Stobart heads haulage skills initiative consortium By Laura Hailstone STOBART
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GROUP IS leading a consortium of transport and logistics companies in a bid for funding through the government's Employer Ownership of Skills initiative.
If successful, the consortium will work to identify the skills requirements of the current and future logistics workforce to ensure the industry can attract and develop talent to fulfil business growth plans. Under the umbrella of the Smart Business Academy, the consortium will create initiatives focused on people and business development, as well as innovation and communication.
The initial bid consortium consists of Arlo Foods, Arriva, Asda, Bibby Distribution, Kuehne + Nagel, Royal Mail, Sel"afield, Stena Line, Stobart Group, TNT and Yodel, but the group is hoping more companies, particularly SMEs, will get involved.
"The Smart Business Academy is a groundbreaking initiative, which will provide a platform to deliver real and meaningful collaboration in the logistics industry," said Paul Byrne, Bibby Distribution development director.
"By working in a partnership, we have the ability to develop a robust and powerful framework to improve skills, enhance our workforce and create a sustainable pathway for careers in the logistics industry." Yodel chief executive Neil Lloyd added: "Yodel is proud to be a founding member of the Smart Business Academy, taking a collaborative approach to addressing the challenges faced in attracting, developing and securing talent.
"We recognise that investment in people is key not just to a sustainable business, but for the industry as a whole."
Meanwhile, Stobart Group corporate affairs director Kate Willard said: "It's taken us the best part of a year to pull a consortium together to submit a bid by the closing date of 28 March.
"We haven't been able to talk to every single haulage or logistics firm out there, so it's important that if anyone is interested in finding out more and how they might like to play a role, they get in touch with me."
She added: "We know there is a real problem in how young people view our sector, and we want to create ways of engaging with schools and develop a carefully planned route from school to pre-employment, to apprenticeships, and then into employment."
• For details about the Smart Business Academy, contact Kate Willard on 01228 882300 or email research@smartbusinessacademy.co.uk