training Archives

Young Forwarder Network reaches half century

Posted on 16 April, 202131 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Just two years after it was launched in March 2019, the British International Freight Association’s Young Forwarder Network (YFN) has passed the milestone of 50 events, which is made all the more impressive considering the massive disruption caused to the sector from COVID-19 and the UK’s exit from the EU.

In its first year, 741 individuals had attended 28 events organised by the YFN, which included regional launch events, airport and port tours, as well as talks by industry professionals.

In March 2020, COVID-19 led to the first national lockdown, which caused a temporary hiatus in planning, but events recommenced online in May 2020 with a virtual bake-off.

In the past 12 months, 1,222 participants have attended 23 online events with the 50th event, a virtual port tour of DP World London Gateway attracting a record 108 participants.

The Young Forwarder Network was launched in March 2019 to create several regional networking groups, run by young forwarders and designed to help early talent and young BIFA members develop their knowledge and professional skills, but in a more social environment.

Carl Hobbis, BIFA Executive Director, who has management responsibility for BIFA’s training and development services, says: “When the YFN was launched, we said we thought it would prove to be a major step forward for the industry in developing its future freight forwarding ambassadors and leaders.

“The young people who are participating in the events are improving their knowledge of the sector, trends within it, as well as building their skill sets and learning from others.”

BIFA’s Young Forwarder Network (YFN) is committed to providing opportunities for those new to the industry to develop their knowledge and professional skills. Membership is free and open to any employee of a BIFA Member company.

Robert Keen, Director General of BIFA adds: “50 events in two years is a remarkable achievement and a clear sign of the attraction of the YFN to the younger generation within the freight sector.

“The YFN is really helping improve the promotion of the sector, making it more attractive to younger people and providing forums from which to learn.

“We now need more BIFA members to take heed of this opportunity by encouraging attendance at YFN events; and making greater efforts to promote the freight forwarding and logistics sector in their locality.”

Hobbis concludes: “As we aim for a century of events, hopefully, we will be able to hold some in a face-to-face, more social environment, just like in the first 12 months of the YFN.”

Northants jobseekers benefit from free logistics training

Posted on 15 April, 202131 July, 2025 by David Priestman

A group of job seekers from Northamptonshire will be the first people in the UK to benefit from the Prologis Warehousing and Logistics Training Programme (PWLTP) when they take part in a pilot training session for the initiative.

In a week where European Supply Chain Day (15th April) will highlight the importance of the logistics and transport sector, participants in the week-long pilot scheme will receive practical development training and employability skills such as interview technique. All learners will achieve an accredited qualification in International Trade and Logistics Operations and will have access to up to 60 online training courses to further enhance their skillset.

Prologis is working in partnership with the Supply Chain Open Education Academy (SCOEA) – a Northamptonshire-based enterprise providing education and training for the supply chain sector. The PWLTP will use a combination of online and in-person teaching and learning experiences to enable students to gain the skills, knowledge and competencies required to find and build a career within the logistics sector.

Part of the global Prologis Community Workforce Initiative (CWI), established by Prologis Inc in 2019, the PWLTP is a free digital learning and development programme aimed at training those leaving education and re-skilling the unemployed by equipping them with the knowledge needed to pursue a career in logistics. Globally this programme has an ambitious target of re-training 25,000 individuals by 2025. In the first year alone, Prologis UK aims to put over 700 local people through the PWLTP in Northamptonshire, where the number of people employed in logistics is double the national average.

The PWLTP will also ensure logistics businesses operating on Prologis Parks will have access to an ongoing source of skilled employees for their operations, as part of Prologis’ PARKlife initiative. Once employed by a Prologis’ customer, individuals will benefit from continued support as well as the opportunity to progress through a ladder of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).

As a result of the pandemic, UK unemployment currently sits at 5 percent, however, transport and logistics is one of the only sectors actively recruiting. Recent research conducted by Prologis UK suggested that 1 in 2 people believe that logistics workers are perceived more positively now, as people become more aware of the industry’s value. Currently the sector provides 2.6 million jobs – a figure that’s only expected to grow as the e-commerce boom continues.

Tom Price, Capital Deployment and Leasing Associate at Prologis UK, said: “Demand for employees has never been greater across the transport and logistics industry. With UK unemployment rising, the Prologis Warehousing and Logistics Training Programme will enable young people and the unemployed in Northamptonshire to forge a career in the sector, at no cost to themselves.

“This not only brings obvious benefits for the individuals and the local area, but it’s great news for customers on our Prologis Parks, who will have an even larger talent pool to access in future.”

Professor Simon Denny, Director of Customer Experience at the Supply Chain Open Education Academy, said: “The logistics sector is one which has grown exponentially in recent months and offers fantastic opportunities for progression; Prologis’ Warehousing and Logistics Training Programme provides a springboard into this diverse range of career options. Together, we’ve designed a course which focuses on practical training and developing employability skills; it’s all about building competence and confidence in people.

“We are staggered by Prologis’ scale and vision for the Programme; it’s something we’re incredibly proud to be part of and we look forward to seeing the benefits.”

Solomon, PWLTP pilot scheme participant said: “It’s a great feeling to be one of the first people on the Warehousing and Logistics Training Programme – I already feel like I’m ahead of the game as we come out of lockdown.

“The team have been really supportive and talked me through the process; I am confident that the skills and support from the programme is going to help me going forward in my career.”

At time of publication, courses are being held fortnightly, and with social distancing measures in place according to UK Government guidelines.

Logistics and Supply Chain Training and Research Centre Opening

Posted on 24 March, 202131 July, 2025 by David Priestman

The logistics and supply chain sector is set to benefit from a dedicated new training and research facility that has been developed through a partnership between industry and education based at the heart of the ‘Golden Triangle’ at GLP’s Magna Park development in Lutterworth. The Centre for Logistics Education and Research (CLEAR) will help the sector to address key challenges as the UK moves towards economic recovery and renewed growth following the coronavirus pandemic.

North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) is working in collaboration with Aston University, Wincanton, supply chain partner, and leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, GLP to provide skills training and professional development at all levels across the spectrum of logistics and supply chain roles, to enable the sector to become increasingly agile, flexible and resilient. CLEAR is due to launch in the summer of 2021 and will initially be based Bittesby House within the Magna Park Northern extension within the broader Magna Park Lutterworth development, eventually moving to a bespoke, state of the art facility.

The ambitions of the centre were revealed to industry at a webinar last month with speakers hosted by Richard Atkinson CBE, Teaching Fellow, Leadership, Strategy, Engagement at Aston University and including NWSLC’s Principal and Chief Executive, Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Professor Edward Sweeney from Aston University, and Dean Clamp, who is Group HSEQ Director for Wincanton and a board member of the Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport (CILT).

Outlining the challenges currently faced by the sector, Professor Edward Sweeney commented on the central role of skills development within logistics and supply chain in helping the UK to retain its leading role in the sector. He said, “Operating within a highly competitive environment with the challenges of harnessing new technology and ‘big data’ across businesses of all sizes in a changing political and environmental context requires a highly skilled and professional workforce. The aim is that working closely with industry, CLEAR will be ideally positioned to address its needs and provide skills training and development opportunities that are tailor-made for the sector.”

Marion Plant said, “Our ambitions for CLEAR are based on offering a holistic one-stop-shop training service both from its base at Magna Park and also remotely online, enabling a flexible skills pathway tailored to meet the needs of specific businesses and providing individuals with well-defined opportunities to progress their careers.

Don-Bur Develops Apprenticeship Scheme

Posted on 17 March, 202131 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Working together with NSEG Training Association, Don-Bur has developed an apprenticeship scheme to take on 15 engineering apprentices in 2021. The scheme is part of a long-term commitment to develop and retain critical skills at the large commercial trailer manufacturing plant in Stoke-on-Trent.

The successful firm has already adopted 8 hand-picked apprentices this year who demonstrated the willingness and potential to grow within the business, but Don-Bur is keen to take this further.

Apprenticeships, from initial training up to and including Technician level 3 and Graduate level 4 schemes, are vitally important to offer career stability and planned, structured growth for a wide variety of individuals seeking self-improvement. The Don-Bur Apprenticeship scheme provides a valuable platform to provide a long-term partnership which will benefit both us and apprentices alike.

Lisa Blake, human resources manager at Don-Bur comments, “Engineering and manufacture relies on skilled associates who may not be readily available without training. The new apprenticeship partnership with NSEG gives us a unique, tailored apprenticeship programme that not only identifies high potential candidates but encourages an excellent retention rate after graduation.”

Paul Williams, leader at NSEG agrees. “As a prime provider to Don-Bur, we pride ourselves on our abilities to tailor individual learning plans, highlight opportunities and support the apprentices throughout the scheme.”

Apprentices completing each level will acquire a recognised qualification as well as having developed valued skills which will generate greater career prospects and remain with them throughout their working life.

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