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The next generation


Hayley Maguire of Meantime Communications recently joined BIFA training development manager Carl Hobbis on one of our port tours for apprentices and has contributed the following article


Regular BIFAlink readers will know that there has been talk about a looming skills shortage in the logistics industry as Brexit approaches and companies struggle to recruit young talent. BIFA has recognised these concerns and


supported the development of the International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship scheme to attract young people to a career in logistics. “The reason for starting the apprenticeship


scheme was because employers were saying that knowledge and talent was leaving the industry due to a variety of reasons,” said Carl Hobbis, training development manager, BIFA. “Employers are really behind the


apprenticeships – 48 companies played an active part in its development, and there are more than 150 apprenticeship jobs currently being advertised, with that number expected to rise.” To add a different dimension to the training,


BIFA is also running tours at major UK ports to help trainees gain additional practical experience required for the completion of the apprenticeship programme, with one of the recent tours taking place at DP World Southampton in August.


14 October 2018 One participant at the tour was Rosalia


Torado, 28, from Spain, who works in import freight at Davies Turner in Bristol. “I really like the people in the industry and


talking to people from all over the world, such as China and India,” said Torado. “I work in the industry for the international


aspects, and I will stay in logistics for that reason. “I previously worked in banking in Spain,


which was nice, but I was not happy because it was not international, and I was not using my English skills. “I studied International Business at university,


so by working at Davies Turner I am using my qualifications and working in an international environment.” Likewise, participant Hannah Miles, 28, works


for Davies Turner in the logistics department, specialising in road freight, and is enjoying the educational and travel elements of the scheme. “I was working as a teaching assistant before


I joined Davies Turner through the apprenticeship scheme, which was recommended to me by my brother,” said Miles. “I am really enjoying the training and we get


to move around to other departments to learn new skills, plus we have to travel to Birmingham every three months.” Hobbis said: “Logistics is an industry that


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