Speedy trials staff mentoring programme

Speedy Hire is trialling a Mentoring and Skills Transfer programme with experienced staff paired with apprentices to share knowledge and skills. The mentors are trained in their role and offered additional incentives based on the progress of the apprentice.

Veteran Speedy Hire lifting engineer Keith Pallett with 19-year-old apprentice, Jess Bloxam. (Photo: Speedy Hire)

One example is lifting engineer Keith Pallett, a 32-year veteran at Speedy Hire now in his 70s who is mentoring 19-year-old Jess Bloxam, a lifting engineer apprentice studying a Level 3 Lifting Equipment Technician apprenticeship with Qualitrain.

Pallett is sharing his knowledge with Bloxam through practical on-site guidance at Speedy’s Leicester depot, covering maintenance and inspection to installation and safety. In turn, Bloxom is helping transfer her digital and computer skills to her mentor.

“I am learning an incredible amount from Keith”, said Bloxom, “he has so much experience that I want to tap into to support my practical learning and development as an apprentice Lifting Engineer.”

Pallett said the young apprentice had come up with some ideas for more efficient working using IT systems; “Jess instinctively knows her way around computers and she’s very comfortable using different programmes or IT applications for reporting or data input.”

Speedy’s Gill Roberts, who is Emerging Talent Lead and ESG Business Partner, said: “The future workforce can learn and develop from more experienced colleagues’ skills sets and wisdom which are like gold dust amidst a skills shortage.

“Also, whilst an older employee can impart a wealth of technical and safety knowledge, with age strength can diminish, so the younger generations can help with physical aspects of a job such as onloading and offloading items safely and efficiently. This kind of collaboration across the Speedy workforce is important to reinforce a culture of support and development.”