About us

Mark Ramskill has been in the plant business for over 20 years. He initially started plant training to complement the Birkwood Plant Hire business (set up in January 2000) and to train his own employees. It soon became apparent that there was a shortfall of qualified machine operators, both regionally and nationally. Birkwood Plant Training was set up (in September 2005) in direct response to this need.

We are a progressive, family run company, headed up by husband and wife team Sally and Mark Ramskill. Our team of 13 employees, including 10 highly trained machine operators, share our passion for service above and beyond the expected. Despite our size, we have a big company outlook and the business has developed fast in the last few years.

Birkwood Plant Training has its own 4½ acre training area with all types of terrain available to simulate real working conditions on a construction site, and offer courses with In House, LANTRA (Land Based Training) NPORS, NVQ Level 2 Plant Operations & CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) accreditation.

Birkwood Plant Training has just undergone a major new development to advance the training centre and equip it with state of the art facilities including new classrooms.

We are recognised for the way we develop and look after staff, provide fully funded training, reward staff for company success and offer a range of benefits above and beyond our legal obligations. We have always implemented strict health and safety procedures within the company because our training is all about making construction sites safer and we practice what we preach. We are now recognised not just for Plant training but also Health and Safety and First Aid training.

We are also well known for the reliability and quality of our machines. WE have 14 of them all under 3 years old.

Birkwood Plant Hire and Plant Training have achieved ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 quality standards and have CAA (Construction Awards Alliance) centre approval

Birkwood is recognised as an Investor in People, all operatives are CPCS (Construction Plant Competency Scheme) qualified and all site managers are SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) qualified.

Equality and Diversity Policy

“We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community".

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all workers, job applicants and clients at Birkwood Plant Training will be treated fairly irrespective of race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation and/or age. We value a diverse client base and the individuality and creativity that every worker potentially brings to the workforce.

Operating Principles

• Workers, job applicants and clients will be treated fairly, openly and honestly, with dignity and respect.
• No job applicant or worker will receive less favourable treatment on grounds of race, gender, religion, disability and/or age.
• All employees, whether part-time, full-time or temporary, will be treated fairly
  and with respect.
• Employment decisions on recruitment and promotion will be based solely on merit.
• All employees will be helped and encouraged to develop their full potential and the talents and resources of the workforce will be fully utilised to maximise the efficiency of
  the organisation.
• Everyone has the right to work and do business in an environment free of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Birkwood Plant Training will not tolerate such behaviour under any circumstances.
• Disciplinary action, including dismissal, may be taken against any worker found responsible for harassment or discrimination.
• Any worker and learner who believes he or she is being discriminated against, victimised or harassed should raise the matter through the Birkwood Plant Training complaints procedure.

This policy is fully supported by the owners and directors of Birkwood Plant Training. It will be ensured that all the workers are aware of the policy and that they are responsible for observing it.

Impartiality and Advice Policy

Introduction

All the staff at Birkwood Plant Training are committed to providing an accurate Information, Advice and Guidance Service.

Aim

We aim to provide an independent information advice and guidance service to anyone who wishes to access our training programmes or services. This includes any potential new clients or those already in training with the company. We feel that in providing a quality information, advice and guidance service we can help clients to make the right choices about the training courses or programmes that are right for them. The quality of our service is monitored through performance data and feedback from users.

Birkwood Plant Training supports the concept of lifelong learning and will endeavour to help individuals make informed choices about training and development opportunities in the context of their working lives and leisure activities.

Objectives

We strive to provide information, advice and guidance that is:

• Timely and in a format that is easily understood
• Independent, confidential and focused on the needs of the individual
• Provided by staff trained to offer appropriate Information, Advice and Guidance
• Free from stereotyping physical or cultural barriers for users and in accordance with Birkwood’s Equality and Diversity Policy
• Easily accessible and clearly defined
• Free of charge to all users
• Subject to evaluation and continuous improvement, encouraging individuals to get the most from the process

Standards of Service

Our service offers:

• Open access to information on training opportunities in a range of formats available from Birkwood Plant training
• An initial assessment to help you identify an individual’s skills and aptitudes
• A trained member of staff to discuss individual learner needs and aspirations and to plan for the achievement of goals
• Signposting to other agencies who may be able to help learners to achieve their goals
• The opportunity for learners to spend time with a member of staff to review and revisit their goals and discuss progress and next steps
• Access to a trained member of staff to answer queries and provide advice by phone

Clients / Learners can expect

A service delivered to recognised national standards

• A clear explanation of the Information, Advice and Guidance Services we offer
• Trained and experienced staff who will treat them with respect and dignity
• A timely response to requests for information
• Up to date information on training opportunities in a range of formats
• Information on the cost of training and any funding which may be available to support the costs
• All information about them will be treated as strictly confidential in line with the Data Protection Act

Meet The Team

EXCAVATOR 180° ABOVE 5 TONNES • EXCAVATOR 360° ABOVE 10 TONNES • EXCAVATOR 360° BELOW 10 TONNES • TELESCOPIC HANDLER • RIDE ON ROLLER • MEWP (BOOM) • MEWP (SCISSOR) • WHEELED LOADING SHOVEL • TRACKED LOADING SHOVEL • LORRY LOADER • SKID STEER LOADER • FORK TRUCK - REACH • FORKTRUCK - SIDE LOADER • FORK TRUCK (COUNTERBALANCE) • AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR • DUMP TRUCK- ARTICULATED CHASSIS • DUMP TRUCK- RIGID CHASSIS • DUMP TRUCK (FORWARD TIPPING, WHEELED + TRACKED) • QUICK HITCH • VEHICLE BANKSMAN • SLINGER/SIGNALLER • RADIODETECTION C.A.T + GENNY • CONFINED SPACE • ABRASIVE WHEELS • SSSTS (SITE SUPERVISORS SAFETY TRAINING SCHEME) • SMSTS (SITE MANAGEMENT SAFETY TRAINING SCHEME) • SMSTS (SITE MANAGEMENT SAFETY TRAINING SCHEME) REFRESHER • PMSTS (PLANT MANAGEMENT SAFETY TRAINING SCHEME) • IOSH WORKING SAFELY • ISOH MANAGING SAFELY • CDM (CONSTRUCTION DESIGN & MANAGEMENT) REGULATIONS 1 DAY • CDM) REGULATIONS 2 DAYS • NEBOSH HEALTH & SAFETY • FIRST AID AT WORK • FIRST AID AT WORK – REQUALIFICATION • EMERGENCY FIRST AID FOR APPOINTED PERSONS • CPCS/CSCS TOUCH SCREEN TEST • HEALTH & SAFETY LEGISLATION • HEALTH & SAFETY TESTS • HEALTH & SAFETY AWARENESS COURSE • COSHH (CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH) • RISK ASSESSMENT • ASBESTOS AWARENESS • NVQ PLANT OPERATIONS • NVQ 2 PLANT OPERATIONS • NVQ LEVEL 2 – CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS • NVQ LEVEL 3 – SITE SUPERVISION • NVQ LEVEL 3 - IN OCCUPATIONAL WORK SUPERVISION • NVQ LEVEL 4 – SITE MANAGEMENT • NVQ LEVEL 5 – SENIOR MANAGEMENT • SHEA (UTILITY SAFETY, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS) GAS • SHEA (UTILITY SAFETY, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS) ELECTRICAL • SHEA (UTILITY SAFETY, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS) WATER