Godrej launches Pune forklift centre to address logistics skills gap

Godrej Enterprises Group has opened a forklift training centre in Pune as India’s logistics and warehousing networks expand and face growing pressure on safety and productivity. The 2,000 sq. ft facility, launched by RenTRUST, the rental arm of the Material Handling Equipment business of Godrej Enterprises Group, is aimed at creating a steady pipeline of certified forklift operators for factories, warehouses, and logistics hubs.

Located in Bhosari, the centre is positioned to support industrial clusters around Pune, where demand for trained material handling personnel has risen alongside growth in manufacturing and distribution capacity. The programme combines classroom instruction, safety training, and hands-on certification to align operator skills with operational and compliance requirements across shop floors and warehouses.

The initiative builds on the group’s existing operator training efforts. The Material Handling Equipment business has trained and certified more than 3,500 operators so far, with a stated plan to upskill another 500 operators by FY26. The facility is designed to train and certify over 45 candidates each month, contributing to workforce readiness in logistics-intensive sectors.

Anil Lingayat, Business Head, Material Handling Equipment business, Godrej Enterprises Group, said, “India’s manufacturing and logistics sectors are scaling at an unprecedented pace, but sustained growth depends on skilled, safety-trained manpower. Through the Forklift Training Centre in Pune, we are creating a structured pipeline of certified operators who are job-ready and deeply aware of safety and compliance. At GEG, we see skill development as a critical enabler of productivity, workplace safety, and inclusive growth, and this initiative strengthens India’s industrial ecosystem.”

The programme also seeks to widen participation in industrial logistics roles, offering a 50 per cent training fee concession for women candidates. This focus aligns workforce development with broader labour availability challenges faced by warehouses and distribution centres as throughput volumes rise.

RenTRUST operates a large rental fleet of material handling equipment, and the training centre is intended to support customers by improving operator availability and reducing safety risks at operational sites. As India advances its manufacturing and supply chain ambitions, access to trained forklift operators is increasingly seen as a factor influencing warehouse efficiency, uptime, and safety performance.