Four intrepid climbers from Van Hee Training on the top of Ben Nevis - (l-r top) Neil Russell and John Charlton and (l-r bottom) Graham Johnson and Paul Robertson.

31st August 2010

As far as challenges go they don't come much bigger than The Three Peaks Challenge. The intrepid team from Van Hee, the specialist logistics training company based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, took on the challenge at the week-end... And won the famous climbing challenge.

Managing Director, John Charlton leading the 4-man team who completed all three peaks in only thirteen and a half hours of climbing, said "We relish taking on these challenges throughout the year. They are not only good for our fitness, but are fantastic for company teambuilding, and we have also been able to raise quite a bit of money for the Alzheimer's Society."

The famous "Three Peaks Challenge" is a mountain-endurance challenge of mega proportions. For over 40 years it has tempted the bravest to climb the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales within a 24-hour period. Starting with climbing Ben Nevis (Mountain of Heaven in Gaelic) in Scotland, at 1,344 metres high (or 4,408 feet) the highest mountain in the British Isles, where temperatures on the top are rarely above freezing at any time of the year. "The view from the top was magnificent" said John. "It was so clear we could see for a hundred miles. It was very still with not a breath of wind but very cold. I was also surprised just how big the mountains are - so much volume and mass."

A quick dash to the Lake District and Scafell Pyke, the baby of the challenge at 978 metres (3,209ft), ready to climb just after dawn in typical damp misty conditions and on to North Wales to take on Snowdon, (Tomb or Monument in Welch) at 1,085 metres high (3,560ft). "The weather at the top was simply awful" comments John.

"The wind was so strong it nearly blew us off. We had to climb as a team to help each other. We were tired by then and got tangled up with the Snowdon International Mountain Race with about 500 runners so it was a bit crowded up there. We couldn't see anything and didn't stay at the top for more than a few minutes before descending."

In all the challenge involves around 26 miles of ascent and descent, with total travel of around 475 miles. The heavy traffic on the M6 and in North Wales dented their timing and they missed the overall challenge by about a couple of hours.

About a month ago, the same team completed an 84 mile walk along Hadrian's Wall from Bowness on the Solway Firth to Wallsend on Tyneside. Then, as if that were not enough excitement, in September they will all ride from Edinburgh to work on Tyneside on a bicycle!

And the next big challenge?... Well it has to be The Great North Run and Finance Director, Paul Robertson is already in training and will take part in the half marathon for the first time on September 19th.

Van Hee, when they are not taking on the sporting challenges, is one of the largest providers of logistics training in the UK. For forty years they have trained at all levels in the logistics sector including fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, warehousemen and supervisors, currently training around 3,000 people annually. Van Hee has training centres on South Tyneside, Nottingham and Norwich and partnerships with other training providers, schools, colleges and around 200 commercial customers. They provide national qualifications and tailor-make training programmes to suit a particular company's needs.

	(l-r) Jill Taylor, Business Development Manager of Van Hee; Mark Hanlon, Driver; John Benton, Depot Manager FWC; Abby Brewin, Regional HR Manager FWC; Andy Heywood, Van Hee Assessor/ Instructor; Jimmy Lee, General Regional Manager, North, FWC.

23rd August 2010

Van Hee, the specialist logistics training company based in Tyne and Wear, is completing a year long training programme for Fowler Welch Coolchain for their Washington depot and which is now being rolled out across the company.

Fowler Welch Coolchain is one of the UK's leading fast moving consumer goods supply chain organisations, working with supermarkets, food manufacturers, growers and importers.

Following their move into new purpose built facilities in Washington, Tyne and Wear in 2008 they decided it was time to upgrade the performance of drivers and warehouse staff to more closely meet the company's mission to deliver the highest levels of quality and service to their customers.

Van Hee devised and delivered a comprehensive training programme for Drivers and Warehouse staff to bring all drivers up to the same level of competency and to improve the compliance record by eliminating infringements.

Even a high number of Polish immigrant drivers was not a problem as Kate Jaworska, a training information officer with Van Hee for 18 months, helped with the induction sessions, helped the drivers to complete paperwork and translated all the knowledge questions.

In all, 70 drivers underwent on-the-job training, including those on the 02.00 am start shift, attaining NVQ Level 2 with 30 of them going on to NVQ Level 3, whilst 30 warehouse people completed their NVQ Level 2 and 3 certificates.

"The training programme has really benefited our drivers as well as the company," said Jimmy Lee, Regional General Manager North for Fowler Welch. "All the drivers drive in a much more responsible way, compliance infringements are reduced and we now have a settled team working well together. All new drivers in future will be required to undertake NVQ Level 2. The Washington depot was the first to receive this training and which has now started to be rolled out across the company."

John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee concluded: "This has been a very good training programme for a client who knew what they wanted to achieve and who fully appreciates the business benefits that good tailored continuous training can deliver for a company."

Van Hee are one of the largest specialist logistics training providers in the UK training around 3000 learners a year.

	Tony Van Hee onboard the 30ft Dazcat Catamaran 'allez van hee.'

1st June 2010

Tony Van Hee, Chairman of Van Hee Transport, the Gateshead, Tyne and Wear based logistics specialist, best known these days as a leading logistics training company, is due to set sail from Plymouth on Saturday 6th June in the 2010 Shetland Round Britain & Ireland Yacht Race.

"This is one more great challenge" said Tony "and it gives us another opportunity to raise around £5,000 for our charity fund for the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer appeal which as a company, Van Hee Transport has been supporting for the last eighteen months."

Race competitors will sail 2000 nautical miles around the UK coastline "There are some pretty testing conditions" comments Tony. "You have to expect at least one gale and above all stay very alert. It's not like an ocean race where you're unlikely to bump into anything; when you're sailing reasonably close to the coast, you have to keep an eye out for rocks and promontories, and of course other ships, particularly in the English Channel."

The organisers allow for this by there being five stages of the race, with a compulsory 48-hour rest between each stage at Kinsale in Ireland, Castle Bay, Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Lerwick in Shetland and Lowestoft in Suffolk on the English East Coast. "The hospitality at these stopovers is pretty legendary" adds Tony. "We expect the race to take around 26 - 28 days overall."

Tony will be sailing a 30ft Dazcat Catamaran recently re-named 'allez van hee' - which in English means Go Van Hee. Tony has been adventuring and sailing for over forty years. He was one of the first British transport drivers to take loads of goods to the Middle East for his fledgling Van Hee Transport company as far back as the 1960's. In the 1980's he took a year's sailing sabbatical taking his family of wife Joan and 3 small children ending up in Maine, USA . He has taken part in many yacht races including The Fastnet, and competed in this race four years ago. His co-skipper will be west country sailor Bob Beggs, himself a famous mariner winning the 2001 Times Clipper round the world race and completed the first circumnavigation of North America under sail in 2008.

This will be the 12th running of the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland yacht race, hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth, which currently takes place every 4 years. Nearly 60 yachts will start the two-handed race attracting entrants from Europe, Scandinavia and South Africa.

Van Hee Transport have an active programme of staff taking part in activities to raise money for local charities. Last year they did the gruelling Lyke Wake Walk, a 40 mile crossing of the North Yorkshire Moors. This year they are walking the full 73 miles of Hadrian's Wall, as well as the famous 3 Peaks, and on Saturday 7th August they will be hosting a full day of events for staff, customers, suppliers and friends. All proceeds will go to the Alzheimer's Society and the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Fund.

If anyone would like to sponsor and contribute to Tony Van Hee's Round Britain Yacht Race
log on to www.justgiving.co.uk/allez-Van-Hee

If you want to follow his progress in the race check daily at www.rwyc.org

	John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee Training.

27th April 2010

Van Hee Transport, the Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, based logistics specialist, best known these days as a leading logistics training company, is looking forward to continued growth.

"It's true that the bad weather in January slowed things down for us and everyone else as well," said Managing Director, John Charlton, "But we had a very good year last year, hitting our growth targets, and we are now back on schedule and now expect to pretty well hit our targets for 2010.

"Our dominant logistics training business, training around 3,500 people across the whole of England in such activities as commercial transport operatives, handling dangerous goods, back-office staff, management training, forklift-truck operators, and increasingly Skills for Life courses, saw us open specialist training centres in Nottingham in August and then in November we opened in Norwich in Norfolk. We felt those new centres were necessary to maintain our quality standards and to provide the extra service and support to our growing list of customers in those areas. We believe that the build-up to CPC deadlines in 2014 will see our training business continue to grow.

"A bonus, if you like, from opening those two new centres, has been an increase in our Logistics Consultancy service, particularly for the smaller companies who we have found can sometimes struggle with the increasing complexities of compliance and paperwork. We can handle all that for them."

John concluded: "We expect that for the remainder of this year, we will consolidate our position in the training market-place, increasingly working in other parts of the country. Expand further the Logistics Consultancy service, and in the North East of England build up our transport and warehousing activities."

	John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee, met Charley Boorman on his recent visit to Tyneside.

30th March 2010

On a recent visit to Tyneside, Charley Boorman, the legendary motorbike fanatic, stage performer, TV traveller and charity supporter, dropped by Van Hee, the specialist logistics training company based in Gateshead.

"I am a great fan of Charley's TV travels with Ewan McGregor, so it was a great pleasure to actually meet up with him in person" said John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee. "My colleagues at Van Hee and I don't get the chance to travel the world like Charley, but we do manage some difficult and challenging events. They are good for our fitness, for teambuilding, and we have also been able to raise quite a bit of money for local charities.

"This year we will again give half of the money we raise to the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Fund and the other half to the Alzheimers Society, a cause which is very close to my heart."

Charley Boorman also has a long history of supporting charities. Since 2004 he has been on a number of visits to UNICEF (United Nationals Children's Fund) projects, the majority of which have been integrated into his television programmes Long Way Round, Long Way Down and By Any Means. In January 2009 Charley Boorman was made President for Dyslexia Action. "Many dyslexics can be extremely gifted, for example in areas of art, engineering, music etc, and many have been successful in business. It is important that these talents are not overlooked. Today much more is known about Dyslexia and how to best support people. With the correct support, you could overcome any difficulties and follow your dream like I did."

"Dyslexia is not related to intelligence and affects at least 10% of the population, with around 4% being severely affected, and is more common in men than in women. As there are around two million people working within the logistics industry , it is estimated there could be as many as 200,000 suffering from some form of Dyslexia" commented John Charlton. "We have to be aware of that and provide specialist help for trainees when required."

This year, nine people from Van Hee, who have logistics training centres across the UK, will be walking the 84 miles along Hadrian's Wall from Bowness on Solway to Wallsend. In July they take on the famous "Three Peaks Challenge" of climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pyke in the Lake District and Snowdon in north Wales, all in 24 hours. Then, as if that were not enough excitement, they will all ride from Edinburgh to work in Felling on a bicycle. And the Finance Director, Paul Robertson will undertake the Great North Run for the first time.

Van Hee is one of the largest providers of logistics training in the UK. For forty years they have trained at all levels in the logistics sector including fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, warehousemen and supervisors, currently training around 3,000 people annually. Van Hee has partnerships with other training providers, schools, colleges and around 200 commercial customers. They provide national qualifications and tailor-make training programmes to suit a particular company's needs.

	Brett Warburton, Executive Director of Warburtons (r) presenting a member of staff with their NVQ certificate.

3rd March 2010

Van Hee, the specialist logistics training company based in Tyne and Wear, has been working closely with family baker Warburtons, the country's second biggest grocery brand*, to get all drivers at their Enfield Bakery Distribution Centre to successfully complete their NVQ Level 2 and become Driver CPC qualified until March 2019.

When new Transport Depot Manager, Vince Fanning arrived at the Bakery Distribution Centre at Enfield in 2007 he found the whole transport depot was completely populated by agency drivers which resulted in a higher than desired level of accidents and compliance infringements.

He set about completely changing that around by employing all drivers on a permanent staff basis. "I knew about the driver training work Van Hee were doing with our Newcastle upon Tyne bakery and felt sure that they could help us" said Vice Fanning. "There are unique challenges for those involved in driving commercial vehicles in the Greater London area and the London Freight Booster (LFB) training programme devised by Transport for London covers all our drivers need to know. Van Hee did all the classroom training and the driver assessments."

The LFB course involves a week long (35 hours) classroom based training programme followed by an assessment of how well they put that theory into practice in their daily work. As well as standard driver training the LFB covers maintaining the safety and security of the load and contributing to reducing the threat of terrorism, route planning in London and sharing London's roads safely with others

As well as the training at Enfield the programme also covers all drivers at the Paddick Wood distribution depot in Kent. The combined delivery fleet of both depots totals 100+ vehicles of tankers and vans.

Vince Fanning concluded "This programme has improved our service to customers, giving us greater flexibility of resource, and measurable savings on fuel costs. The drivers work well now as a team and feel responsible for their vehicles and their performance which shows up in the vast reduction of accident levels and infringements. That may well have a positive effect on our insurance costs. The excellent results at Enfield also means that the company is now in a position to bid for local authority and Olympic contracts."

John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee commented: "This has been a very good training programme. Our client knew what they wanted to achieve and fully appreciate the business benefits that good tailored continuous training can deliver for a company."

Certificates for all 42 graduates at Enfield were presented by Executive Director Brett Warburton watched by the proud Van Hee trainers led by Managing Director John Charlton and Business Development Manager Jill Taylor.

Mr Warburton said: "We are continually monitoring our training and development procedures and have worked together with Van Hee during the last 12 months to produce these fantastic results. We place a great deal of importance on workforce investment to ensure we always have a dedicated team of trained and motivated individuals to provide an excellent level of service to our customers."

Van Hee are one of the largest specialist logistics training and Skills for Life training providers in the UK. They currently train around 3000 learners a year from Training Centres in the North East, Nottingham, Norwich and the South East.

* According to The Grocer Magazine, Nielson Britain's 100 Biggest Grocery Brands

	John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee.

13th November 2009

Van Hee, the specialist logistics training company based in Tyne and Wear, has opened their third new Training Centre this year. Based in Snetterton near Norwich, The Centre will service Norfolk and the East of England.

"Norfolk and East of England is an area with a high concentration of goods vehicle licence operators and bulk carriers" comments John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee, "so there is obviously a high need for quality driver training as all companies with commercial drivers and fleets gear up for CPC (Driver Certificate of Professional Competence) compliance.*

The new dedicated Training Centre is based close to Foulger Transport Limited at Snetterton, near Norwich.

"Our arrangement with Foulger provides a good transport environment with plenty of dedicated space" comments John Charlton. "We are winning an increasing number of training contracts around the country so it is essential that we can deliver the training not only at our client's premises, but, when required, from localised customised training facilities."

"We see our training arrangement with Van Hee as an extension of our increasing range of services for the haulage industry" commented Barry Germany, Foulger Transport Ltd.

Earlier this year Van Hee, who provide a full range of training courses for the logistics industry, from literacy and numeracy to advanced supervisor level for drivers, warehouse operatives, fork lift truck operators and logistics planning, opened their first dedicated Training Centres outside their home territory of the North East of England.

The first dedicated Training Centre was opened in March to service the East Midlands region, and is based at Attenborough half way between Derby and Nottingham and is run in conjunction with Reynolds Recruitment. This centre also offers a recruitment service for both qualified drivers and employers.

The second dedicated Training Centre was opened in Central London in July.

Van Hee deliver many of the training courses at customer premises, giving on the job training, usually timed around driver's existing shift patterns, but there is an increasing need for classroom training sessions, which has led to the need for dedicated Training Centres around the UK.

"We have been very successful in winning new contracts for driver/logistics training all over the country, so we will continue to actively seek suitable new premises and locations around the UK to service that business and sustain our expansion programme" concluded Mr Charlton.

* Under the European Driver Training Directive for PCV drivers which came into effect in 2008 and for LGV drivers which came into effect as from 10th September this year, all new driver recruits and entrants into the transport business must have a Driver CPC Certificate. All existing drivers must undergo 35 hours of training every five years to keep their licence to drive commercially.

	One of Van Hee's giant mobile classrooms.

5th November 2009

Van Hee, the specialist logistics training company based in Felling, Tyne and Wear, goes mobile to help family baker Warburtons, the country's second biggest grocery brand*, to deliver the dough.

"Getting suitable space for classroom work at the depots of some of our customers has been a bit of a problem" says John Charlton, Van Hee's Managing Director. "The more advanced training courses now require a fair bit of classroom work, so we had to find a solution urgently."

The simple solution he came up with was to provide a series of specially fitted out giant mobile classrooms, Ideal for short periods, like a single training day, so now a shortage of suitable space need never again be a problem.

The largest of the GIANT MOBILE CLASSROOMS is a 45ft Mobile Trailer fitted with video, audio and presentation facilities, which comfortably accommodates desk space for twelve trainees and additionally has a six-station computer suite. Kitchen and refreshment facilities are included to make a fully self-sufficient unit.

"These mobile classrooms have already proved their worth, "concludes John Charlton. "We used them extensively on a recently completed tailored training programme for Warburtons at their Newburn Bakery in Newcastle upon Tyne, where over the past year, 36 staff have successfully undergone a series of specialist training courses at all levels of Driver NVQ qualifications.

When presenting Certificates to graduates, Executive Director Brett Warburton said "We have worked together with Van Hee during the last 14 months to produce these fantastic results. Well done to everyone involved.

Logistics training can now be undertaken at any of the Van Hee specialist training facilities, at a customers' site, organised around existing shift patterns, delivered 'on the job' to minimise employee down-time, and now in mobiles which can be located at a quiet part of a site away from the busy active areas. No matter what a company's training requirements, Van Hee has all the angles covered.

Van Hee are one of the largest specialist logistics training and Skills for Life training providers in the UK. They currently train around 3000 learners a year from Training Centres in the North East, Nottingham East Midlands, Norfolk and the South East.

* SOURCE; The Grocer Magazine, Nielson Britain's 100 Biggest Grocery Brands, March 2009.

	John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee (far right) with Van Hee colleagues.

19th October 2009

The Lyke Wake Walk is well known for those sentiments and similar thoughts by anyone who has attempted the 40 mile crossing of the North Yorkshire Moors. Just south of Whitby the route roughly follows the main east-west watershed.

John Charlton, Managing director of Van Hee, the Felling based logistics training company, and six of his colleagues, recently completed the walk on a very wet day. "All of us did eventually complete the crossing in spite of floods and mud" said John. "It took around 18 hours and was a bit touch and go at one time. But we made it. We did it for the fun, and to raise money for charities. We raised £500 in sponsorship. I'd say, on balance, the day was also a good team building and mutual help demonstration."

There is no defined route, and you can choose to walk east to west, or west to east. But you must walk between two grid references and all those completing the walk within 24 hours are eligible to join a special club. The first crossing was made by Bill Cowley on 1st October 1955.

Half the money raised by Van Hee will be donated to the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Fund with the rest going to Transaid, the logistics industry's international development charity that seeks to reduce poverty and improve life quality in Africa and across the developing world through transport related projects.

Van Hee and their staff have a regular and on-going programme of community help. Earlier this year they seconded Malcolm Kidd, a driver instructor/assessor, to go to Nigeria for three weeks to train ambulance driver instructors.

Van Hee is one of the largest providers of logistics training in the UK. For forty years they have trained at all levels in the logistics sector including fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, warehousemen and supervisors, currently training around 3,000 people annually. Van Hee has partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, other training providers, schools, colleges and around 200 commercial customers. They train individuals or can tailor make a training programme to suit a particular company's needs.

	Malcolm Kidd from Van Hee, training in Nigeria.

13th October 2009

Malcolm Kidd, an LGV driving instructor and assessor for Van Hee, the logistics training specialist based in Felling, Gateshead has returned from a three week secondment with Transaid in Nigeria where he has been training six new driver trainers.

The trip marked the first joint overseas project between Van Hee and Transaid, the transport industry's charity which aims to improve people's lives in the developing world by making transport more available and affordable.

The initiative saw Malcolm, 49, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, working in Yobe State, northern Nigeria - one of four states in the region where Transaid is helping the Ministry of Health to improve immunisation coverage and access to healthcare for women and young children. Key to achieving this is Transaid's effort to improve the way the Ministry runs and manages its transport.

Speaking on his return, Malcolm said: "My trip coincided with the arrival of 35 new ambulances and I spent much of my time helping to train a group of six ambulance driver trainers. They were incredibly eager to learn and very receptive to the training programme - as a result, they have already trained their first 20 drivers.

"Research two years ago estimated that there is only one health service vehicle per 100,000 people in the region, which suffers from high child and maternal mortality rates. If the training we have delivered proves successful in improving vehicle utilisation and safety across the fleet then we will have helped to save lives."

Chris Saunders, Chief Executive of Transaid adds: "Van Hee's assistance in Nigeria will enable the health service to utilise their vehicles much more efficiently and safely, which will in turn improve access to healthcare. It's a great example of how Transaid can help to share the extensive knowledge and experience held within the UK transport and logistics industry with countries across Africa."

The training involved a mixture of theoretical and practical teaching techniques to support the role out of a much wider five year training programme which is seeing Transaid working as part of a consortium of companies on behalf of Health Partners International.

Malcolm's visit to Nigeria was not his first experience in Africa. In 1978 he spent six months in Kenya as part of his 14 years of army service where he drove 65-tonne trucks transporting plant and equipment.

John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee added "By helping Transaid in this way, we will play our part in helping people in Nigeria to have better access to healthcare, education and opportunities to earn a living. Just like in Nigeria, we in the UK also want to improve the transport and distribution sector. Companies and organisations need to update operator skills and ensure their drivers have a full Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) programme in place."

Van Hee is one of the largest providers of logistics training in the UK. For 40 years it has trained at all levels including forklift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, warehousemen and supervisors, currently training around 3,000 people annually.

	(l-r) Elaine Allan, Contracts Manager, Steve Abbott, Quality Manager and Jill Taylor Personnel and Business Development Manager.

7th September 2009

Van Hee, the specialist logistics training company based in Tyne and Wear, has grown so much in the last year they have appointed a new extended management team to assist Managing Director John Charlton deal with the company growth.

"We are training more learners now than ever before, in a wider range of subjects, not only here in the North East, but all over the country, so it seemed a good time to broaden our base of management." said Managing Director, John Charlton. "We have many ongoing contracts so it is essential that we maintain our quality standards in every aspect of company activities."

Jill Taylor, has been with Van Hee for 14 years during which time her role has evolved, and even taking her CIPD diploma (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) and later her degree while at the company, and is now Personnel and Business Development Manager.

"I've seen a big change in training in the transport sector in the past seven - eight years" comments Jill, "When I first started, training was almost a dirty word. Now I think that training has become much sought after - more accepted as the norm and it's benefits for the individual and the company are more clearly understood now."

Elaine Allan has been with Van Hee for five years. She is the Contracts Manager and oversees all administration for Government funded training programmes involving quality audits and statistics. Elaine, who has a degree in psychology, said "Van Hee is a great team to work with, there is great morale in the company. We are in a period of great change now, focusing heavily on quality and we are taking the company forward nationally by opening new Training Centres around the country."

Steve Abbott is the third member of the new extended management team. "It has been like coming home for me" said Steve. "I had worked for Van Hee for 16 years, working my way up the career ladder, from an apprentice LGV Technician to Workshop Manager, then General Manager for Transport. I went with the transport business when Van Hee sold it eighteen months ago, but I returned in May of last year. I know the company and their high standards very well, and as Quality Manager, it's my job to see those high standards are maintained, not just here in the North East, but at all of our new Training Centres in other parts of the country."

Jill Taylor summed up for the new team "Van Hee are on a dynamic high growth programme right now. We have a very young management team - and very innovative. John Charlton has a very clear vision of how he wants the company to grow based on high quality standards. We are opening new Training Centres in other parts of the UK and Government funding for training will continue to be very important in our future growth both for those in employment and to retrain the unemployed so that when the economy gets back on track there will be a skilled workforce ready to deliver."

Van Hee are one of the largest specialist logistics training and Skills for Life training providers in the UK. They currently train around 3000 learners a year from Training Centres in the North East, Nottingham and the South East.

24th August 2009

Van Hee, the specialist logistics training company based in Tyne and Wear, has opened their first Training Centres outside the North East of England.

"We are winning an increasing number of training contracts around the country so it is essential, in order to maintain our quality standard, that we can deliver the training not only at our client's premises, but, when required, from localised, customised training facilities" said John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee.

The Nottingham Training Centre, opened to service the East Midlands region, is based at Attenborough in Nottingham and is run in conjunction with Reynolds Recruitment. "This arrangement allows us not only to provide the logistics training that is now necessary under the European Driver Training Directive, covering an area with a high concentration of transport and delivery companies, but offers a recruitment service for both qualified drivers and employers." Said John Charlton. "The Centre was launched in March of this year and already has around 100 drivers in training.

The new London Training Centre is based at Grosvenor Gardens House, 35-37 Grosvenor Gardens, SW1W 0BS.

"Westminster might seem an odd place to base our London operation, commented John Charlton, "But we have found the head offices of many of our clients are based in the Greater London area and a Central London location gives us many business advantages. Of course, we deliver many of the training courses at our clients' own premises giving on the job training, but for the increasing number of classroom training courses they have to be delivered in a convenient place for the learners."

"We have been very successful in winning new contracts for training so we are actively looking for new premises in other parts of the country to sustain our expansion programme" concluded Mr Charlton.

Van Hee delivers logistics training for all levels of operatives in the logistics industry including drivers, forklift truck operators and warehouse staff as well as Skills for Life NVQ courses.

	23 of the 30 Warburtons drivers, who gained their NVQ's through Van Hee, pictured with John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee (left) and Brett Warburton, Executive Director of Warburtons (right). In the centre foreground Alan Atkinson.

24th July 2009

Van Hee, the specialist logistics training company based in Tyne and Wear, is working closely with family baker Warburtons, the country's second biggest grocery brand*, to deliver the bread.

Van Hee have devised and delivered a comprehensive training programme for Warburtons for staff at their Newburn bakery in Newcastle. Over the past year, 36 staff have successfully undergone a series of specialist training courses at all levels of Driver NVQ qualifications.

Certificates for 23 of the 36 graduates were presented by Executive Director Brett Warburton watched by the proud Van Hee trainers led by Managing Director John Charlton.

Mr Warburton said: "It has been a pleasure to present these outstanding members of staff with their new Driving Goods Vehicles NVQ certificates.

"We are continually monitoring our training and development procedures and have worked together with Van Hee during the last 14 months to produce these fantastic results. Well done to everyone involved.

"As a company, we place a great deal of importance on workforce investment to ensure we always have a dedicated team of trained and motivated individuals to provide an excellent level of service to our customers."

Steve Lowther, Distribution Manager at Warburtons Newcastle Bakery, added: "Our staff have worked extremely hard to gain these qualifications which I'm pleased to say is not only a boost in terms of their own personal development, but will also help us to offer an improved service to our customers.

"The training has provided members of our Van Sales Department and Distribution Trunker Drivers with a mixture of practical and theoretical skills which will help them in their day-to-day role.

"My congratulations go to the 36 members of staff who have gained an NVQ at Level 2 and the 17 staff who went on to gain the Level 3 qualification.

Alan Atkinson, from Chapel House, Newcastle, who has been with Warburtons for 20 years, received his Driving Goods Vehicles NVQ Level 2. Alan comments "Although I have been a licensed driver for all those years it was great to get another perspective on my driving and for another professional to assess my skills. I was pleased to get a great refresher on skills, procedures and legislation etc. The Van Hee trainers were great and I am very happy that I have earned this qualification along with my colleagues."

It's not just for the men either. Alison Cant, who has been with Warburtons for two and a half years says "I love driving, even though my job at Warburton means that I have to get up at 3am every morning to make the early morning Scotland deliveries. The Van Hee training course has been very helpful, and will boost my career and skills. I got a lot of tips and pointers and some great advice from the Van Hee Trainers."

John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee concluded: "This has been a very good training programme. Our client knew what they wanted to achieve and fully appreciate the business benefits that good tailored continuous training can deliver for a company."

Van Hee are one of the largest specialist logistics training and Skills for Life training providers in the UK. They currently train around 3000 learners a year from Training Centres in the North East, Nottingham and the South East.

* SOURCE; The Grocer Magazine, Nielson Britain's 100 Biggest Grocery Brands, March 2009.

	Kate Jaworska, Training Information Advisor at Van Hee.

22nd June 2009

Kate Jaworska from Brzozow in Poland came over to the UK in June of last year for work experience and loved it so much that she decided to stay and make her life in the North East.

"Everyone was so friendly and helpful" said Kate who spent four months in the summer working for Trotters family bakery in Seahouses "I just knew that this is where I wanted to be if I could find a job to use my training. The people are so friendly and polite."

Since September last year Kate has been working as a Training Information Adviser at Van Hee, the Felling based logistics training specialist. "I talk to the staff of Van Hee's clients about opportunities to improve their qualifications. How to get on to NVQ programmes and about training schemes for drivers, warehousemen, fork lift truck operators, customer relations and all the jobs in logistics. Van Hee are growing fast, and I would like to take a part in that growth and teach people about logistics."

After completing her Masters Degree in Logistics at the University of Katowice, Kate and her friend Catherine came to see what England was like. But while her friend went back to Poland to complete her degree, Kate settled down in Fenham and quickly got the job at Van Hee.

"Kate does a good job," said Van Hee Managing Director John Charlton, "Her logistics course was ideal preparation, and because she speaks Polish and German she can make it easy for many of our trainees and recruits, especially those from overseas or ethnic backgrounds. She helps them with the paperwork, and spends time with each person to get the right course for each trainee."

Van Hee is one of the country's leading logistics specialist training companies. For forty years they have trained at all levels in the logistics sector including fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, warehousemen and supervisors, currently training around 3,000 people annually. They have partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, other training providers, schools, colleges and around 200 commercial customers.

"I love my job with Van Hee" concludes Kate "It really is my dream job. I feel it is my life opportunity. It is very challenging and is different everyday."

	Malcolm Kidd, HGV driving instructor and A1 assessor with Van Hee.

8th June 2009

In June Van Hee, the Gateshead, Tyne and Wear based logistics training specialist, will be sending instructor/assessor Malcolm Kidd out to Nigeria in north west Africa for three weeks as part of a very special scheme to help the local young truck drivers across Africa to develop better, safer driving skills.

Malcolm, (49) from Newton Aycliffe, Co. Durham, is an HGV driving instructor and A1 Assessor with Van Hee, and the trip is a continuation of their support for Transaid, the logistics industry's international development charity, that seeks to reduce poverty and improve life quality in Africa and across the developing world through transport related projects.

"I thought this was a chance in a life-time" said Malcolm "I'm really looking forward to actually being able not only to help people to improve their skills through training but hopefully to get a better life as a direct result. That would be truly satisfying. I want to improve their current standard of driving and make it safer for them, and the people and goods they will transport."

Malcolm is not new to Africa. He spent six months in Kenya in 1978 as part of his 14 years of army service where he drove 65-ton lorries transporting plant and equipment and worked with a team of Kenyan people to build a tank park for the Kenyan army. He has also spent ten years living and working in Canada and overall has some 32 years of driving experience.

"Death by road accidents is the second biggest cause of death in young males in Nigeria, as it is in other parts of Africa", commented John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee. "There's also a huge knock-on effect of lost vehicles and their loads, so we think this is an excellent cause for us to support. We have already supported Transaid's Professional Driver Training Project in Zambia, but this is a big venture for us, to send Malcolm out to Nigeria for three weeks. It will be a far cry from the sophisticated things he teaches here as part of our programme of CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) courses. But this basic training will have a huge effect on the lives of those in Nigeria."

Van Hee is one of the largest providers of logistics training in the UK. For forty years they have trained at all levels in the logistics sector including fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, warehousemen and supervisors, currently training around 3,000 people annually.

John Charlton, concludes "By helping Transaid in this way, we will play our part in helping people in Nigeria to have better access to healthcare, education and opportunities to earn a living. Just like in Nigeria, we in the UK also want to improve the transport and distribution sector. Companies and organisations need to update operator skills and ensure their drivers have a full Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) programme in place."

Van Hee has partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, other training providers, schools, colleges and commercial customers. They train individuals and plan and undertake training programme to suit a particular company's needs.

18th March 2009

Van Hee, the Tyne and Wear based transport training specialist, has joined forces with Reynolds Recruitment Ltd, the specialist logistics recruitment company based in Nottingham, to provide a complete logistics training and recruitment service for the East Midlands.

"Transport and logistics training has become increasingly more involved and complex," comments John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee "and with the introduction of the European Driver Training Directive for LGV Drivers (CPC) which comes into force in September, there is going to be a growing, and continuing, need for employers to train their staff in the new qualification and requirements, or to recruit new staff already up to speed."

"Companies will really see the benefits of regular logistics training" said Rod Harris Director of Reynolds Recruitment. "Through our arrangement and association with Van Hee we can now train not only staff employed at all levels within our clients' businesses, but we can also arrange the training of logistics personnel of any company in the East Midlands.

That is going to be an important benefit with all logistics companies having to comply with the new Driver CPC requirements due to come into force on 10th September. It is important that they get the most from their drivers. For instance, the Fuel Efficient Driving skills course has helped many companies to cut the cost of their fuel bills.

"We provide drivers to many of the big company fleets in the East Midlands. Now all the drivers should be fully qualified when they are contracted, so our customers will see the real benefit of our arrangement with Van Hee."

Van Hee is one of the most respected names in transport circles in the north east of England, and is now increasingly recognised around the country as a specialist provider of logistics training for commercial transport operatives, back office staff, management training, forklift truck drivers, and Skills for Life training.

Since the beginning of 2008, Van Hee have invested heavily in up-dating and extending their training premises in Felling, Tyne and Wear and have added additional instructors, driving instructor assessors and fork lift truck instructors to handle the increasing level of operatives under training, now standing at around 3,000 people a year.

Reynolds Recruitment was established in 1985 as a specialist recruitment company for the logistics sector providing full and part-time staff, as well as contract drivers. They provide drivers to a long list of blue-chip companies in the East Midlands

"This arrangement with the highly respected Reynolds Recruitment extends our geographical coverage of the country", continued John Charlton, "and I am sure that together we will provide a first class service to drivers and companies across the East Midlands."

Van Hee has partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, other training providers, schools and colleges.

	John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee Training, who are supporting the Professional Driver Training Project in Zambia.

26th January 2009

Van Hee, the Tyne and Wear based logistics training specialist, has started the year by making their first ever donation to Transaid, the logistics industry's international development charity that seeks to reduce poverty and improve life quality in Africa and across the developing world through transport related projects.

"We wanted to help others at this difficult time", commented John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee, "And Transaid is close to our heart. We are supporting the Professional Driver Training Project in Zambia.

"It all started before Christmas when our staff were making contributions to local charities, so we decided that instead of sending Christmas cards we would send something to Transaid.

"Like us, Transaid undertake driver training, helping people to get a better job to improve their life chances. We have also arranged to share some of our training materials with them in an effort to give some practical help. Death by road accidents is the second biggest cause of death in young males in Zambia, so we think this is an excellent cause for us to support."

Van Hee is one of the largest providers of logistics training in the UK. For forty years they have trained at all levels in the logistics sector including fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, warehousemen and supervisors, currently training around 3,000 people annually. Van Hee has partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, other training providers, schools, colleges and around 200 commercial customers. They train individuals or can tailor make a training programme to suit a particular company's needs.

John Charlton, concludes "By helping Transaid in this way, we will play our part in helping people in Zambia to have better access to healthcare, education and opportunities to earn a living. Just like in Zambia, if we in the UK want to improve the transport and distribution sector companies and organisations need to update operator skills."

	John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee Training, one of the largest providers of logistics training in the country.

16th January 2009

"This is no time for Do-it-yourself training" so says John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee, the Tyne and Wear based logistics training specialist.

"There is a belief amongst some transport companies we talk to that the cost of bringing their drivers up-to-date to meet the new CPC requirements (Driver Certificate of Professional Competence) of 35 hours of periodic training every five years, is going to be too costly in this current hard economic climate. I have even heard figures of around half a million pounds over five years being quoted for a fleet of 100 drivers!

"That's way off beam. It shouldn't cost anything like that. Not if logistics companies work with a good professional training company. One that has industry experience. I'd say allow about £100 per year per operative for the cost of the training. That's closer to £10,000 per year or £50,000 over the five years, and in some areas of the country funding is available to offset some or all of the cost."

There is a real danger that some companies may now be tempted to go down the route of training staff internally to save money. But that is seen by John Charlton as short-sighted. "Compare that average £10,000 a year with the replacement cost of taking a good driver out of service to act as a driver trainer, preparing all the training materials, travel, expenses, back-up admin. and the cost of course approval and accreditation.

Companies do need a consistent quality standard across their whole operation and at all depots. The Government has made considerable sums available to help people already in employment to access training to upskill, but companies may not be able to access that assistance directly. They will only be able to do so by using professionally qualified external providers. We, and other companies like us, can help our customers to tailor custom-planned programmes to upskill their staff, and access any available assistance. I urge every logistics company to talk to their local professional provider to see what is available in their area."

Van Hee is one of the largest providers of logistics training in the country. For forty years they have trained at all levels in the logistics sector including fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, warehousemen and supervisors, currently training around 3,000 people annually.

John Charlton, concludes "Undoubtedly, companies engaged in transport and distribution now have a regular and ongoing need to update operator skills. And there is no doubt that training has become increasingly more involved and complex and will become even more so, but this is no time to take the amateur route. There are unclaimed funds available, so it really will pay in the long run to call in the professionals and get training underway."

Van Hee has partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, other training providers, schools, colleges and around 200 commercial customers.

January 2009

For 29 year old Martin Blair from Newcastle a job working in production for the UK's leading baker retailer is the icing on the cake.

By his own admission, Martin fell in with the wrong crowd when he was younger. He left school at 16 without any qualifications and drifted through a variety of jobs. These included everything from retail and warehousing through to working in a cat and dog shelter. He also experienced several long term spells of unemployment.

Yet with the right support, and by learning to use his loaf, Martin has gained a string of national qualifications. His hard work has culminated in a job, working at Greggs the Bakers in Longbenton.

As a shift worker Martin is part of a team of people who help things to run smoothly behind the scenes, whether it is packing up bakery products or loading and unloading delivery vans.

Helping him along the way has been his Jobcentre Plus adviser who recommended that Martin sign up for some Skills for Life training, funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East and run by Van Hee Training in Gateshead as part of its learndirect contract.

Martin soon knuckled down to his training and before long had successfully completed nationally recognised qualifications at Level 1 in literacy and numeracy.

Spurred on by his achievements, he then added an ITQ, the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) for IT users, to his accolades. Most recently he has also completed fork lift truck driver training, again with Van Hee.

As well as giving Martin a route into employment, the Skills for Life qualifications have helped to boost Martin's self-esteem.

"I've got a one year old daughter now and having family responsibilities makes you reassess your life and decide what's important," said Martin.

"I didn't really have much confidence in myself before I did the literacy and numeracy training. As well as improving my maths and English, I realised that I was capable of getting some qualifications after all. I was then ready to take on my next challenge.

"I would encourage anyone to sign up to this training if you want to get on in life and at work. I'm thrilled to have come this far already."

Chris Roberts, regional director with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East, added: "Learning and achieving qualifications can take many different routes, but one thing is certain - the results are always worth it.

"For some people Skills for Life qualifications are an end in themselves so that they can prove that they've got what it takes, whereas for others such as Martin they are a stepping stone to further learning and a new job."

Andrew Hall, UFI centre manager: "Through a number of contracts that Van Hee Training delivers, we help and assist a range of organisations and individuals to improve their skill levels. Martin is a prime-example of this. Despite his lack of confidence, qualifications and job history, Martin has gone on and developed these.

"Working with Martin was a pleasure, with both the learndirect team and his fork truck instructor enjoying watching Martin develop into the person he is now. Hopefully the courses that Martin has completed so successfully, will spur him on to develop his skills and qualifications even further."

	John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee Training.

7th January 2009

Van Hee, the Felling, Tyne and Wear, based transport training specialist, has just completed a very successful first year as a specialist training company.

"This time last year we had a clear objective of doubling the size of our training business in 2008," said Managing Director, John Charlton "and I am very pleased to say that with a lot of hard work and dedication by the team, we have done that and more."

Van Hee is one of the most respected names in transport circles in the north east of England, and is now increasingly recognised around the country as a specialist provider of logistics training and Skills for Life training.

Since the beginning of 2008, Van Hee have invested heavily in up-dating and extending their training premises in Felling, Tyne and Wear and have added additional instructors, driving instructor assessors and fork lift truck instructors to handle the increasing level of operatives under training.

Overall, staff numbers have increased 80% from 25 people to 45 people, whilst sales have increased by a staggering two-and-a-half times. The company is also seeking new premises in central and southern England to provide localised support for contracts won in those areas.

Numbers of trainees under instruction have also gone up from an average of 1,200 people a year over the last few years to nearly 3,000 people during 2008.

"This huge increase is testament to the increasingly professional logistics sector, and the fact that we are now covering many aspects of training we did not cover before. As well as training for forklift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, back office staff and management training we now provide Skills for Life courses offering literacy and numeracy qualifications, even providing basic lessons for anyone who wants to gain a standard driving licence to improve their chances of getting a better job." continued John Charlton.

He goes on to add: "Companies engaged in the transport and distribution sector have an ongoing need to update operator skills under the requirements of the European Driver Training Directive for PCV drivers which came into effect in 2008 and for LGV drivers which comes into effect this year."

Van Hee has partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, other training providers, schools and colleges and believes that the market for trained operators and skilled operatives will continue to expand.

John concluded "We expect to continue our expansion programme, as we increasingly work in other parts of the country."

	Steve Abbott, Quality Manager at Van Hee Training.

1st December 2008

Steve Abbott has been appointed to the newly created post of Quality Manager at Van Hee Training of Felling, Tyne and Wear, the UK's leading logistics training company.

Steve Abbott, aged 37, of Tudor Grange, Newcastle upon Tyne, started his new role in May and has wide-ranging responsibilities for all matters of quality across the company. These include the Vehicle Maintenance activity, so important for a training company to have tip-top vehicles for the trainees, and all company Health and Safety policies as well as the quality of the training materials and trainers.

It's not the first time that Steve has worked for Van Hee. "It's like coming home" said Steve. "I had worked for Van Hee for 16 years, working my way up the career ladder, from an apprentice LGV Technician to Workshop Manager, ending up as General Manager for Transport when they ran the transport business, so I know the company and their high standards very well. Since being back I have even been trained as a Fork Lift Truck Instructor. I'm looking forward to the new challenges."

Van Hee are one of the largest providers of logistics training in the country, training around 1,200 people annually at all levels in the logistics sector, totalling around 23,000 people over the past forty years. As well as training fork lift truck drivers, Van Hee train commercial transport drivers, warehousemen and all logistics operatives at all levels.

John Charlton, Managing Director said, "Companies engaged in the transport and distribution sector have a regular and ongoing need to update operator skills. They need top-class training, which has become increasingly more involved and complex to meet the European Driver Training Directive. As Van Hee was also in the transport business for forty years, we know what the problems are and can relate to our customers' needs."

Steve is married and hobbies include watching Newcastle United, gardening and travelling.

	Darran Bates of Artistix, inspects his work at Van Hee Training.

24th November 2008

It's not often an artist is asked to paint a picture the full height of a double story building, but that is what Darran Bates and Jim Harrison of Artistix in High Spen, Rowlands Gill, were commissioned to do.

It is all part of Van Hee Training's vibrant new corporate styling. "The mural is based on our new corporate identity" said John Charlton, Managing Director of Felling based Van Hee Training. "From the original design by our marketing consultants, Kinghorn~Davies, to the execution by Darran and Jim, we are delighted with the results. There can be no doubt from anyone seeing the mural that we are all about logistics, and how proud we are of our staff and the business."

The giant mural appears along one side of the Van Hee headquarters and is easily visible from the Felling By-pass.

Darran Bates, who led the project, said, "The main problems were concerned with the scale of the job. We had of course to use scaffolding towers to access the walls and hope that the weather was fairly kind", he went on to say that, "matching the corporate yellow was also tricky but in the end we were very pleased with the outcome. It took five days to complete once we got on site after the walls had been prepared and flat painted. The timing was vital as the mural had to be finished before the Great North Weekend, where literally thousands of people would be able to see it."

The talented pair of artists, who first met at college in Preston, Lancashire, originally worked for the leisure industry doing decorative blackboards, traditional signage and interior wall murals in clubs. The business developed in to other commercial business and domestic work. Darran and Jim set up Artistix in 1994, and now do a wide range of signage, murals and fine art commissions.

Van Hee are one of the largest providers of logistics training in the country, training around 1,200 people annually at all levels in the logistics sector, totalling around 23,000 people over the past forty years. As well as training fork lift truck drivers, Van Hee train commercial transport drivers, warehousemen and all logistics operatives at all levels.

John Charlton, concluded, "Van Hee was in the transport business for forty years, so we know what the training requirements are and we can relate to our customers' needs. This mural clearly and graphically depicts what we are about."

	Malcolm Armstrong (left), Chairman of The Gateshead Collective welcomes John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee Training to the Collective.

19th September 2008

Van Hee Training of Felling, Tyne and Wear, has become the eighth north east training company to join The Gateshead Collective, a partnership of work-based learning providers.

Formed in 2003, The Collective aims to provide customised training for young people and adults. It offers a resource for employers to help to recruit new staff and develop their existing workforce.

John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee Training said: "We want to work in a complimentary manner with the other providers in the group to provide the fullest possible range of training services for companies and people in the Tyne and Wear area. We all have a shared vision of good quality training programmes."

Malcolm Armstrong, Chairman of The Gateshead Collective, added: "The Collective is delighted to welcome Van Hee as our eighth partner. Their experience and knowledge of the training sector further enhances the Collective’s ability to deliver a range of training solutions to suit individuals and employers."

Van Hee is the largest provider of logistics training in the North East, and are rapidly expanding throughout the country. They train around 1,200 people annually at all levels in the logistics sector for around 200 customers in such functions as fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport drivers, warehousemen and general logistics operatives.

Van Hee also has partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, Jobcentre Plus, Schools and Colleges and believes that the need for trained and skilled people will continue to expand with the introduction of the European Driver Training Directive for LGV drivers by 2009, and have spent much of this year up-dating and modernising their training premises in Felling to meet the demand.

John Charlton continued "After over forty years in the transport and logistics industry we have accumulated huge experience and know-how and feel that we are in a good position to pass that know-how on and let other companies benefit from our experience."

	Guy Stockdale with Van Hee Trainer Dave Leng.

21st July 2008

Guy Stockdale, aged 17 and from Sunniside, Bishop Auckland, just didn't like school, but when Van Hee Training started the BTEC Course in Logistics at Wolsingham School and Community College, Co Durham, he applied to do the course "because it didn't feel like school" and worked under the guidance of Van Hee Trainer David Leng.

The course gave Guy a chance to prove himself and gave an employment direction into logistics.

Dave Leng, the Van Hee trainer in Logistics/warehousing, said: "Guy was ready for a challenge and has worked well on this course. The structure of the qualification is an introduction to the supply chain, business skills in logistics, customer service, transport distribution and storage, warehousing skills and health and safety".
Guy also enjoyed going to the Van Hee training Centre at Felling in Gateshead where he underwent training on how to drive and manage a forklift truck. A keen mountain bike rider, Guy now works part-time at weekends and is now actively looking for a job in warehousing.

Rachel Summerville, Head of Sixth Form at Wolsingham, said, "We were looking for a course that was more hands on than academic. This has been our first full year with certification, with the help of Van Hee Training, and it is proving very successful."

The Learning and Skills Council fund the BTEC First Diploma in Logistics, Level 2 Course, which will be open again for enrolment in September. The LSC is responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.

Van Hee are one of the largest providers of logistics training in the North East, and having a growing national business. They train around 1,200 people annually at all levels in the logistics sector, totalling around 23,000 people over the past forty years. Functions covered include, fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, even for those who need to learn to drive a car as part of their job.

John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee Training said, "Companies engaged in the transport and distribution sector have a regular and ongoing need to update operator skills. We are doing an increasisng level of work with schools and colleges to prepare young people for this demanding workplace. They find it much more exciting than they thought, and in most instances will lead to a good job. We are in touch with a lot of logistics companies as potential employers."

Van Hee has partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, Jobcentre Plus, Schools and Colleges as well as around 200 direct customers.

	John Charlton, Managing Director of Van Hee (left) presents training certificates to Scott Bros driver Phil Nacket.

17th June 2008

Van Hee Training are so good at what they do, that they have helped general haulage and plant hire company, Scott Bros of Thornaby, to save over £240,000 over the past two years.

Peter Scott, Transport Manager of Scott Bros, a family business which has been based in Thornaby for 37 years said "I was interested, but sceptical, when Van Hee said that if I properly trained all my drivers and Traffic Office staff, that I would save money on fuel costs. What’s more, Van Hee arranged for the training to be fully funded. So it was a win, win situation for us."

The two-year programme has seen all 50 of our drivers undertake level 2 and Level 3 NVQ qualifications for Driving Goods Vehicles, and then they all took a further course on Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED). "The training courses have given our drivers extra confidence and has shown them how to drive in a fuel efficient way, saving us around £3,000 per truck per year in fuel costs" continued Mr Scott. "With 40 trucks and fuel being a significant cost for haulage companies, particularly now with soaring fuel costs, it’s important our drivers do all they can to help."

Van Hee are one of the largest providers of logistics training in the North East, training around 1,200 people annually at all levels in the logistics sector, totalling around 23,000 people over the past forty years. Functions covered include, fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, even for those who need to learn to drive a car as part of their job.

Scott Bros of Thornaby was started in 1971 and is now one of the largest haulage plant hire and waste disposal contractors in the north east, offering a complete package in excavation, haulage and tipping. They have 40 vehicles and a staff of 50 drivers.

Jill Taylor, Business Development Manager at Van Hee Training said "As Van Hee was also in the transport business for forty years, we know what the problems are and can relate to our customers' needs. This on the job training was carried out under the Government's Train2Gain initiative and done in such a way that we worked around the driver's normal day, with early and late finishes. We wanted to ensure that there was no disruption to Scott's normal business."

John Charlton, Managing Director said, "Companies engaged in the transport and distribution sector have a regular and ongoing need to update operator skills. Training has become increasingly more involved and complex and will become even more so with the introduction of the European Driver Training Directive for PCV drivers this year and for LGV drivers by 2009. Forward thinking managements like Scotts are already seeing the benefits of investing in good training."

Van Hee has partnerships with Learning and Skills Councils, Jobcentre Plus, Schools and Colleges as well as around 200 direct customers.

• A new Start for Donna
• Lee learns to be a breadwinner

a new start for donna
As her four year old daughter approaches school age, twenty year old Donna Leonard from Gateshead is proving to be a good role model by heading back to the classroom too.

In fact it was Donna's daughter, Casey, who gave her the drive and determination to continue her education and finish what she started several years ago.

Leaving school before she reached 16, and with a baby on the way, Donna had no qualifications to her name and was uncertain what would happen next.

Yet she has spent the last four years being a dedicated mum to Casey, bringing her up with the love and attention she deserves. As a single mum Donna has to manage the household budget, deal with childcare issues and make sure that everything at home runs smoothly.

Now that Casey will soon be starting school, Donna is keen to broaden her own horizons and get a good job so that she can provide for their future. Her first stepping stone was to look into ways of gaining some nationally recognised qualifications.

Some internet research paid off and Donna signed up for a Skills for Life course, funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East and delivered by Van Hee Training in Gateshead.

Since starting her training Donna has become quite the star pupil. As well as working towards a nationally recognised qualification at Level 1 in Literacy and a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in ITQ aimed at IT users, Donna is also waiting to take a numeracy test.

What's more, she has already expressed an interest in continuing her learning so that she can become a fully qualified administrator. So it looks as though Donna's homework is not quite over yet.

"It's not been easy bringing Casey up on my own, but I'm determined to do my best for her and be a mum who she can be proud of.

"Luckily I've had great support from those around me, as well as help with my childcare from Surestart. This has given me the freedom to take part in the Skills for Life courses. By continuing my learning and gaining worthwhile qualifications I hope to get a good job. I will also feel much more confident when I have to help Casey with her homework as she grows up."

Chris Roberts, regional director with the LSC North East, added: "Without the right literacy, language and numeracy skills, you run the risk of not getting a job, not progressing at work and not being active in your local community. Skills for Life can remove those barriers by equipping everyone with the right skills and qualifications to get on in life and achieve their full potential."

lee learns to be a breadwinner
Delivery driver Lee Surtees, 35, from Gateshead knows on what side his bread is buttered. Not only has he landed a job that he loves, he is also happy to use his loaf to improve his skills and secure his future.

At 4 o'clock each morning when most people are still fast asleep, Lee starts his daily delivery round on behalf of Allied Bakeries. His work takes him to major supermarkets and small corner shops in between the Tyne and Wear and Tees Valley areas.

As well as selling and delivering bread and other bakery products, Lee's job involves a whole host of other responsibilities too. "I have to do the paperwork, check the stock, calculate what's been sold, monitor orders and account for any waste," said Lee.

All this means that Lee's literacy and numeracy skills have to be up to scratch. Yet these are also two areas where he felt that he needed to take action.

"Although I've got lots of experience as a delivery driver and van porter, I knew that I could do with some extra help with my maths and English. I took a literacy and numeracy self-test about a year ago and the results showed that I was at high risk of having dyslexia. I knew that I had a potential problem and I'm delighted to finally be doing something about it."

Luckily Lee's employer has been more than happy to support him in his quest to improve his skills and qualifications. As a result he has recently started working towards nationally recognised qualifications at Level 1 in Literacy and Numeracy with the help of Van Hee Training in Gateshead.

Lee has been so spurred on by his training course that he is already talking about gaining a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) licence and going to college to take GCSEs in Maths and English.

Chris Roberts, regional director with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East, added: "With funding from the LSC North East, many Skills for Life courses are free of charge to individuals and employers. There are huge benefits to be had, such as improved confidence, the ability to make informed decisions and a stepping stone into further learning or a job."

"Employers also reap the rewards of a better trained workforce, whether it's increased productivity and profitability, improved communication, a greater understanding of procedures or a better image presented to customers."

	Dave Smith in the driving seat with Angela McAlpine, Job Centre Plus Co-ordinator at Van Hee Training, Michelle Hunter, Director of Lescost Transport Limited and Warren Liddle, training instructor at Van Hee Training.

10th June 2008

"It feels good to be back in the driving seat" said Dave Smith, from Benton, Newcastle, who has returned to the workplace after a lengthy spell of unemployment. Dave, aged 51 sought help from New Deal who sent him on a thirteen week drivers training course organised and run by Van Hee Training of Felling, the north’s leading logistics training company.

"It was tough returning to the workplace" says Dave "I had to get my confidence back. I did look for work but found that requirements had changed and all the new jobs required more qualifications than I had, so I realised that I had to retrain. The Van Hee people have been very helpful, especially Angela McAlpine, their Job Centre Plus Co-ordinator, who has helped me to get my new job at Lescost."

Dave had worked as a multi-drop driver in the past but his new training enabled him to pass his HGV licence on his 3rd attempt, and passed the LGV (Larger Goods Vehicle) medical, Theory test, ADR certificate for handling dangerous chemicals including tanks, Tail Lift, Drivers Hours, Load Retention, Manual Handling and Route Planning and Tachographs.

Dave started on voluntary placement at Team Valley based Lescost Transport Limited to gain some 7.5 tonne experience where Director, Michelle Hunter says "Dave is very dedicated and our customers like him. He not only does the multi-drop trips in the north east, but can handle long distance deliveries to meet customer deadlines. We were impressed enough to offer him a full time job. Over the years we have had around twenty trainees from Van Hee Training."

Dave Smith is married with three children and lives in Benton, Newcastle. He is a Newcastle United supporter and concluded: "It’s great that Van Hee arranged this opportunity for me to get back into work after so long. Lescost have also been very helpful, and now that I have my Class 2 drivers licence, I am hoping that the company will help me to get my Class 1 licence for driving artics."

Dave is following in the footsteps of Van Hee training instructor Warren Liddle who also retrained on a New Deal course with Van Hee four years ago and who also did a placement at Lescot before he too was offered a full time job. After two years at Lescot he returned to Van Hee where he has been an instructor for the past eighteen months.

Van Hee Training is one of the largest providers of logistics training in the north east, training around 1,200 people annually at all levels in the logistics sector for around 200 customers. Altogether they have trained 23,000 people over the last 40 years. Job functions include, fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, even those who need to learn to drive a car for their job.

	Billy Ward on his motorbike at the Van Hee Training Centre in Tyne and Wear.

17th April 2008

Billy Ward from Whitley Bay recently completed the famous Heroes Legend Paris-Dakar Rally, and came in 26th out of 100 finishers. Biker Billy and Vince Ewan, also from Whitley Bay, set off from under the Eiffel Tower in Paris on March 8th and crossed the finish line in Dakar, capital of Senegal, 21 days and many exciting incidents later, on Saturday, 29th March. The Rally went ahead even though the main rally in January was cancelled due to terrorist threats.

Billy recently achieved another, longer lasting, success by starting his own business, biketruck.com. He takes the boring bit from adventure biking tours in North Africa and Eastern Europe, by delivering motorbikes to the start of the tour, leaving the rider to fly in to start the adventure rested and refreshed. Just like he and Ewan did in Paris.

"To made my idea work I first needed to understand the trucking business," said Billy "and who better to learn from than Van Hee Training. They have been in the transport business for forty years so they had plenty to teach me."

Van Hee Training of Felling, Tyne and Wear, are the leading logistics training company in the North East and, training around 1,200 people annually at all levels in the logistics sector.

Instructor, Jack Wilkin said: "Billy's course was one of the intensive courses we run. As well as obtaining his licence to drive 44 tonne trucks, he also achieved his ADR* licence for the carriage of dangerous goods. Billy also trained for the International CPC course (Certificate of Professional Competence). The course is for individuals working across Europe who need to understand the industry outside of the UK and have an objective to attain a fleet Operators license. Biketruck's adventures through Europe and beyond certainly require this level of professional training."

John Charlton, Van Hee's Managing Director added "We train our candidates on modern, top weight vehicles, identical to those they will drive on the road for a living so there are no surprises for our trainees when they go to work out on the road. They get one-to-one instruction from experienced and qualified instructors and have a series of specialist theory classes. Billy was the fastest trainee we have ever had, in more ways than one. He was very motivated to get going and complete his training."

Prior to setting up Biketruck.com Billy was Head of Learning Technology at Cable & Wireless for seven years, and before that Head of the New Technology team at the Open University in Newcastle for six years, where he spent his time devising ways of delivering a wide range of training courses via the internet. But as he was approaching the age of 49 he felt it was time to follow his heart, and that meant biking.

Biketruck ran a truck to the Dakar event and Billy explained that without the training and firsthand support from Van Hee, he couldn't have managed the logistics required "To be successful in logistics, especially internationally, you need quality training, information and support, and that's exactly what Van Hee gave me. I'm really enjoying running my own business," concluded Billy. "Van Hee's training and support has opened up an exciting new world for me. Motorbikes, trucks and exotic travel, what more could I ask for!"

For more information www.vanhee.co.uk or www.biketruck.com

* ADR stands for the following French phrase referring to the international agreement concerning the carriage of dangerous goods by road 'Accord international au sujet du chariot des merchandises Dangereuses par la Route.'

	Darran McNee (centre) with Angela McAlpine from Van Hee and Ken McDermott from 3663.

Darran McNee, aged 28, from Jarrow likes to keep things moving at his new job after completing a 13 weeks drivers training course organised and run by Van Hee Training of Felling, the north's leading logistics training company.

"I like to keep things moving" said Darran who now works for 3663 First for Foodservice, also based in Felling, as a De-Briefer's assistant in the Goods Outward department. "This job keeps me active all the time, which I like, and I get to meet different people - to deal with lots of different challenges. I check all outgoing and incoming goods and see vehicles get away on time."

Transport supervisor, Ken McDermott commented "We have 42 drivers covering an area from Stranraer in Scotland down to Leeds in the South with daily deliveries to many regular customers. We deliver on average 16,000 different items per day, so it takes a bit of planning. You need to be logical, accurate and have a sense of responsibility. Darran has taken to it quickly,
with the good training he's received from Van Hee, and is doing a great job.
We have some excellent employees also trained by Van Hee Training and we have a good relationship with them."

Darran, who had been unemployed for 2 years, went to seek the help of Jobcentre Plus and undertook the course at the end of last year at Van Hee's Felling Training Centre. He trained as a Driver's Mate on driving skills, route planning, health and safety awareness and drivers hours/ digital tachographs and even had instruction in the 18 tonne trucks. He did so well that he was awarded his ADR certificate for handling dangerous chemicals.

Angela McAlpine, who has worked for Van Hee for four years as their Job Centre Plus co-ordinator supported Darran throughout his training and helped him to apply for the job at 3663, said: "Darran came on the training scheme because he wanted to be a Drivers Mate, but the wider training we gave him has enabled him to make the switch to this logistics job which he likes better. It was a pleasure to work with him."

Van Hee Training is one of the largest providers of logistics training in the north east, training around 1,200 people annually at all levels in the logistics sector for around 200 customers. Altogether they have trained 23,000 people over the last 40 years. Job functions include, fork lift truck drivers, commercial transport operatives, even those who need to learn to drive a car for their job.

Last word to Darran, whose main interest, apart from his wife and three children, is snooker, "Great thanks to Van Hee Training who helped me get this job. I'm doing what I was trained to do, and loving it."

	The North East's No.1 storage solution with drive-in access.
	Our storage containers are inside a secure warehouse for extra security.

The Journal Storage supplement, 11th February 2008

There was a time, when storage was not a big problem. It did not top the list of our issues or concerns. But the changes in our society and the way we live our personal lives has changed all that.

The trend to move to smart town centre open plan office blocks or to run our businesses from the latest Business Parks has meant that there just is not the space available that there used to be to store all those files, or spare furniture, or stock. The lock-up garage is disappearing.

With the rising cost of land, and ultimately rentals, it is not surprising that there has also been a rise in the use of off-site storage facilities. Managements are having to consider storage as a separate function for the first time.

It is not just businesses either, that take advantage of the self-storage facility.
In our homes, fashion and style favour the minimalist look. There's no room for clutter. But we do not necessarily want to get rid of things?

Van Hee is the leading Self Storage Facility based in Tyne and Wear. They have just completed the conversion of 40,000 square feet of warehousing space at their facilities in William Street, Felling for self storage access. And you can hire space for as short a period as one week to store a wide range of goods.

Flexibility is the order for the day. You can rent just as much space as it actually takes to store your particular goods or materials. That can be either a complete self-contained room, which start at 8' x 5', or store in secure containers, cages or boxes. You can store for long term periods, or as little as one week, or in any way to get frequent, easy access. The amount of space rented can also vary over the lifetime of the arrangement as quantities and requirements move up and down.

The whole site is dry, clean, weatherproof and covered by state of the art CCTV cameras so you can leave your goods and materials safely in the hands of the Van Hee experts. They have been in the business of carrying and moving goods for over forty years so they know what they are talking about.

Access can be any time between normal business hours of 6.00 am - 7.00pm, and 7.00 am - mid-day on a Saturday, and if you need access 24 hours a day,
7 days a week, then that can be arranged.

The Van Hee Self-Storage facility is ideal for:

• Documents
• Files
• Equipment
• Furniture and household goods
• Stock inventory
• Boat or Caravan over the winter
• Garden furniture in the winter
• Student needing to clear room or flat at end of term
• Vehicles

Storage doesn't have to be a problem. No matter how big or small your requirements are, check out the possibility of your own purpose planned off-site storage facility at Van Hee Self Storage.