The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has launched a new partnership with Think Logistics aimed at inspiring the next generation of talent to join the sector.
Social mobility charity Think Logistics works with schools and colleges to help raise awareness in young people of the opportunities the logistics sector offers, using a range of activities and workplace experiences, delivered by volunteers from the profession.
The partnership with BIFA will enable the association’s members to access local schools and colleges to promote the profession and builds on the inspirational work being undertaken by the trade association's Young Forwarder Network.
Bethany Windsor, operations manager for Career Ready, Think Logistics’ governing body, said: “The partnership with BIFA has never been more important. The shortage of customs professionals, for example, represents a wonderful opportunity for young people to step into the sector and kickstart their careers.
“It’s absolutely vital that we share the great opportunities available in the sector for young people, for whom logistics is often a hidden sector. This partnership will help achieve this and we’re delighted to be working with BIFA to inspire the next generation of young talent to ‘think logistics’.”
Carl Hobbis, executive director and training development manager at BIFA, says: “Our partnership with Think Logistics is part of a campaign to encourage BIFA members to work with schools to promote careers in logistics, forwarding and the supply chain, and encourage students to consider them.
“This has seen us equip our members with an array of ideas to encourage them to promote careers within the freight and logistics sector to students in their local community.
"We look forward to collaborating with other trade associations to showcase the sector to young people collectively and get active members of the Young Forwarder Network involved around the country.”
Career Ready is a UK-wide charity with a mission to help young people aged 11-18 kickstart rewarding futures. It said that since taking Think Logistics’ workshops online in the summer term of 2021, over 400 young people have benefited from hearing from the sector’s young professionals.
A survey conducted by the charity showed that 81% of learners said that after attending the workshop they were better aware of the breadth of the logistics sector, with 96% reporting they were more aware of the many routes into the profession.
