Raising a Glass (and a Pallet!) — Goddards Brewery Staff Take on the Reach Truck Forklift Course

Brewery team Bob and Albie put their skills to the test on a Toyota reach truck with Wight Training Services.

TL;DR:

• Goddards Brewery staff take part in an Experienced Reach Truck Forklift Course.
• Training led by Wight Training Services’ instructor, Tim Benton.
• Focus on safety, positioning, and correct procedure.
• Hands-on with a Toyota reach truck – ideal for narrow warehouse aisles.
• Practical on-site learning that keeps the workplace safe and efficient.

When your brewery is as busy as Goddards, keeping things moving smoothly behind the scenes is just as important as what comes out of the taps. Recently, two of their team members, Bob and Albie, spent a day sharpening their warehouse skills with Wight Training Services, completing an Experienced Reach Truck Forklift Course under the guidance of instructor Tim Benton.

Before even stepping onto the machine, Bob and Albie carried out thorough pre-use checks, ensuring the Toyota reach truck was safe and ready to operate. “Those checks are vital,” explains Tim. “A quick inspection before you start can prevent accidents and keep both the operator and equipment in good shape.”

Once the checks were done, the real work began. The pair moved through a series of practical exercises designed to refine positioning, precision, and safe handling — essential when you’re operating in a warehouse full of valuable stock (or, in this case, some rather special beer!).

The Toyota reach truck  they trained on is a specialist type of forklift designed for narrow aisle work and high stacking. Unlike a counterbalance forklift, the forks on a reach truck can extend forward beyond the operator’s compartment to place or retrieve pallets from high racking. They’re electric-powered, making them ideal for indoor use, and their tight turning radius  makes them a warehouse favourite.

“Bob and Albie both demonstrated excellent awareness and skill,” says Tim. “It’s always great to see experienced operators refresh their training — it keeps standards high and workplaces safe.”

With over 30 years of brewing tradition, Goddards Brewery knows the value of doing things properly — and that’s exactly what this kind of on-site training supports. Whether it’s handling barrels or stacking supplies, trained operators make all the difference in keeping production safe, smooth, and efficient.

At Wight Training Services, we deliver accredited, hands-on training right where you work — using your own equipment for real-world results. Whether you’re refreshing your forklift skills or training a new team, our on-site reach truck forklift courses on the Isle of Wight are tailored to your needs and fully accredited through ITSSAR.

To find out more or book your next forklift course near me, contact Tim at Wight Training Services — your local expert in safe, efficient, and compliant workplace transport training.