Clements have confirmed the acquisition of Leicestershire based access platform IPAF training provider, Oakbarn Training. The move will enable Clements to bring powered access platform training in house, enabling customers to acquire certification to operate the range of machines available for hire through the business.
The acquisition was agreed following the decision by previous owner of the business, Gordon Flowers, to retire. The focus of Oakbarn Training is to provide International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) Training courses that educates, trains and certifies anyone who needs or wants to work at height using the various styles of mobile elevating working platforms.
Clements previously partnered with Oakbarn to provide weekly IPAF courses at their hire depot in Torrington Avenue, Coventry. The partnership has enabled Clements to organise the training for their customers who hire the different forms of access platforms.
Despite the Covid-19 restrictions, Oakbarn has continued to offer blended e-learning and in-centre training courses. This has helped to ensure that anyone needing to update their qualifications or become licensed, could do so safely. Whilst restrictions remain in place, the company has committed to continuing to offer training courses in a Covid secure environment.
An Opportunity Too Good To Miss.
Chairman of Clements, Jim Longstaff commented, “The acquisition of Oakbarn Training enables Clements to better manage the IPAF training courses that are provided. This is a strategic part of our business and assists our customers to gain certification to operate Mobile Elevating Working Platforms”.
“We partnered with Oakbarn to provide the different levels of Access Platform IPAF training courses to assist our hire customers. When Gordon announced his retirement, the opportunity to acquire the business was too good an opportunity to miss. Bringing this additional service ‘in-house’ enables us to provide a wider range of services to customers hiring Access Platforms. Offering a full suite of training allows us to generate and develop relationships with the people we train. In addition this puts us in a great place to offer the machines for hire.
In preparation for the ownership change, Rhys Hutchinson has trained to become fully IPAF accredited to lead the new courses. For more details about the range of courses on offer take a look at our IPAF training page.
Once the acquisition has been confirmed Oakbarn Training will continue to operate under its original name and become a trading style of Clements Plant & Tool Hire Limited. In addition, the headquarters of the company will re-locate to the Torrington Avenue offices of Clements.