From left, a Royal Air Force servicewoman, a Royal Navy sailor and an Army soldier stroll through London prior to Armed Forces Day 1010. This image is fully model released.

Skills for Logistics (SfL) has launched a scheme to entice former armed forces personnel into the logistics industry.

SfL has been awarded £1.4m from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills’ Employer Investment Fund to attract up to 1,000 people leaving the services into a job within  logistics.

Through its Military Transitions to Logistics programme, SfL will provide a specific route into the sector for ex-Armed Forces personnel.

Mick Jackson, chief executive of SfL, said: “The sector has a requirement for skilled labour, particularly to fill acute driver shortages.

“Skilled labour exists within the Armed Forces but does not or cannot transfer effectively into civilian job roles. It is this market failure we seek to address.”

According to official data, 12,000 of the 25,000 Apprenticeships awarded in the logistics sector between August 2004 and July 2011 were within the Armed Forces, suggesting a large pool of talent exists.

“SfL’s solution will ensure these logistics skills transfer into the sector by providing service leavers – who already possess formal qualifications – with necessary work experience, on-the-job training and interview practice to better equip them for a career in the civilian world."

Last week SfL revealed the details of its Logistics Guild.

In June, the sector skills council warned of a ticking-time bomb in regards finding the required enough skilled drivers to meet the industry’s requirements in the future.

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