Asda Logistics Services has taken more control over its lift truck training in bid to improve standards, safety, and flexibility, while keeping costs down.
With more than a thousand sites across the UK, Asda has a huge operation, including food depots, clothing centres, general merchandise hubs, import facilities, and a national sorting centre — plus five fulfilment centres handling Asda’s online shopping and parcel delivery services.
Asda Logistics Services runs 42 operations and employs thousands of staff. Until 2022, that scale and complexity made it difficult to ensure consistently high standards of lift truck training.
Asda Logistics Services has taken more control over its lift truck training in bid to improve standards, safety, and flexibility, while keeping costs down.
Technical training manager Melanie Richmond recalls: “Using lots of different external trainers across our sites made it hard to keep standards truly consistent. That created potential risks around safety and compliance.
“We also found it difficult to plan and schedule training quickly enough to match our changing needs. What we really wanted was a more cost-effective approach where we could set the standard ourselves and make sure colleagues got the right level of training every time.”
Solution in partnership
To overcome these challenges, Asda partnered with accrediting body AITT to create a structure for its own in-house trainers. By bringing the in-house training under AITT accreditation, Asda could guarantee a consistent benchmark across all sites — something that wasn’t possible with a patchwork of external providers.
The approach involved setting up three accredited training centres in the company’s Grangemouth, Lutterworth, and Wakefield distribution centres. At these centres of excellence, Asda now has more than 130 Category 1 Materials Handling Equipment Instructors, supported by in-house Category 4 tutors — themselves trained and registered by AITT.
Asda Logistics Services has taken more control over its lift truck training in bid to improve standards, safety, and flexibility, while keeping costs down.
Asda Logistics Services’ technical facilitator Chris Elliott says: “Bringing MHE training in-house was a big step for us, and safety was always at the front of our minds. That’s why it had full backing right from the top.
“It was important to get the right accreditation — not just for the business, but for our instructors and operators too — and working with AITT made that possible. As corporate members, we know our materials are always current, and our training is consistent, compliant, and in line with the latest legislation.”
Results
Since launching the new programme, Asda has seen significant improvements. Before, training was inconsistent and reactive. After, standards are consistent, training is proactive, and costs are under control.
Operators are more confident and skilled, incident rates have fallen, costs are under control, and safety culture is stronger across sites.
An additional benefit is the career development opportunities for colleagues who have progressed into registered instructor roles — improving staff motivation and retention.
Melanie Richmond comments: “Liam and the AITT team didn’t just provide accreditation — they supported us every step of the way, sharing knowledge and guidance to help us build the right structure. They’re approachable, knowledgeable, and always ready to share advice on how to take things to the next level.
“Our equipment, training facilities, and processes are now much more relevant and effective. We’ve got a standardised, compliant approach, and we can react to training needs far quicker — sometimes even before they arise. The benefits have more than justified the investment.”
Chris Elliott adds: “Just as importantly, we’ve built a consistent safety culture and a clear route for colleagues to develop their skills. People here take real pride in gaining the qualification, and it gives them confidence in their training.
“It sets us — and them — up really well for the future.”
And the story doesn’t end there. With the expertise and accreditation now in place, Asda is exploring the idea of extending training to other businesses in future — which could even create a valuable new revenue stream.
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