The Association of Pallet Networks (APN) has partnered with government-funded recruitment campaign Generation Logistics to help raise awareness of job opportunities in the pallet network sector.
Under the partnership the APN will provide job profiles and vacancies as well as helping to create and sharing content.
APN Chair Paul Sanders, said: ”APN has previously published a series of case studies and created much social media content around pallet network careers.
“The difficulty is in getting young people to engage with it, so having a central logistics platform for educators and ambassadors to refer to is essential.”
Sanders says that while the public is very aware of HGV driving roles following the recent acute shortages, they forget that logistics companies also need HR personnel, accountants, planners, marketing experts, facilities managers, health and safety professionals and countless other roles.
“We are competing with the rest of UK industry for hard-working, talented people in a plethora of different jobs,” he said.
”And with the continuing digitisation of products and services, we will need a new generation of people with digital literacy, and skills in engineering, software and advanced mathematics.
“These skills will be necessary to deliver the sustainability goals, the cost control and the higher levels of customer service which will be demanded over the next five to ten years,” he added.
Generation Logistics, which is in its second year, is a government-backed campaign which aims to promote careers in the logistics sector through building a social media presence targeting 13 to 24 year olds and partnering with schools, colleges and industry sponsors.
“The benchmarking research shows that while only one in ten young people currently even considers a career in logistics, only 12% would never consider one,” said Sanders.
“It’s up to us therefore to sell our industry as a place of essential services, innovation, and extensive opportunity, at the forefront of some of the most important shifts for our society, such as decarbonisation and automation. APN and all its member networks are very pleased to be involved with this campaign and we will be participating wherever possible.”
The Association of Pallet Networks has a membership of eight pallet networks in the UK which includes Fortec, Pall-Ex, Pallet-Track, Palletforce, Palletline, Palletways, The Pallet Network and United Pallet Network. These represent 800 hauliers, more than 24,000 vehicles and over 13 million sq ft of warehouse space collectively.
