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Forklift Training with Westexe
Westexe delivers ITSSAR-accredited forklift training for businesses and operators across Plymouth, Exeter and the South West. Whether you’re training a new starter, refreshing an experienced operator or moving someone onto a reach truck, our instructors can run the course on your site or at ours.
We train on 14 types of forklift and materials handling equipment, from pallet trucks and counterbalance forklifts to reach, VNA and rough terrain trucks. Every course ends with a theory and practical test, so your operators finish trained, assessed and ready to work safely.
ITSSAR accredited | 14 truck types | Up to 3 trainees per instructor | 20+ years of operator training | 4 South West depots
Our Forklift Training Courses
Novice Forklift Course
For people with no or very little experience of operating a forklift. The course builds skills from the ground up: pre-use checks, controls, manoeuvring, load handling, stacking and safe operating practice. It finishes with a full theory test and practical test.
Who it’s for: new operators and staff moving into a driving role
Duration: 3 to 5 days, depending on the truck and the operator
Group size: up to 3 trainees per instructor
Assessment: pre-use inspection, theory test and practical test
Refresher Forklift Course
For existing operators who need to update or renew their training. A refresher corrects bad habits that creep in over time, brings operators up to date with safe practice and re-tests them against the standard.
HSE doesn’t set a fixed renewal date, but many employers choose refresher training every 3 to 5 years. It’s also worth booking one after an accident or near miss, a long break from operating, or a change in how the truck is used.
Who it’s for: trained operators due for a refresher
Duration: from 1 day
Group size: up to 3 trainees per instructor
Assessment: pre-use inspection, theory test and practical test
Conversion Course
For trained operators who need to drive a different type of truck. Most often, this means moving from a counterbalance forklift to warehouse equipment such as reach trucks or very narrow aisle (VNA) trucks.
The course builds on existing skills and focuses on the controls, stability and handling of the new truck.
Who it’s for: experienced operators adding a new truck type
Duration: 1 to 3 days, depending on the truck the operator is moving from and to
Group size: up to 3 trainees per instructor
Assessment: practical and theory tests on the new truck
Experienced Operator Course
For operators who have driven a forklift before but have never had formal training, or whose training records have lapsed or can’t be found. The course focuses on bringing existing skills up to the accredited standard, then testing them.
Who it’s for: self-taught or previously trained operators with no valid certificate
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Group size: up to 3 trainees per instructor
Assessment: pre-use inspection, theory test and practical test
All Accredited by ITSSAR
Westexe is an accredited training provider with ITSSAR, the Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register.
ITSSAR registers and monitors instructors and training organisations, and its standards are set by practical trainers.
Choosing an accredited provider gives you confidence that training meets the standard set out in HSE’s Approved Code of Practice for rider-operated lift trucks (L117).
What Our Forklift Training Covers
Every course follows HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (L117). The content is tailored to the truck and the operator’s experience. A novice course typically covers:
- Pre-use inspection and daily checks
- Refuelling, LPG cylinder changes and battery charging
- Starting, stopping, steering and manoeuvring in open and confined spaces
- Hydraulic controls and fork positioning
- Load weights, load centres, rating plates and truck stability
- Stacking and destacking at different heights, including racking
- Loading and unloading vehicles
- Site hazards, pedestrians and safe parking
The course ends with three tests: a pre-use inspection, a theory test and a practical test.
What Operators Receive: Certificates and Records
Operators who pass receive an ITSSAR-accredited certificate of training. The certificate names the accrediting body, our accreditation number and the instructor who trained them. Employers also get a record of each operator’s training and test results for their files.
A certificate shows the operator has been trained and tested. Before they work on their own, the employer still needs to complete familiarisation training on site and give written authorisation.
Trucks and Equipment We Train On
Our instructors cover the full range of materials handling equipment, so you can train your whole team with one provider.
- Counterbalance forklifts (B1–B3): The most common forklift, used in yards, loading bays and warehouses
- Reach trucks (D1–D3): Placing and retrieving pallets in high racking
- Very narrow aisle (VNA) trucks (F1–F2): High-density racking with tight aisles
- Order pickers (E1–E2): Picking individual items at height
- Sideloaders (C1–C2): Long loads such as timber, steel and pipe
- Multi-directional trucks (M1–M3): Long loads through narrow spaces
- Pivot steer (articulated) trucks (P1): Working inside and outside, in narrower aisles
- Rough terrain forklifts (J1): Building sites, farms and uneven ground
- Container handlers: Heavy loads and container work in yards and ports
- Truck-mounted (transportable) forklifts: Carried on a lorry for unloading at the delivery point
- Industrial trucks: Heavy-duty industrial lifting
- Tow tractors and trailers (H1–H2): Moving goods around large sites
- Powered pallet trucks (A1–A7): Moving pallets at ground level
- Pallet trucks (Z1): Hand-operated pallet moves
Training On Your Site or Ours
- On your site: Our instructor comes to you and trains your operators on the trucks, racking and layout they use every day. There’s no travel for your team and less time away from the job. It also lets us cover the workplace-specific side of training that HSE expects.
- At our premises: A good fit for individuals, small numbers, or businesses without suitable space or equipment for training. Operators train in a controlled environment, away from day-to-day operations.
Your Duties as an Employer
Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), Regulation 9 states: “Every employer shall ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training.”
For forklifts, HSE’s L117 code of practice breaks this into three stages:
- Basic training: the core skills and knowledge to operate a lift truck safely
- Specific job training: the truck they’ll use and how it’s used in your workplace
- Familiarisation: supervised work on the job, under normal conditions
Our courses deliver basic and specific job training, with the theory and practical test at the end. Familiarisation then takes place at your site under close supervision. Employers should also monitor operators after training and arrange refresher training when needed.
There’s no official “forklift licence” in the UK. What matters is that operators have been trained and tested to the right standard, and that you’ve authorised them to operate.
Why Train With Westexe
- Forklift specialists: We sell, hire, service and examine forklifts, so our training comes from people who know the trucks inside out.
- In-house instructors: Every trainer is employed by Westexe and trained to ITSSAR standards.
- Local to you: We’re a Devon-based, privately owned business with depots in Exeter, Plymouth, Barnstaple and Truro.
- Flexible delivery: Training on your site or at ours, on 14 truck types.
- One supplier: Training, LOLER thorough examinations, servicing and forklift hire from one team.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Forklift Training Depots Across the South West
With depots in Exeter, Plymouth, Barnstaple and Truro, we deliver forklift training throughout the South West. If you’re further afield, get in touch, and we’ll let you know how we can help. We regularly train teams in Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple, Tiverton, Truro, Bodmin, St Austell and Camborne.
Exeter Depot
Unit 52, Greendale Business Park, Woodbury Salterton, Nr Exeter, Devon, EX5 1EW
Phone: 01392 464656
Truro Depot
Phone: 01872 470664
Barnstaple Depot
Phone: 01271 309309
Contact Westexe.
If you have any questions or require more information regarding any of our products or services please get in touch and a member of our expert team will be happy to help.
Contact us using the form provided or find our contact details below:
Our Details:
Email: info@westexeforklifts.co.uk
Exeter: 01392 464 656
Plymouth: 01752 255 211
Truro: 01872 470 664
Barnstaple: 01271 309 309
