If you work with forklifts (in warehousing, construction, etc.), you may wonder how long your “forklift licence” is valid, whether it must be renewed, and what costs are involved. SB Skills Solutions explains these matters clearly below.
Summary Table:
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Formal licence expiration | There is no expiry date on forklift certification |
| Legal requirement to renew | None (certification does not legally require renewal) |
| Recommended refresher interval | Every 3 years (per HSC guidance) |
| Cost for refresher training | Around £295–£350 (varies by provider) |
| Employer liability | Employer may be liable if refresher training is neglected and an accident occurs |
| SB Skills Solutions offerings | Refresher, novice, and conversion training; NPORS-accredited or in-house; tailored to needs; nationwide coverage |
Terminology: Licence vs Certification
- There is no formal “forklift licence” in the UK.
- What operators receive is certification upon successfully completing a forklift training course.
- That certificate does not have an expiration date.
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Renewal / Refresher Training
- Because the certification doesn’t expire, there is no legal requirement to renew it.
- However, refresher training is strongly recommended to maintain safety and competence.
- The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) recommends refresher forklift training every 3 years.
- Employers often set policies about how frequently they expect refresher training, but this is not mandated by law.
- If an operator has had a long break from forklift duties, it’s good practice to take refresher training.
Cost of Refresher Training (“Renewal”)
- Because certification does not expire, there’s no statutory obligation to renew.
- But if an accident occurs involving a forklift operator, the employer could be held liable if they failed to ensure the operator had up-to-date refresher training.
Liability & Legal Considerations
- Since there is no true licence renewal, the cost is simply the cost of the refresher training itself.
- Experienced operator / refresher training courses typically cost £295–£350 in the UK.
- Group discounts may be available if an employer sends multiple employees for training with a provider.
Refresher Training via SB Skills Solutions
- SB Skills Solutions offers refresher forklift training delivered by qualified instructors and professional examiners.
- Our training is either NPORS-accredited or delivered in-house and tailored to client requirements.
- We provide training for novices, conversions, and experienced operators.
- We operate nationwide (UK) and work with commercial and private clients.
To speak to an expert member of our team, simply call us on 01695 558 420 or send an email to info@sbskills.co.uk. Alternatively, you can also fill out and submit our handy online contact form and once we’ve received your enquiry, we’ll get back to your shortly to find out
