UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / July 29, 2026 / New figures on the UK job market show temporary hiring has risen for a fourth consecutive month, with permanent hiring also showing signs of stabilising. The trend points to businesses across the country bringing in extra warehouse and logistics staff to manage growing demand, ahead of what is expected to be a busy peak trading period later in the year.

Pallet Truck Shop says that while most businesses are alert to the need for proper manual handling training when bringing in temporary staff, far fewer think about whether the equipment those staff will be using is appropriate for someone unfamiliar with the site. The company says this gap is a common and easily overlooked source of risk during busy hiring periods.

Temporary and seasonal staff are often asked to get up to speed quickly, learning new processes, unfamiliar layouts and equipment they may never have used before, all while operations are running at a faster pace than usual.

According to Pallet Truck Shop, equipment that is intuitive to use safely, with clear controls and manageable handling, can make a meaningful difference to how quickly new starters become productive and how safely they work in those first few weeks.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at Pallet Truck Shop, said: "Every year we see the same pattern. Businesses take on temporary staff to cope with rising demand, training gets sorted, and then everyone assumes the equipment already on site will simply do the job. But someone who has never used a pallet truck, stacker or table trucks before doesn't move, lift or steer in the same way as an experienced operator - and that's exactly the point where accidents tend to happen."

Simple things like choosing equipment with lighter steering, clear load limits, and features that make correct use obvious rather than optional, all help a new starter get up to speed safely. It's a lot easier to build good habits from day one than to correct bad ones once they've settled in.

"With hiring picking up again, now is a sensible time for businesses to actually look at what their seasonal staff will be using, rather than assuming existing kit is good enough. It's a small thing to check, but it can make a real difference over a busy few months."

To find out more about Pallet Truck Shop, visit: www.pallettruckshop.co.uk.