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Logistics academy gets go-ahead
A NATIONAL ACADEMY promoting colleges offering qualifications in logistics and raising the bar on industry skills should be open by April 2011, according to Skills for Logistics (SIL).
Business secretary Peter Mandelson has now given the green light to the 5Th-led proposal to join up the regional logistics academies being launched across the country. The government will commit almost £4m towards setting up the national logistics academy. which will offer a voice for the sector and provide quality assurance to all courses being offered in logistics.
Mick Jackson, SfL chief executive, says the organisation has until January 2011 to prepare business plans.
He says the academies are essential because almost 500,000 people working in logistics are either illiterate or innumerate: "I can't think of many other industries where accuracy is at a greater premium than in logistics.
Jackson says logistics is also an ageing sector, with 70% of its 2020 workforce already employed; therefore attracting students into the industry is vital.