RTITB Instructor Academy boosts LGV driver training for Northern Ireland grocery giant Henderson Group

The Henderson Group Training Academy in Northern Ireland has further improved its LGV driver training programmes and increased efficiency with the help of the RTITB Instructor Academy. The move has enhanced the performance and safety of hundreds of drivers delivering food, retail and other goods across the region.

Warehousing, logistics and transport are a key part of operations across the Henderson Group business, which incorporates Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group property. To train personnel across the company, and to external clients, the Henderson Group also operates its own training academy.
“The Henderson Group Academy approached RTITB to help increase the variety and efficiency of its LGV training,” explained Simon Docherty, Manager of the RTITB Instructor Academy. “Henderson Group wished to train their trainers and provide professional development to team members.”
For convenience and efficiency, the RTITB Instructor Academy delivered Driver CPC Instructor training to two trainers on the premises of the Henderson Group in Northern Ireland. As independently qualified Driver CPC Instructors, they are now delivering the required training to the company’s 136 LGV drivers internally, as well as offering quality training solutions to third parties. Over a 4-month period the qualified instructors have efficiently delivered Driver CPC Periodic training to more than 100 individuals.
“The RTITB Instructor Academy is dedicated to developing and delivering exceptional ‘train the trainer’ and assessor courses, making it the most trusted and expert provider of training for LGV and lift truck instructors,” said Docherty.
Professional development is important to the Henderson Group. To date, tailored training from the RTITB Instructor Academy has also provided seven senior drivers at Henderson Group with the opportunity to become qualified LGV Assessors and the RTITB Instructor Academy tailored their LGV Assessor course to meet Henderson Group’s business needs to ensure a better training outcome.
The recognised, standardised LGV Assessor qualification broadens the trainees’ skillset and knowledge, which can not only be applied to boost safety, but additionally reduces costs through safe and fuel-efficient driving techniques, helping to ensure a high standard of skill and professionalism in the next generation of Henderson Group drivers. The Henderson Group also now has a trained Yardshunter Instructor on the team, thanks to the RTITB Instructor Academy.
“Overall, working with RTITB for our training needs has been valuable,” added Garry Cairns, Driver & Operations Training Manager, The Academy, Henderson Group. “The team at the RTITB Instructor Academy is more than helpful and accommodating at all times and their trainers are professional and knowledgeable. The fact that training can be tailored is important for us, and we have always found that courses can be turned around and delivered quickly,” said Cairns.
The Henderson Group also joined the RTITB Master Driver CPC Consortium, the largest Driver CPC Consortium in the UK in order to deliver training to their own fleet of drivers. This has given the company access to an extensive library of training topics to cater to more diverse customer requests, which has contributed to the Henderson Group Training Academy winning contracts with two new commercial customers in less than four months.
“Being part of the RTITB Master Driver CPC Consortium has really benefitted us,” said Cairns. “It has given us opportunities to grow our business and enabled us to secure new training customers for our own academy.”
www.rtitb.co.uk/academy