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08 Jul Industry tackle skills crisis

Posted at 10:46h in News by

With the crippling effects of COVID-19 and Brexit, the logistics sector which plays a vital role in the UK economy and is accountable for 8% of all the UK employment, is preparing to face a skills crisis. 

This will include:

  • 54% of logistics businesses face skills shortages by 2024  
  • Loss of 100,000 lorry drivers that will see the UK face food shortages  
  • Supply chain disruptions that would have serious implications on job creation and economic growth.  

Additional factors that will fuel the pressure of the oncoming skills crisis include: 

  • Retirement of current transport managers  
  • Lack of digital culture and training 
  • Limited career growth opportunities  

 

How are we going to prevent the oncoming skills crisis that is inflicted by a global pandemic and a dwindling economy, which have seen thousands left with unemployment? 

 

Enter the combined workforce of SR Apprenticeships and Skills For Logistics, through their collaboration with Logistics Skills Network. With their commitment to supporting the logistics sectors and promoting career opportunities within them, the hard-working teams behind SR Apprenticeships and Skills For Logistics have laid out solutions to help the sector overcome the challenge of the oncoming skills crisis. 

These include: 

Captivate the next generation of apprentices in the sector 

To understand how to attract the interest of those who want to do apprenticeships in the logistics sector, we need to know what an apprenticeship is. An apprenticeship is a real job where learners can gain new skills and experience whilst being paid a wage.  Upon successful completion of the chosen apprenticeship, the learner will gain a nationally recognised qualification alongside the right skills and experience needed to progress within their chosen career.  

SR Apprenticeships is one of the leading training providers for apprenticeships with a “good” Ofsted approval rating, specialising in the Logistics & Supply Chain sectors, that have recently joined Logistics Skills Network to support the sectors that play such a vital role to the UK economy.   

The main benefits of joining SR Apprenticeships include –  

  • Real work experience 
  • Nationally recognised qualifications 
  • Best practices 

 

Provide digital training that is flexible and allows opportunities for career growth 

In late 2020, Skills for Logistics launched Flow Logistics Online, a new career development platform that aims to promote career growth opportunities in the logistics and transport sectors. The platform will deliver training courses for employers at affordable prices and share them with their employees.  

In return, employees will be given: 

  • Quality-assured training  
  • Flexible courses that users can complete in their own time
  • A Flow Skills Passport to keep their qualifications in one place and promote new opportunities for career growth 

 

Flow’s approach to delivering flexible quality assured training courses has attracted several vocal supporters, including Samantha Leleu, General Manager and Founder of Pertemps Driver Training, a leader in delivering quality driver training services.  

“From our first contact, we found everyone professional and approachable. We have been very impressed, both by the content of the course’s material and the quality of presentations.  

FLOW has a very innovative and creative team. This, coupled with prompt IT support and, most importantly a “can do” attitude, has led to a productive relationship. In our many years of delivering high-quality training services to the logistics industry, we have engaged with many organisations and, without hesitation, can say that Flow is up there with the very best.” 

 – Samantha Leleu, General Manager and Founder of Pertemps Driver Training  

 These solutions play a key role in laying the foundations for recovery in the logistics sector, helping it to overcome the skills crisis. By giving individuals the right skills and a supportive approach to digital training, it will help keep them motivated and build opportunities for growth within their careers amidst a worldwide digital transformation. 

 

For more details on the industry statistics included in this article, please refer to the following:   

[1] https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/uk-facing-summer-of-food-shortages-due-to-lack-of-lorry-drivers/ar-AALrobj?ocid=entnewsntp – UK facing summer of food shortages due to Brexit and COVID causing drivers shortage 

[2] https://www.dhl.com/gb-en/home/our-divisions/supply-chain/thought-leadership/articles/the-deepening-talent-shortage.html – Changing skill set affecting skills shortage in supply chain 

[3] https://www.fenews.co.uk/press-releases/70027-how-the-logistics-sector-can-swerve-the-oncoming-crisis – How the logistics sector can serve the oncoming skills crisis 

[4] https://www.mitrefinch.co.uk/blog/time-and-attendance/transport-logistics-challenges-trends-2021/ – Transport and Logistics: Challenges and Trends in 2021  

[5] https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/apprentices/becoming-apprentice# – Apprenticeships explained 

[6] https://www.flowlogisticsonline.co.uk/pertemps-driver-training-gm-on-flows-fresh-approach/ – Samantha Leleu on FLOW’s fresh approach 

[7] https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/2d6ec419-41df-46c9-8b7b-96384cd36ab3/IFC-Covid19-Logistics-final_web.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=naqOED5 – The impact of COVID-19 on logistics and transport sectors 

[8] https://www.logisticsskillsnetwork.co.uk/ – Logistics Skills Network home page 

[9] https://www.skillsforlogistics.co.uk/about-us/ – Skills For Logistics about us page 

[10] https://www.flowlogisticsonline.co.uk/why-flow/ – About FLOW Logistics Online 

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