UniCarriers UK Ltd was honoured by a visit of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, in recognition of their long-standing partnership with international development charity Transaid. The forklift truck manufacturer welcomed Transaid’s patron to mark two very special occasions: to celebrate UniCarriers’ 50th anniversary, and also to receive, on behalf of Transaid, one of its counterbalance trucks. During her visit at the Head Office in Thame on Monday, April 8th, HRH The Princess Royal accepted the keys to the 2-ton diesel truck which will be delivered to Transaid’s partner training centre in Lusaka, Zambia, the Industrial Training Centre (ITC).
UniCarriers UK Ltd., the British subsidiary of the international forklift truck manufacturer, has been a key corporate partner of Transaid since 2016. The international development organisation focuses on implementing and sharing local transport solutions to improve access to basic services and economic opportunity for people in Africa and in developing countries. Transaid partners with local communities, governments and donors, amongst others to implement sustainable transport and logistics solutions. Vital strategic support to the projects is given by UK member companies such as UniCarriers.
2-ton DL20 counterbalance for Zambian Industrial Training Centre
UniCarriers now reinforces their support by donating a 2-ton diesel counterbalance truck DL20 truck to Transaid’s Professional Driver Training partner in Zambia, the Industrial Training Centre (ITC).
Transaid and the ITC have worked together since 2008 to raise commercial driver training standards across the country. It offers professional HGV, PSV and FLT (fork lift truck) driver training according to internationally recognised standards. Corporate partners such as UniCarriers enable Transaid to provide the ITC with high quality equipment and training for their driver trainers, be it in defensive driving, hazardous goods or forklift driver training.
Caroline Barber, Chief Executive at Transaid, says, “We are extremely proud of our partnership with UniCarriers. The new FLT that has been generously donated to Zambia is going to allow hundreds of people every year to gain essential skills on the safe and effective operation of such manual handling equipment. It will help young Zambians gain employment and also help ensure that people already operating FLTs are able to do so safely and responsibly. For example, our partners in Zambia train FLT operators at the national medical stores. This central warehouse is responsible for the storage and distribution of essential medicines and vaccines for the entire country. By helping store and move such product safely and efficiently we can improve the health and wellbeing of people across the whole country”.
During her visit to UniCarriers, HRH The Princess Royal accepted the keys to the donated truck. The Transaid patron was also provided with a tour of the premises including a tour of the warehouse. The Thame based staff demonstrated parts, workshop operations and service to her. UniCarriers was once started as a family business – and this ethos is still reflected today throughout the company and their operations. Therefore, UniCarriers was especially delighted that HRH The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque commemorating the company’s 50th anniversary. HRH The Princess Royal honoured UniCarriers for its long-standing support of Transaid and its development programmes.
