Solving the talent gap: Degree apprenticeships in the supply chain

Global supply chains are strained and under pressure; this is not only because of material shortfalls and shipping delays, but also due to ongoing labour shortages – throughout the industry, from logistics to production. 

In fact, recruiting and keeping qualified workers is cited as the leading challenge in the supply chain sector.  

UNPREDICTABLE ADVERSITY 

UK vacancies for supply chain managers on jobs site Indeed rose 22 per cent between 2019 and 2021, when trade issues for many businesses peaked. On top of this, the pandemic and Ukraine-Russia war pointed towards the need to be better prepared during unpredictable adversity. 

There is now a stronger desire to have supply chain managers trained for the boardroom so they can identify potential supply chain problems before they hit, including those caused by political instability, and ensure the supply chain is robust and resilient in order to overcome the challenges it may face. 

Aside from the fast-paced nature of e-commerce and meeting modern consumer demands, the ongoing technological advancements have also caused a spike in the skills shortage; industries across the labour market are in dire need of more tech-savvy employees to keep up with the technological transformation that is occurring.  

On top of this, there is an urgency for the industry to be greener, to be in line with sustainability agendas in order to meet targets set by business and government. 

But there is also a lack of awareness of supply chain management as a career path, especially with young professionals not seeing the opportunities available in the industry. 

ATTRACTING TALENT 

According to Raconteur, logistics employees make up 7% of the UK’s workforce, but only 7% of young people would actually consider a job in the sector. With the workforce in the supply chain industry typically being older, with previous studies showing 45% of those working in the industry are over 45, there are fewer people replacing those reaching retirement age, widening the talent gap even further. 

So, how can the supply chain sector attract more talent – especially tech-savvy staff that are more likely to lean towards joining industries that offer traditional workplace benefits, such as remote working?  

We’ve found that an often-undervalued approach is apprenticeships, which are an outstanding option for retraining and upskilling. It is not only an attractive benefit to gain new talent, but it also allows for the supply chain industry to have staff that are up to date in order to meet the latest industry demands. 

TAPPING INTO AN AGEING WORKFORCE 

However, is the supply chain sector also overlooking a valuable talent reservoir by dismissing the importance of established workers? 

Apprenticeships are ideal for younger workers starting out, but they are not just exclusive to them; those already in the industry can also reap the benefits of an apprenticeship degree. Just under half of those who start on apprenticeships are aged 25 and over, and there are about 29,000 people aged 45 to 59 in training, presenting a large talent pool waiting to be harnessed by the supply chain sector. 

The ageing population increases consumer needs, resulting in higher demands for businesses to meet, but it also means people are having to work for longer and retiring later, to meet such demand. 

As such, we are finding that more and more people are finding what drives them in their career a lot later in life. And, of course, that drive must be accompanied by gaining the right qualifications and accreditations to pursue such a career.  

To support this, the government’s ‘returnships’ programme was crafted to encourage adults over the age of 50 to rejoin the workforce. 

CONFIDENCE CONUNDRUM 

Arden University’s own research has shown that adults struggle with the notion of reskilling post school. We found that lack of confidence is one of the main factors preventing adults from exploring a new industry or job and that less than half (44%) of people feel there is adequate support and opportunities to change careers in the UK. Degree apprenticeships can help solve the confidence conundrum.  

Degree apprenticeships also ensure those in senior roles can advance in their career while on the job. This opens doors for those who previously did not have access to higher education and, therefore, did not have the chance to gain a degree or post-grad qualification, helping to drive a diverse workforce through the managerial hierarchy.  

Not only is this a driver for younger workers looking for a long-term career, but it also drives older workers to stay in the role if they can still advance professionally. As aforementioned, supply chain managers are also becoming a more integral part of the boardroom, and so degree apprenticeships can also help give those already in the industry the knowledge and confidence to be the voice in the boardroom to prevent business crises. 

While the challenges facing skills and labour in the supply chain sector won’t be solved overnight, by investing in development and training and showing the development opportunities available in the career, businesses can begin to retain talent, attract new recruits and ultimately future-proof operations. 

Published On: 11/01/2024 14:00:00

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