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DON’T LET HIDDEN TALENT SLIP AWAY SKILLS & TRAINING
W
hile it has been widely reported that the logistics and supply chain industries face a growing shortage of skills and labour, much of the focus has been on the
lack of manual or semi-skilled workers. But it could be argued that the dearth of young people with high-level technical skills entering the sector presents a far more serious challenge. Driven by the demands of modern consumers
who expect goods to be on the shelves of bricks and mortar stores and insist on their online orders being delivered to their front door within ever shortening time frames, supply chain management continues its transformation into something of a science. As a result, logistics professionals must now be comfortable dealing with robots and other forms of automated handling technology, analysing endless data streams and engaging with increasingly sophisticated forms of AI. And, of course, from time to time they have
to contend with ‘black swan’ events that shift the landscape in ways that no one can possibly have foreseen – such as Covid and the impact it had on online retailing. It is comforting for employers to know that having grown up in the digital world, today’s young people are relaxed around technology and excited about using it. Yet bringing together tech-savvy graduates or bright school leavers looking for a rewarding career and logistics companies seeking talented individuals capable of moving their business forward, remains challenging. The reasons are varied and complex but most
surveys continue to highlight the fact that graduates perceive the logistics industry as being poorly paid, unsafe, with a lack of gender diversity (it is a ‘boy’s club’ they say) and offering little opportunity for professional development. Unfortunately, the problem is exacerbated by
the fact that graduates (as well as switched-on school leavers) are rarely encouraged to choose logistics as a career path after completing their studies. This is, in part, a consequence of the supply chain industry’s relationship with the nation’s Universities and other educational establishments which has not been as good as it might or, indeed, should be for many years. The way that logistics companies interact with the education system must improve if we are to recruit the caliber of future employees the industry needs. In the meantime, many logistics companies
have realised that to future-proof their organisation greater investment in improving the caliber of their existing people is essential. At Walker Logistics, staff development and
progression has always been a priority. The company believes that by encouraging a culture of continuous learning it can instill a ‘growth mindset’ within its people at all levels of the business. When employees have the chance to
Logistics companies seeking people with the skills required to meet the demands of an increasingly complex and sophisticated world should not overlook the talent that they already have, says Walker Logistics’ Charlie Walker...
grow and develop within a company, it not only boosts their own careers but also creates a positive and motivated culture across the business that, in turn, helps to attract and retain the best talent. Two young people who joined Walker Logistics some time ago in junior roles are the latest members of the company’s workforce to benefit from this approach. The pair have just been promoted to operations manager positions at Walker’s multi-user storage hub near Reading. Having worked on the shopfloor their
promotions provide a clear demonstration for other employees that through hard work, it is possible to have a very worthwhile career with Walker Logistics. Because colleagues know that the company is prepared to invest in their professional development their dedication
38 NOVEMBER 2023 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
grows, which – in turn – means Walker Logistics’ staff turnover drops as do the costs incurred by recruiting and ‘bedding in’ new people. It is the responsibility of everyone in the
industry to ensure that the supply chain sector has the skills required to meet the demands of an increasingly complex and sophisticated world. But until such time as intelligent young people are consciously choosing to embark upon a career in logistics above say media, accountancy or engineering, it will be necessary for logistics operators to sell the idea of logistics as more than a steppingstone on the pathway to something ‘better’ to the smartest members of their existing team.
Walker Logistics
www.walkerlogistics.com
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