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for transport ONE IN five firms in transport and logistics is planning to take on extra permanent employees this year, with a further one in 10 taking on more part-time or contract staff to cope with demand.
According to Close Brothers Business Barometer, which surveys 550 SME owners across various sectors, the transport industry is set to see its strongest labour market since 2007 John Fawcett, MD of the transport division at Close Brothers Asset Finance, said: "The transport and logistics industry has faced significant challenges in the past few years.
"Rising fuel prices, lower demand, stringent regulation and legislation have taken their toll, so it's encouraging to see that the outlook for the next year is hopeful." Milestone launches its own haulage operation DRIVER AGENCY Milestone Operations is to launch its own haulage operation using rented trucks based at customers' premises.
Milestone Logistics has an 0-licence for 30 trucks and 20 trailers at its customer DIAL's Harworth site near Doncaster, where it will handle a seasonal haulage contract for DIAL client Miracle Gro manufacturer Scotts. more than 40 customer sites. Most Milestone is taking trucks and provide just drivers but sometimes trailers on short-term rental from the client needs a truck too."
Collease for its transport operaHe admitted haulage rates were tion, which will be rolled out to still low, but said that by finding more than 40 sites where it supplies return loads from other customers' drivers It aims to have 70 units on sites, empty running would be min hire by the end of the year. imised. As Milestone already has Milestone director Chris Bryant staff on customers' sites to manage said the move is in response to drivers, costs would be shared demand. "We are now working on rather than increased. By Steve Hobson "A lot of our site managers already have a CPC and often do transport planning for the customer, so why not provide a truck too?"
Fellow director George Campbell-Collins said: "Having a training division means new drivers can be trained and assessed to the right level before gaining vital experience under supervision at the haulage division."
Strong partnerships needed with schools Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of women's business network and lobby group Everywoman, said partnerships between schools and businesses, particularly those with strong female role models such as the ones involved in the FTA Everywoman Awards, need to be expanded and strengthened.
Her comments come after the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report, Women in the Workplace, published last week (CM 27 June) recommended the government boost careers advice for girls and women and set targets for encouraging more of them into apprenticeship sectors where they are under-represented including transport and logistics.
"We need to encourage young girls to be ambitious for their careers and to consider subjects traditionally thought of as boys' subjects," said Benson. "We need to see a cultural shift in the way we educate young girls about the world of work and ensure we aren't shutting doors prematurely."
It was also important to maintain industry-wide programmes, through schemes such as the Everywoman Accelerate Programme, to support operators and organisations of all sizes to build a 'talent pipeline' in the industry, said Benson.