As an RTITB training provider, you contribute greatly to safe site status and work hard to achieve it. But do you ever celebrate your achievements? The UKMHA Awards (‘The Archies’) are now open and free to enter. Here’s how you can take part to acknowledge and celebrate your success using training to make workplaces safer.
The UKMHA Safe Site Award category is open to companies that operate forklift and warehouse trucks, and who have introduced an initiative to improve materials handling safety, including training programs.
It is open to suppliers and end users jointly, making it an ideal way for training providers to prove the value of their services by submitting an entry together with their customers. As well as showcasing your expertise and achievements, this can also help to strengthen partnerships with your valued customers too.
And don’t worry – the forms aren’t long to complete, neither is there a lot of writing to do!
What are the UKMHA Awards?
Also known in the warehousing and logistics industry as “The Archies”, the UKMHA Awards recognise and celebrate the products, practices, and people that make the industry what it is. Categories cover innovation, safety, ergonomics, and environmental impact, as well as recognising standout companies and individuals.
What are the steps to entering “The Archies”?
First, approach a customer where you know you have made a real difference, and agree to submit a joint entry for the Safe Site Award. You can collaborate on the written content for the entry and then it is simply a case of filling out the online form, found here.
The information you will need to provide consists of:
- Your contact details
- Brief description of the entry (50 words) – this is a sentence summarising what you have done and why it is award winning
- Further details of how a safer site was created (300 words) – here is where you add the details of what you have done with your customers and the difference it has made
- Supporting items (including images, videos, documents etc.) – for example, you could include examples of specially tailored training materials or a document of customer testimonials. Or a breakdown of statistics showing why the training you’ve helped implement has resulted in improvements (such as time and cost savings, reduced incidents, or damage)
- Additional comments
What are the UKMHA Awards judges looking for? Hints and tips for an award-worthy entry
The ultimate goal of the award entry is to prove that the training you provide to your customer has significantly improved their site safety.
Remember the three golden rules of: angle, innovation, and impact.
- What is the story?
- What makes it unique?
- What evidence do you have to support it?
When writing your entry, answer the following questions clearly but concisely.
What was the specific problem/issue that training solved for your customer?
Give details of the customer site and explain how the RTITB Accredited training you have delivered has helped to improve their site safety.
What actions were taken?
Provide information about specific training that was carried out, or any initiative/procedure put in place as a result of training, that has made a significant change in the business.
What are the direct results of the actions? How site safety improved?
Bring depth, value, and honesty to your contribution. Include quotes, customer feedback and statistics to demonstrate what has been achieved, as well as how it has been achieved. You could also mention qualifications and skills gained, as well referring to increased operator confidence, and a reduction in accidents, for example.
Demonstrate the improvements to site safety with supporting evidence
This might include photos of training, onsite statistics showing safety improvements, testimonials, etc. You can submit images, videos, and digital documents via the online form, or send larger files with sharing sites (for instance WeTransfer or Microsoft One Drive). You can also send physical evidence via post. This is your chance to prove the points you have made in your written entry.
Entry deadline
The awards close for entry on Thursday 30th June 2022, but don’t wait until then to submit your entry. Remember, it might take some time to agree on and approve content with your customer. This is something you both will want to be confident in and proud of.
Attend the awards ceremony
A shortlist will be published shortly before the final awards ceremony. If you’re selected, this is a great opportunity to shout about your achievements already!
Then, the winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham, on Saturday 15th October. It will be celebrated with some of the industry’s biggest names, kicking off with a drinks reception, sponsored by RTITB.
Continuous improvement plays an important role in increasing safety in material handling equipment operations. That is why RTITB is a strong advocate of events that recognise and reward excellence and innovation, such as the UKMHA “Archies” Awards.
That is also why we encourage our RTITB accredited partners to make the most of this opportunity to showcase the amazing work that you and your customers do to make our industry safer.
For more information or to discuss your ideas for your award entry, feel free to contact the RTITB team.