without an adequate number of forklift drivers’ warehouses can’t operate at full capacity.

Whilst this all sounds a bit bleak, the good news is that the demand for forklift operators means that a career in forklift operation is a stable career path offering excellent benefits. The rise in wages means that if you’re considering a career change into forklift operation, now is the time. Our sister company The Forklift Truck Training Centre can provide all the forklift training you’ll need to kick start your career today.

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

Long distance drivers are used to driving in different locations and terrains – but even for the most experienced driver, travelling through city locations can be challenging. Here’s what you should be aware of when driving LGVs through cities.

What are the roads like? It’s likely that in many cities drivers will experience complex road layouts to try and manage the large number of vehicles travelling through the city. Be prepared to take extra time to navigate any tricky roads, as it’s likely you’ll experience some congestion as well, and research your route thoroughly before you set off if possible.

Think about vulnerable road users. Without a doubt there are more people using the roads in cities, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Be aware of these road users as you navigate your way through. Many more people cycle in larger cities to avoid traffic congestion, and motorbikes have the ability to slip past lots of traffic quickly. Both can be difficult to see at times depending on the road layout.

London and other places are adopting new road schemes to cut down on congestion and pollution. To avoid any unnecessary hold ups in your journey, check first whether you need to sign up to a scheme to travel through the city centre.

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

When it’s busy in your workplace, it’s easy to forget health and safety and lift items without following proper manual handling procedure – We’ve all done it! But realistically, it can be very dangerous to forget these regulations – here’s why.

Immediate injury is possible. You could pull a muscle or suffer with bruises or cuts – These injuries may not seem too terrible, but over time and on multiple occasions this can get wearing.

Things can get worse over time. If you repeatedly lift heavy items incorrectly, you could cause permanent damage to your muscles or ligaments, which can cause suffering in the future.

Don’t forget your mental health too. Injuries that cause pain or inconvenience over a long period of time can affect your mental health as you struggle to perform properly at work.

What can you do? If you are suffering with any of the above complications, speak toy our line manager and make sure you attend refresher training in manual handling. It is important that you always adhere to safe lifting practises to avoid any of the above injuries.

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].

It’s that time of year again! Welcome to the financial year of 2022-23, which began official as of 1^st April this year – and with a new financial year comes a change to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates.

The National Living Wage and the National Minimum wage rates are paid according to your age. Apprentices are paid the “apprentice” wage if they are 19 or under and in the first year of their apprenticeship.

Here are the new rates for this financial year:

If you require any further information, please visit GOV.UK to find out what you’re entitled to.

For more information about our current vacancies, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

At least once in our lives we will experience a punctured tyre. If you drive for a living, you’ve got more chance than any of puncturing or blowing a tyre – here’s what to do to keep safe.

Puncture or blow out? Your tyres could be damaged two very different ways. A puncture equates to a slow release of air from one of your tyres; you may quickly or even over time notice your tyre pressure fading, which equates to a puncture. Depending on the severity of the puncture, your tyre can easily be repaired or replaced.

A tyre blow out can be more dangerous. The air is lost immediately from the tyres, due to the tyre losing its integrity – effectively bursting under the pressure of impact or another fault. Aside from the bang, you may notice your vehicle begins to shudder or steer involuntarily left or right.

When a blow out occurs, stay calm! If your vehicle swerves, adjust your steering to follow the direction of the swerve. And no sudden braking! Keep the weight off your front tyres and maintain speed, before changing down your gears, pulling safely to the side of the road and coming to a gradual stop.

Punctures can happen at any time, and often it’s out of our control, so it’s vital you’re prepared to take the correct action when it happens.

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

In busy warehouse environments training can be the last thing on everyone’s minds. However, it is vital that in a warehouse environment where using forklifts is necessary that forklift training is kept up to date. Here’s why.

There are several reasons why it’s important for forklift operators to have up to date training. Safety first and foremost requires periodic updates, plus forklift operators that are up to date with their training use their equipment effectively, ensuring full productivity and longevity for your forklift.

Forklift training is a basic requirement for those operating a forklift. Allowing workers to operate equipment with no or out of date training is hugely risky, to both your team and the organisation. Each country operates a different licensing or certification system for forklift driving too.

Generally speaking, forklift operators should update their training every 3-5 years – but that is just as a minimum. Equipment and standard practises are updated frequently, so it’s vital that your forklift training is kept up to date. So don’t delay, and book your next forklift training session today!

For more information about forklift training services, contact The Forklift Truck Training Centre on 03333 442949 or https://wetrainflt.co.uk/

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

It’s easy to feel like you’re lost in the crowd when job searching. That’s why it’s important to take a stand and get yourself noticed! Hiring managers these days are likely to be inundated with applications – here’s our top tips for making sure your application gets noticed.

Tailor your cover letter and CV. It’s time consuming, but making sure you tailor your CV to bring out your skills relevant to the role in question will definitely make your application stand out.

Don’t wait for the advert! There’s no harm in approaching an organisation you’d like to work for even if they’re not advertising at the time – they may have a role up and coming which could be perfect for you!

Make it personal. Using LinkedIn is a must these days. LinkedIn is a great tool for making a more personal connection to hiring managers too, so use your network and get noticed!

Ask for feedback. If you’re unsure about how you’re doing or if there’s a way you could improve your job search, ask people around you for advice and tips. Equally, if you’re unsuccessful in applying for a role, always ask for feedback, both so you can improve your performance but also show you’re serious about getting it right next time.

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].

Last year saw widespread reports of a shortage of HGV drivers alongside a multitude of other challenges facing logistics and haulage. And whilst the government has stepped in and tried to alleviate some of the pressures facing the sector, we’re still facing challenges this year.

The good news is that government intervention has led to a reduction in the driver shortage, with new drivers joining the sector over the last few months. But given an ongoing lack of investment in facilities and conditions, there are concerns that those that have entered the sector afresh may not stay for the long haul. Factors such as high pay and free training will have an impact on whether drivers both continue to join the sector and stay on.

The reports detailing the driving shortage last year highlighted the need for more investment in HGV driver facilities, with the government announcing £50m of funding to improve HGV driver’s parking and rest areas. But how long will it take for the announcement to become a reality for drivers? This could be a crucial development to stopping increased pressures on the sector later on this year.

We’re not out of the woods yet – whilst government intervention is welcome drivers and haulage organisations will be looking for swift changes to make sure the pressures on logistics don’t get worse.

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

It’s true, working in a warehouse can be fast paced and highly pressured at times. However, by creating a culture of community in the warehouse, many of these challenges can easily be overcome, leaving the warehouse workforce motivated and feeling supported. So how can you create a community feeling in your warehouse?

It’s all about communication. Good communication is key for any warehouse, and it must be available across all channels, according to the preferences of the workforce. Good communication will make everyone feel well supported and informed, and will encourage friendships and collaborative working.

Share the responsibility. When you feel responsible, you go the extra mile. By encouraging a culture of responsibility and accountability, warehouse workers feel motivated to think beyond their current project. And in a team, people will naturally support one another to take on joint responsibilities.

Champion best practise. When something is done well, it should be promoted and celebrated. By documenting best practise, employees feel empowered in their roles, especially when they are new to the organisation. And with clear best practise, people can easily support one another to be better!

For more information about our latest warehouse opportunities, 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, your licence is of utmost importance, and driving offences can complicate matters. Here’s everything you need to know about what to do if you have or acquire a driving offence if you drive for a living.

What driving offence? There are a wide number of driving endorsements a driver can receive at any time, with the most common types of offences including speeding and driving through red lights. Adhere to the law at all times when driving; the best solution is to avoid getting any endorsements in the first place!

Be honest. If you drive for a living, it’s temping to lie about any endorsements – it’s vitally important that you be honest at all times. Lies could lead to insurance policies being invalidated which could have grave consequences. Plus it’s pointless; many companies can run checks on your licence and any endorsements will be revealed.

What does this mean? A driving offence doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t drive for a living any longer. Many organisations will take on drivers with limited or mild offences, depending on the circumstances, so keep applying – and always declare it!

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