Impact manager in Zambia

Impact National Training Manager Mark Prickett has returned from a week-long placement at the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) in Zambia. He worked with staff at the centre to support our Professional Driver Training programme.

Prickett, Impact’s lead forklift truck instructor for the last 12 years, spent the week training ITC staff in the correct maintenance procedures for a new DP30N Cat lift truck, delivered by Impact and donated to the programme by Cat Lift Trucks.

The forklift truck was specially commissioned by Cat Lift Trucks and came off the production line with additional protection against the dusty environment of its new home. The donated vehicle will be used to teach students how to operate forklift trucks safely and efficiently. The Transaid programme also offers local trainers guidance on how to pass these forklift maintenance skills on to others.

Mark says: “The secondment was one of the most challenging and worthwhile experiences of my career with Impact. It was great to be able to help Transaid, and see first-hand why professional training is so important.

“Facing and overcoming obstacles like the language barrier has been particularly rewarding – the secondment has certainly enhanced my communication skills, and made me more flexible in my approach to training. I’d recommend this experience to anyone in the industry,” he adds.

Victor Simfukwe, Transaid’s Zambia Project Manager, says: “We are grateful to Impact for their donation of Mark’s time and skills, and for arranging the delivery of the new forklift truck to the programme. Mark’s contribution has been outstanding, and with the additional forklift truck on site, the ITC can offer training to even more students.”

Impact has supported Transaid with an annual financial contribution since pledging its support as a corporate member in January 2015, and has concentrated its efforts on raising internal awareness of the charity.

This is the first time an Impact employee has been seconded to one of Transaid’s projects, and the company intends to increase its involvement with the charity this year, focusing on the organisation’s cycle events and other fundraising activities.

Transaid aims to raise the quality of life for people in the economically developing world by improving or implementing local transport systems, providing comprehensive HGV, PCV and forklift truck operator training, and promoting road safety awareness.