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Policy Campaign Spotlight – April 2022
Highlights of campaigns currently being run by Logistics UK's policy team.
Department for Transport labour and skills consultation and new task force
Logistics UK has been calling for action to improve the diversity of logistics and the attractiveness of the sector as a long-term career choice to address the challenges of an ageing workforce that is predominantly male and ethnically white, and struggles to recruit for skilled roles such as HGV drivers, mechanics and forklift drivers. The business group has been engaging with the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Transport (DfT) on promoting roles to a more diverse range of people and highlighting that with changes in technology there is a need to train people in new skills – such as mechanics to fix electric vehicles.
DfT has now announced a new ‘Transport labour market and skills’ consultation focussing on future skills and looking at the barriers to entering the logistics profession. At the same time, DfT announced a new Transport and Employment Skills Taskforce (TEST), which will put into practice the outcomes of the consultation.
Logistics UK’s Employment Action Group (EAG) has been working on these issues and members have provided key feedback that has supported its calls to government. The business group will respond to the consultation with examples of what members are experiencing and potential initiatives and ideas that government could support.
Logistics UK continues to support relevant initiatives, such as the industry-led Generation Logistics campaign and Department for Work & Pensions’ Discover Logistics Careers event, to promote careers in the logistics sector and break down accessibility barriers to joining the workforce.
Logistics UK is pleased that future skills and diversity of the workforce are now receiving the recognition they need. The business group hopes to see some timebound propositions coming out of the consultation, and quickly, so that the new taskforce can work alongside industry to support and encourage more workers to the sector, especially from underrepresented groups such as women, under 30s and different ethnicities.
*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns
Published On: 14/04/2022 16:00:57
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