Logistics industry keen to help out public sector
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CM COVER STORY
joanna.bourketdrni.co.uk THE LOGISTICS sector could offer a lifeline to ease the blow of the public sector redundancies expected by 2015, as part of the government's spending cuts.
Mick Jackson, chief executive at Skills for Logistics (SfL). tells CM the logistics sector currently employs 8% of the UK workforce (500,000 people).
"There will always be a certain amount of natural wastage and staff replacement in the industry.
"Assuming that logistics firms continue to grow and recruit, we expect it will need to employ some 40,000 extra people over the next four years, which could offer opportunities for those in the public sector," he says.
Prime Minister David Cameron has appealed for businesses to help Britain's recovery after the government confirmed it will axe some 490,000 public sector jobs by 2015 as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CM 21 October).
Graeme McFaull, Wincanton chief executive, says: "Industry must now do everything possible to ensure that jobs for these people become available. This is certainly not going to be easy, but I believe the logistics industry is well placed to do this."
He adds: "Logistics is a growing industry, valued at approximately 130bn, and we expect growth to continue, and indeed accelerate in the years to come. We are fully committed to playing our part in supporting the UK workforce, and it is a crucial role in the economic recovery."
David Bingham, senior vicepresident, public sector. DHL, says: "We have witnessed largescale TUPE transfers into the business [from the public sector], and as a result we are growing, and are always on the look out for the right calibre of people.
-The government's decision will inevitably open up new opportunities in the private sector."
Geremy Ruffin, UK MD at Nightline, which is expanding its UK coverage, says: "We continue to develop and invest despite the uncertain economic climate, and Nightline is always interested in candidates who can be a part of that process."
However, he adds: "It is important that if the logistics industry is to he seen as playing a part in offsetting sonic of the employment difficulties, it isn't seen as offering an excuse for civil service posts to be cut."
Meanwhile. SIT, is developing a logistics apprenticeship to launch in Q1 2011.
"This could provide ex-public sector workers with an intense course that could offer them a fast-track route into the industry," Jackson claims.