Training — a radical rethink
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• A radical rethink of training in the distribution industry is desperately needed, says Mike Tarrant, managing director of National Carriers Contract Services.
Tarrant claims the industry suffers from a "fragmented and laissez faire approach to professional standards" and warns that failure to reorganise the training of distribution managers could lead to a chronic shortage of people with the necessary skills to maintain growth.
"We must get the academics and operators closer together," says Tarrant, "preferably under the auspices of our professional body, the Institute of Logistics and Distribution Management — the institute cannot be expected to carry the torch on its own. We have all got to sit down and look at a national curriculum and qualification which can be run in colleges and universities throughout the country."
Tarrant's argument has received the backing of Roads and Traffic minister Peter Bottomley: "Firms in the industry." says Bottomley, "should work with those in higher education to carry out further research and to develop educational and training programmes."
II Tarrant's comments were made at a ceremony to mark the establishment of a senior academic post in distribution, sponsored by NCCS. The NCCS reader in freight transport and distribution will be based in the Polytechnic of Central London's Transport Studies Group. The
Polytechnic will be inviting applications for the post during the next eight weeks.
The successful applicant will develop new teaching and research programmes for managers in the distribution industry, promote academic interest in distribution and attempt to strengthen the links between academics and the distribution industry.