More employers needed to promote logistics careers to students

Think Logistics is looking for logistics firms to offer over 90 internships or work placements for students around the UK between February and August this year. Employers taking part in the programme last year were so impressed with their interns that 75% said they would have been happy to offer them a full time job.

Think Logistics was set up in 2013 by Abbey Logistics CEO Steve Granite to promote logistics careers to students. With funding from the DfT and sponsors including the FTA, RHA and DAF, the not-for-profit organisation aims to reach 1,800 students with workshops and employability masterclasses this year.

Former Senior Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell is chairing Think Logistics and told a recent meeting of the delivery group leading the development of the initiative that the organisation was “very grateful” for the DfT’s backing. “It has given us credibility and will enable us to make a video to help make logistics an attractive career option for young people,” she said.

Ian Nichol, head of logistics at Career Ready, a charity linking employers with schools and colleges that is working closely with Think Logistics, said over 400 schools and colleges around the UK were ready and willing to host half-day workshops on careers in logistics but more employers willing to commit their managers’ time to delivering them were needed.

“We can do train the trainer masterclasses or come along to help deliver the workshops for managers who do not feel confident standing in front of a class full of school children,” he said. “We did a train the trainer session for CHEP and there are 18 people there now all geared up to go into schools and colleges.”

To get involved email Ian Nichol on Ian.Nichol@careerready.org.uk