Express Mini Mix, part of the Breedon Group, 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 Mini Mix driver Grant recently completed a two-week induction program for MixerSURE provided by MinTrain.
Despite having three and a half years of experience as an HGV driver, Grant was unsure what to expect in this specialised industry. With the expert guidance of trainer and assessor Jamie Clark and utilising the award-winning MixerSure training, Grant successfully passed the SVCA (On-Road)(Mixers) vocational qualification (VQ) at the end of the program.
Matthew Burdess, business manager at Express Minimix, explained: “Grant joined Express Minimix at the start of September 2023 with no mixer experience; through Jamie’s dedication and expertise, we managed to progress Grant into delivering concrete competently and safely within two weeks. MixerSuretraining 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 MixerSureNew 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 Truck Mixer 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 MixerSURENew Starter Induction.”
Mark Cowan, the owner of UK Truckmixer Training Limited and a Director of MinTrain , said: “Ensuring that drivers receive the correct information, delivered at the appropriate pace and updated regularly against a recognised 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 program duly recognised and accredited by the DVSA & 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 over 20 e-learning modules.
“Our training program is designed to be adaptable based on the driver’s experience and the mixer manufacturer type. We provide individualised 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 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. The VQ and DSC are valid for three years and have further accreditation from CLOCS.
Mark continues: “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. Grant should be very proud of his achievement.”
