Digger - Excavator Training Courses

Price: from £245 per person (+VAT), for a one-day course

Whether you're digging drainage trenches, house foundations or a garden pond, we can provide all the digger training and courses you need for using diggers effectively and safely.

What's more, our digger courses in Devon and the South West come at affordable prices and are recognised by HSE, so you can easily meet all the current legislation.

The legal bit: If you're using Diggers in the workplace, you have to have proof of adequate training from a qualified person. The law says that you must be able to operate a machine safely in appropriate conditions. It's also recommended that training is updated periodically. This legislation applies to everyone, whether you're a volunteer, employed or self-employed.

For all our Digger courses, you'll need to provide a suitable area to dig trenches. It needs to be reasonably level and, of course, free of underground services. Don't worry, though, the ground will be put back to normal after the course.

We'll also need you to get a Landowner Authorisation form signed before the LANTRA course, which allows us access for the whole time - we'll send the form over so you don't have to source one.

Course Detail:

Mini Digger - Prices from £245

Accreditation: LANTRA

Price: from £245 per person (+VAT), based on one-day course, including Lantra registration and certification.

(Travel and hire of the machine fees may apply.)

Course length: one to five days, depending on ability

Who it's for: Anyone who will be using either:

a) a 180° excavator below 5 tonnes, or

b) a 360° excavator below 10 tonnes.

It's also ideal for those working in land-based industries, or the construction industry.

Course objectives: Site safety; awareness of legislation (PUWER. LOLER); carry out all pre-use and running checks; set the excavator for site and road travel; travel over varying types of terrain, including rough undulating ground and substantial inclines; manoeuvre in confined areas using forward and reverse direction; set the machine to excavate; changing attachments / buckets; excavate below ground level on a variety of excavations in different ground types; place spoil into various sizes of vehicles / hoppers; use of the back-actor.

Course needs: A dumper or tractor and tipping trailer to load with trenching material by the digger; a serviceable Digger with a range of detachable buckets that are fit for purpose; an indoor area with seating and table to complete the theory session and paperwork – a farmhouse kitchen, mess room or workshed would all be fine.

Trainees will need: A packed lunch and non-snag clothing appropriate to the weather conditions (with a minimum of long sleeves, long trousers, steel toe cap boots and protective work gloves).

Our mini digger courses can be tailored to all levels of ability and experience, including:

Experienced Trainees:

This one-day digger course assumes that all trainees have reasonable prior operating experience.

Prices: With 4 trainees, from £245pp (+VAT)

Novice / Mixed Ability Trainees:

This two-day digger course is suitable for groups with a varying range of operating experience and levels of competence.

Prices: With 4 trainees, from £275pp (+VAT)

Prices shown include LANTRA registration and certification, and are dependent on all equipment being available at your venue.

Please note: minimum course age is 16yrs.