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26.
August
2016.
Top Global Competitors for RTITB International Forklift Operator of the Year
Dear Editor, 

Please find below the latest press release from RTITB.

August 2016

Top Global Competitors Confirmed for RTITB International Forklift Operator of the Year 

RTITB has confirmed the top 40 worldwide forklift operators that will compete in the next round of heats for the acclaimed International Forklift Operator of the Year 2016 award.

Taking place at IMHX (International Materials Handling Exhibition) U.K 2016 at stand 9A40 from 13th – 16th September, the next stage of the competition is a series of live heats where the 40 forklift drivers with the highest scores from the initial online test will compete for a place in the Grand Final.  To test drivers on the specific knowledge needed for skilled and safe forklift operation, the live heats include specially designed assessments which operators are required to complete in front of industry experts and professionals.  

The 2016 live heats will welcome the youngest ever finalists to qualify for the competition – Thomas Birkbeck and Craig Dawson from KP Snacks - who are both just 18 years old. Female operators will also be better represented than ever before in the contest, with Emily White, Madalina Ciobota and Samantha Tyson all qualifying to compete in the next round. 

Several of the competitors in the heats this year are employees of well-known companies, such as Travis Perkins, Wincanton, TNT UK, Hasbro, CEVA logistics, Nutricia, PPG and Clarke International.  Wilko Retail UK Ltd has been particularly successful with seven employees qualifying to compete in the next round, one of which is Kris Scarborough, a former winner of the Linde Ultimate Operator Challenge. 

A truly international award, Chuck Long of US company Boise Cascade, winner of the Blue Mountain Forklift Round-Up, has also qualified for the heats alongside the winner of the RTITB Indian Forklift Driver of the Year 2015, Srinivasa N D.

“Operators of all ages and from all over the world applied to take part and we even had entries from winners of other forklift driver competitions,” says Laura Nelson, Managing Director at RTITB, the preferred workplace transport training regulatory body.  “The International Forklift Operator of the Year award is about recognising the best of the best and showing supply chain professionals that skilled, safe, efficient forklift operators can make a huge difference to productivity and profitability within their company.” 

The live heats at IMHX will include a number of different driving tests (sponsored by Dolav, Racking & Storage Solutions Ltd and Pyroban), a theory test (sponsored by Transaid) and a pre-use inspection test (sponsored by TruckLOG - Davis Derby), all of which have been expertly designed to assess different skills in order to find the safest and most skilled forklift operator.  All competitors will be operating UniCarriers counterbalance trucks, some featuring B&B Attachments and will be attired with suitable personal protective equipment from BACA Workwear and Safety.  All tests will be safely contained within McCue FlexCore pedestrian safety barriers. The competition heats will be judged by experienced RTITB lift truck instructor examiners. 

To enjoy the action of the RTITB International Forklift Operator of the Year 2016 live heats, visitors to IMHX can join RTITB and their sponsors at the competition zone (9A40) and support the 40 finalists:
 
Chuck Long - Boise Cascade, USA
Neil Jennings - Carrs Billington
Adam Turner - CEVA Logistics- VW Dordon
Paul Dainty - CEVA Logistics- VW Dordon
Benjamin Chamberlain - Clarke International
Philip Contento - Convatec
Jan Kontul - Diageo Global Supply 
Leighton Hughes - Hasbro 
Matthew Vassallo - Hasbro 
Ian John - Hasbro 
Thomas Birkbeck - KP Snacks
Craig Dawson- KP Snacks
Simon Bottomley - Nasaleze
Joe Mckeown - Nutricia
Samantha Tyson - PPG
Stephen Hawkridge - PPG
Craig Powell - PPG
Daniel Smith - Sigma
Emily White - System Training
Artur Syndoman - Teva UK
Richard Humpage - TJX Europe
Ryan Reynolds - TJX Europe
Graham Fitter - TNT Kingsbury
Dale Ryder - TNT Kingsbury
Srinivasa N D- Toyota Kirloskar Motor, India
Adam Hayes - Travis Perkins
Kristian Sherratt -Travis Perkins
Phillip Padley - Wilko Retail Ltd
Kris Scarborough - Wilko Retail Ltd
Richard Dunn - Wilko Retail Ltd
Michael Hunt - Wilko Retail Ltd
Paul Collins - Wilko Retail Ltd
Maciej Winiecki - Wilko Retail Ltd
Dale Smith - Wilko Retail Ltd
Gary Boocock - Wincanton 
Madalina Ciobota - Wincanton 
Bobby Wilson - Wincanton 
Ryan Bairstow - Wincanton 
Viki Bradford - Wincanton 
Dariusz Mocny - Wincanton 

For more information on the RTITB International Forklift Operator of the Year 2016 award, visit www.opofyear.com or follow the competition updates on Twitter @opofyear.

For more information on RTITB, visit www.rtitb.co.uk. 

To register to attend the IMHX 2016 visit http://www.imhx.net/. 

Ends
743 Words
 
NOTES TO EDITORS
 
RTITB sets industry leading training standards specifically designed to change behaviour and make measurable improvements to efficiency, risk and safety.

As the preferred regulatory body for workplace transport training, our accreditation, audit, certification and instructor training services are reliable, robust and developed by a team dedicated to the common goal of keeping people safe.
 
We set training standards for goods vehicle driver licence acquisition training, driver assessment, Driver CPC Periodic Training, yardshunter training, banksman training, and all types of materials handling equipment: making us the only company able to provide absolute assurance for a full range of workplace transport training.
 
Our training standards are used extensively in the UK, Ireland, India and the Middle East, across a number of sectors: supply chain, freight forwarding, warehousing, road haulage distribution, oil and gas, food and drink manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, construction, cold chain, ports, and airports and public sector organisations such as councils and prisons.
 
Established in 1965 and with over 50 years' experience, RTITB is the regulatory body of choice for businesses committed to safety and efficiency. Since inception well over 1 million people have attended RTITB courses. Since 2014, more than 268,000 delegates have been trained to RTITB standards.

If you require any further information please contact me
Hannah Patterson
+44 (0) 1903 207408
hannah@molokini.co.uk
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