The biggest night of the year approaches...

The FLTA’s national awards evening is a glittering non-stop showcase of the most outstanding and innovative technical developments to hit the materials handling industry over the last year.

All the latest advances to improve safety, reduce our impact on the environment, improve truck ergonomics and make sites and vehicles safer will be revealed.

Battling for a prestigious Archie this year is a fork lift truck with a cabin that rotates like a tank turret, lift forks with laser positioning guides and a 3D stereoscopic vehicle camera that looks out for humans in its path.

There’s also an electronic truck co-pilot that alerts operators to danger, a tire that tells you when it needs changing and a shortlist of some of the safest fork lift truck sites in the country.

It’s a fascinating line-up from some of the most innovative and forward-looking companies in our industry where every Finalist shares two things in common: a steadfast commitment to excellence in their field, and an unflinching desire to walk away the victor!

But this edge-of-the-seat Oscars-style awards ceremony is only one part of the Awards for Excellence evening of festivities; those who make it through to the after-show party should prepare themselves for a spectacular evening of entertainment.

TV presenter Jonny Gould returns for another hilarious live charity auction after his uproarious success last year when he persuaded several members of the audience to part with thousands of pounds for a worthy cause.

Jonny is the UK’s number one charity auctioneer, and thanks to the generosity of the 400-plus fork lift truck crowd, Jonny raised a record-breaking £8,360 for the transport charity Transaid, which works tirelessly to distribute food and medicine in developing countries.

This year’s beneficiary charity is Help for Heroes, which supports British servicemen and women wounded or injured in the line of duty. The only question is: will this year’s fork lift truck audience be as generous as last year’s?

In addition to Jonny’s high-tempo charity auction there will be a luxurious three-course banquet and live music from some of the UK’s best musicians as the fork lift truck fraternity hits the dance floor in the biggest night of the year.

Last year’s standout success, our band The Heavy Lifters, return to the stage fresh from their phenomenal Formula One Grand Prix performance, and their main set at the end of the evening promises to be another sensational finale.

The Association is keeping several other key surprises under wraps for the moment, but it has revealed this year’s fabulous new venue: The International Centre in Telford will play host to the 21st FLTA Awards.

This modern, purpose-built complex is surrounded by an incredible £250 million entertainment campus, all centrally located at the birthplace of the industrial revolution. 

Perhaps more importantly though, the Awards offers an unmissable opportunity to share a sumptuous meal and drinks with friends, catch up with old or distant colleagues and network with prospective business clients from every corner of the country.

More than ever, Awards 2015 looks set to be a magical evening… and you can be part of it.

But please don’t dawdle: the Association has already sold three-quarters of the available tickets and the three surrounding hotels are filling up fast.

To secure tickets to the fork lift truck industry’s most important night of the year, interested parties can book event tickets and reserve hotel rooms and wine online via the FLTA website. 

Simply click the "FLTA Awards” tab at the top of the homepage to discover all the details you need; the Association looks forward to meeting and seeing you there…