TruckandTrackAutumn2019

www.truckandtrack.com Autumn 2019 Truck and Track 17 BUSINESS NEWS ■■ Only 8% of young people see logistics as an attractive career option. ■■ 42% don’t even knowwhat logistics is. ■■ Image problemand lack of awareness to blame, say experts. A new research study carried out by Talent in Logistics reveals the logistics sector has a significant recruitment problem, which could potentially cause the nation to grind to a halt. The study found that only 8% of the young students surveyed aspire to work in the logistics sector and an astounding 42% don’t even knowwhat logistics is. With only 9% of the current workforce being under 25 – and 45% being over 45 – time is running out for the sector before it experiences a devastating skills deficit. Talking to visitors at theWorldSkills UK Live exhibition inNovember 2018, they surveyed nearly 500 students from the ages of 13-19 to understand their current perceptions of the industry and whether they’d aspire to work in it in the future. The research inspired production of Talent in Logistics’ ‘Changing Perceptions: Attracting Young Talent Into Logistics’ downloadable whitepaper, which highlights the extent of the crisis and addresses the imminent skills shortage, while providing actionable insights to help business leaders attract, develop and engage future talent. “The perception of logistics is arguably the biggest problem facing our sector when trying to recruit new talent,” says Ruth Edwards, Talent in Logistics’ Business Manager. “As an organisation that was specifically developed to promote the importance of recruiting talent from groups that are currently under-represented within logistics, we see it as our mission to set an example in the way we address the shortage of a younger workforce. “It’s only by future-proofing the nation’s currently thriving logistics sector that we can keep the UK moving.” While driver shortages and skills gaps are already taking their toll, the biggest hurdle is the sector’s aging population and the lack of millennials coming up through the ranks to replace them. ItishopedthattheTalentinLogisticsreportwillhelpraiseawareness of the need to safeguard against the impending skills deficit, by exploring the reasons why young people so rarely consider logistics as a career option and recommend effective strategies to help them recruit and retain talent. Ruth added: “We are calling upon the sector and the education system to play their part in ensuring young people are aware of the many amazing opportunities available to them.” To download the whitepaper, plus more free resources, please visit www.talentinlogistics.co.uk/research. Ticking timebomb of logistics’ skills deficit revealed in new report LOADS MORE TRUCKS & TRAILERS 01543 420 121 www. deker .co.uk Fully-equipped company vehicle Comprehensive training Progressive, expanding company Excellent remuneration package Home-based Flexible working hours Lasalign is the UK’s original and leading specialist in heavy commercial vehicle wheel and axle alignment services. Continuing expansion means we are now seeking to recruit a mobile wheel- alignment engineer to cover the M25 area of south-east England. Specific wheel-alignment experience is not essential as comprehensive training will be provided. The right applicant will join a progressive, well-established company and can expect great job satisfaction from vehicle operator site visits. For more information call Derek Godden on 01788 860594 Or e-mail your application, including cv, to: applicants@lasalign.com www.savefuelandtyres.com WHEEL ALIGNMENT ENGINEER M25 AREA SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND HGV / PSV WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIALISTS Limited INSIDE TH M25 AND SURROUNDI REAS li i ’ ri i l l i i li t i heavy i l i l l l li t r i . ti i expansion means we are now seeking to recruit a mobile wheel- ali i f r inside the M25 and surrounding areas. Specific wh el-alignment experience is not s e tial a comprehensive training will be provid d. i li ill j i r r i , ll- t li c a y t t j ti f ti fr i l er t r site visits.