Historic milestone for Express Minimix
First company to have a driver complete world’s first vocational qualification for mixer drivers
EXPRESS Minimix, part of the Breedon Group, have achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first company to have a driver complete the world’s first vocational qualification for mixer drivers.
New Express Minimix driver Grant Megson recently completed a two-week induction programme for MixerSURE, provided by MinTrain. Despite having three-and-a-half years’ experience as an HGV driver, Mr Megson was unsure what to expect in this specialized sector, but with the expert guidance of trainer and assessor Jamie Clark, and utilizing the award-winning MixerSURE training, he successfully passed the SVCA (On-Road)(Mixers) vocational qualification (VQ) at the end of the programme.
Express Minimix business manager Matthew Burdess explained: ‘Grant joined Express Minimix at the start of September 2023 with no mixer experience, but through Jamie’s dedication and expertise we managed to progress him into delivering concrete competently and safely within two weeks.
‘MixerSURE training and the EMPI Awards SVCA genuinely do give drivers, whether experienced or not, the best start to their journey as a professional mixer driver. The MixerSURE New Starter Induction gives new starters the best chance of succeeding in their new role due to the positive and well-presented training they receive.
‘Being the first company to have a fully qualified truckmixer driver worldwide is a great achievement for us as a business, but the credit must also go to Grant. Joining us earlier in September and already completing the qualification is a fantastic achievement which could not have been achieved without the support of the MixerSURE New Starter Induction.’
MinTrain director Mark Cowan commented: ‘Ensuring that drivers receive the correct information, delivered at the appropriate pace, and updated regularly against a recognized set of standards is one of the significant challenges faced by the sector in terms of training and competence for drivers. This is precisely what we provide.
‘Matt’s trust in MixerSURE training and its benefits enabled us to collaborate with him and the Express team to develop a tailored and fully accredited induction programme, duly recognized and accredited by the DVSA and EMPI Awards. The inclusion of Site Vehicle Competence Assessment (On-Road) (Mixers) adds value and further highlights Matt’s commitment to continuous improvement.’
With the MixerSURE New Starter Induction, drivers are supported at each step and provided with on-the-job practical training, reinforced with more than 20 e-learning modules.
‘Our training programme is designed to be adaptable, based on the driver’s experience and the mixer manufacturer type,’ continued Mr Cowan. ‘We provide individualized training based on the greatest needs while ensuring consistency in the information provided. The training is tailored to the specific manufacturer’s handbook – a crucial aspect of the MixerSURE training. Safety-critical elements in the operator’s handbook and BS EN 12609:2021 play a significant role in the training and vocational qualifications offered.’
The SVCA (On-Road) (Mixers) is the first of a suite of regulated qualifications from the awarding body EMPI Awards and provides a regulated vocational qualification and a Driver Skills Card (DSC) demonstrating competence. Both the VQ and DSC are valid for three years and have further accreditation from CLOCS.
‘Our goal is to align the transport side of the industry with how competence is demonstrated on plant equipment, but with a unique twist – a regulated qualification that adds value. Our successful induction of drivers for companies like Express, Breedon, and S. Morris demonstrates that it’s easy to integrate drivers into this unique sector with the proper support and training,’ said Mr Cowan. ‘Grant should be very proud of his achievement.’
