Forklift Driver Training and Upskilling
Barossa Upskilling Program
Case Study
In October 2021, Acclaimed Workforce was approached by clients Vinpac and Prowine (two local brands under Endeavour Drinks Group EDG) to assist in finding a solution to the serious shortage of forklift drivers in the Barossa region. Both organisations were struggling to fill shifts, which was having a significant impact on productivity. In some instances, entire production lines were cancelled due to staff shortages.
For a region that is so reliant on wine production, this is an increasingly serious problem, not just for wine and bottling organisations, but the region’s economy.
The Challenge
The cessation of international and interstate travel as a result of the pandemic hit regional areas such as the Barossa particularly hard and continues to have a lag on effect. The Barossa is experiencing labour and skills shortages, with significant gaps in forklift operators.
According to Acclaimed Workforce Senior Recruitment Consultant, Nicole Rowley, Vinpac and Prowine had employees with forklift licences, however these employees didn’t have enough operating or winery-based experience.
“This training and upskilling program was born out of the need for experienced forklift operators, which are particularly difficult to find at the moment,” she says. “Both Vinpac and Prowine deemed this experience necessary, as operators would need to be able to correctly and safely handle and move bins, barrels and glass bottles.”
The Solution
The three-week training and upskilling program began in February 2022 and was held at SA TAFE’s Nuriootpa campus. Twenty employees from Vinpac and Prowine, including some that were on-hired through Acclaimed Workforce, participated.
Employees who already possessed a forklift licence but had no winery-specific experience underwent the upskilling portion of the program, seeing them complete eight hours of training focused on the specialised equipment necessary for winery employees. This included working with specific attachments and fork lengths to accommodate winery barrel racks or additional hydraulic valves.
For those staff who didn’t already have a forklift licence, they completed the accredited forklift training certification, which also included the winery-specific experience.
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All training was performed at no cost to either Vinpac or Prowine. Instead, Acclaimed Workforce was able to engage the Department for Innovation and Skills, which funded the winery-specific training, while SA TAFE funded the accredited forklift certification. Pallets of glass were donated by Vinpac for the winery-specific training component.
Upon instigating the program, Acclaimed Workforce reached out to Lisa Brock, Employment Facilitator for the Upper Spencer Gulf and Mid-North, for funding assistance. Lisa was unable to assist as the training was being undertaken by already employed individuals, however recommended and introduced Acclaimed Workforce to the Department for Innovation and Skills.
The Outcome
The training and upskilling program had an 85 percent success rate, with 17 out of the 20 participants completing the program.
Nicole has observed an enormous improvement in staffing flexibility for Vinpac and Prowine. “Not only are forklift shifts able to be filled, but employees who aren’t able to work five days a week, or choose not to, can now work their desired hours, aiding in overall workforce satisfaction and retention.”
“Absenteeism is less of a headache, and with employees able to now fill various types of shifts, this helps to keep work flowing and avoid issues such as line closures.”
Furthermore, for the participants, this significantly increased their employability within the wine sector in the Barossa region.