IPAF Roadmap

Left and below: Apprentices at IPAF’s recognised training provider F-TEC

IPAF’s ‘Roadmap’ outlines technician or engineer career paths

IPAF has launched new guidance that sets out clear routes to qualifi cations f or industry entrants and existing personnel

IPAF has been working on developing a comprehensive new industry ‘Roadmap’ to becoming a qualified MEWP technician or engineer, and after 18 months liaising across the industry, courses are now listed and open for enrolment on two pathways to certification. Richard Whiting, IPAF’s UK and Ireland general market manager, led the project in response to calls from members about a lack of a clear route to training and certifying technicians and engineers, whether new entrants to the industry or existing personnel. The resulting IPAF Roadmap outlines distinct pathways to obtaining qualifications and recognition. One is a formal engineering qualification that can incorporate the recently launched Lift Truck and Powered Access Trailblazer Apprenticeship and potentially lead to Competent Assessed Person (CAP) status. Enrolment is now open for the apprenticeship, following an open day at training provider F-TEC’s Swindon base. The other pathway is based on NVQs and leads to certified technician status. Having successfully completed this pathway, candidates may decide to progress to full engineer status, subject to undertaking additional relevant advanced technical training. Richard Whiting says: “This fills an important gap in the market, to ensure we have enough skilled technicians to inspect and carry out basic routine maintenance, as well as qualified engineers with the specialist knowledge to repair and overhaul equipment and to carry out thorough inspections, as required by safety standards. “While IPAF has taken the lead on putting this together, the Roadmap would not have been possible without valuable input from IPAF’s members, or without our recognised

Above: Richard Whiting, IPAF’s UK and Ireland general market manager

training providers such as Learning For Hire, TVH and F-TEC.

“The Trailblazer apprenticeship was initially aimed at forklift engineers – we pointed out the benefits of adding powered access to the programme, as hydraulics, battery technology and so on are common to both. The apprenticeship is now a broader qualification, serving workplace need and opening up greater opportunities for trainees. “There was a real sense of satisfaction and achievement when we attended the enrolment open day at F-TEC in Swindon along with members of the working group of IPAF’s UK Country Council and potential employers of apprentices earlier this year.

“Now the Roadmap exists we hope it will serve to emphasise the benefits of having a defined but flexible set of steps to follow, both to employers who desperately need to train, retain and recognise employees, and to people looking for a clear career path and ways to develop their professional qualifications while working in a job they love.”

For more see www.ipaf.org/Roadmap or email richard.whiting@ipaf.org. Courses from recognised training partners that form either Pathway Aor B of the Roadmap are listed at www.ipaf.org/training and are nowopen for enrolment.