100,000 accredited certificates. But how many aren’t?

AITT urges UK employers to question the training they’re relying on… before it’s too late.

More than 100,000 accredited certificates for materials handling equipment training were issued in 2024, according to the latest figures from the UK’s Accrediting Bodies Association (ABA) — the body responsible for setting industry-wide standards and ensuring consistency in workplace transport training.

But, the Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT) asks – how many non-accredited certificates were handed out last year?

No one knows. And that should worry every single company that uses lift trucks.

According to the AITT, one of the four founding members of the ABA, far too many employers are still accepting training that isn’t externally verified. They’re taking it on trust — and putting people at risk.

“A certificate might look official. But unless it’s accredited, there’s no way to know the trainer was competent, the training was up to standard, or the test was even carried out properly,” said Liam Knight, managing director of AITT.

“If you’re responsible for operator safety, you need to ask yourself: who’s checking the checker?”

But despite growing awareness, non-accredited training still makes up a huge portion of the market.

That includes in-house training schemes with no independent oversight, and ‘providers’ who issue certificates without meeting any recognised standard.

“100,000 issued accredited certificates is still something to be celebrated,” added Liam. “It shows how many companies are doing things properly. But we need to keep asking the hard question: how many aren’t?”

AITT is calling on employers to:

• Ask for proof of accreditation when booking training
• Refuse to accept uncertified operators
• Use training providers registered with an ABA member

“Accredited training isn’t a luxury. It’s the baseline,” said Liam. “If it isn’t accredited, it isn’t accountable –  and that should be a red flag for anyone responsible for safety.”