14.11.2018

‘Sims U’ operator training

Florida based rental company Sims Crane & Equipment will launch a new crane operator training school ‘Sims U’ on the 7th January.

Based in Tampa, the programme will be a four month paid training course for pre apprentice trainees that combines classroom, hands on and on the job training. Classroom sessions will be held three days a week for eight hours a day, on the remaining two days students will work in the Tampa shop and yard facilities.

Sims plans to recruit six to 12 trainees per session and will hold three sessions annually, with the initial session in January. The school will also host a variety of industry experts, guest speakers, in house experts and manufacturer representatives.

Vice president of marketing Dean Sims said: “With this year's crane operator turnover rate at 26 percent and a five percent decline in the crane operator labour force, there is a critical need for qualified operators in our industry. As Florida's leading crane company, Sims Crane is launching Sims U to train a sustainable workforce of future crane operators to meet our skilled labour demands.”

“We are sparing no expense in making Sims U the best training program for crane operators in the state of Florida. We have even purchased five additional acres next door to our headquarters in Tampa to create a training yard specifically for Sims U students.”

Safety director Bob Berry added: “Right now, it can take four years for one of our apprentices to complete training because they are taking classes just a few times a month. With Sims U's intense education and hands on training, we are hoping to help launch a lucrative career for crane operators.”