Celebrating 40 years of Logistics UK Training

1980 also saw the birth of Logistics UK’s training division. Keith Gray, General Manager of Logistics UK’s Training division, explains the origins of his team: “In the 1970s many of our services, such as training, consultancy and advice, were provided by field staff, who also offered member support and representation. As the demand for these services grew, individual departments were created to support members’ needs.”

PROFESSIONALISING THE INDUSTRY

For as long as there have been transport managers and HGV drivers, Logistics UK has offered training for staff in those roles.

“What’s changed is the professionalisation of the industry,” Gray said, “harmonisation with EU regulations, the inception of Driver CPC, and latterly the advancement of e-learning and virtual classrooms.”

Gray began his career with FTA, as it was then known, in 2008 in its Member Advice Centre, a service that has long been popular with members seeking advice on a myriad of transport topics. “As you can imagine,” he said, “this is a great grounding for anyone wishing to become a trainer.”

Since joining the training division in 2010, Gray has swiftly risen through the ranks from trainer to Ops Manager before being appointed General Manager in 2014.

FLAGSHIP QUALIFICATION

During the last decade the flagship product has always been the Transport Manager Certificate for Professional Competence (CPC), which occupies a unique place in the market. Logistics UK runs 13 courses every quarter and operates seven exam centres. More than 800 candidates qualify as Transport Managers with Logistics UK every year.

“We put a lot of effort and resources into maintaining our position as the leading provider of this qualification nationally,” Gray said.

But while the numbers explain what Logistics UK does, they do not always explain why it does it. “The Transport Manager is such a pivotal role within the industry,” he said, “It is one that carries great responsibility.”

Because the operational challenges are always within the context of the regulatory provisions, Logistics UK aims to equip candidates with the thinking skills of how to approach those challenges, rather than simply learning regulations by rote.

“My own experience has shown me that it’s not realistic to ‘know’ all the rules,” Gray said, “Far more important is knowing where to find the answer.”

Gray believes that the exam that Logistics UK currently offers, with City & Guilds as the awarding organisation, is “probably the most relevant and suitable qualification the industry has ever been able to put their candidates forward for.”

CHANGING TRENDS

Over the years, the Driver CPC has represented a huge shift in terms of driver training. While responsible businesses have always recognised the value of training, Gray believes this shift has been a “tide that has raised all boats”. Companies are doing more with their available training budget and, especially where they have aligned it with their organisational goals, have seen a demonstrable return on their investments.

“This bespoke training doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive,” Gray said, “It just requires some mental effort. Companies that have involved their drivers in the creation of relevant and engaging content have reaped the greatest rewards.”

EXPANDING EDUCATION

One measure of how much Logistics UK’s Training offer has expanded over the decades is through the sheer range of courses it now offers.

The 1983 Training Prospectus contained about a dozen courses, but its current portfolio contains around 70 courses. But for Gray the number of courses offered should never be the key measure for a training provider. “Delegate satisfaction rates and exam results are the measures we closely monitor,” he said.

MULTIMODAL MATTERS

In 2018, Logistics UK acquired TrainingTeam, a specialist training business based near Gatwick Airport. Although Logistics UK has always been a provider of carrying dangerous goods by road courses (DGSA/ADR), TrainingTeam specialises in dangerous goods by air and sea, as well as aviation security.

“The acquisition has enabled us to create a Dangerous Goods Academy,” Gray said, “where we have the multimodal credentials for dangerous goods training.”

Through its subsidiary websites – GSATtraining.net and onlinedangerousgoodstraining.com – Logistics UK offers both aviation security and dangerous goods training online, plus a popular multimodal awareness course.

PANDEMIC CHALLENGE

When the COVID-19 virus started to sweep the country earlier this year, classroom training courses had to be abruptly cancelled. However, the team showed enormous resilience by adapting their popular Transport Manager CPC course content to suit the times.

“Far from being a standalone e-learning package, it is more of a ‘blended’ approach,” he said, “Candidates can be self-directed, but we also have an instructor marking the case study responses and providing coaching throughout their course.”

MAXIMISING MEMBERSHIP

Delegates on Logistics UK Transport Manager CPC courses often progress to become the primary Logistics UK contact for their business, and then represent their employer on freight councils.

“When members buy training from their trade association,” Gray said, “they trust and expect that that the service they receive will be accurate, relevant and engaging.

“For the benefit of our members, our sights remain fixed on the challenges of the future. However, milestone occasions also prompt reflection. For me, this means taking this opportunity to thank the generations of members and colleagues who have helped shape the department over four decades.”

Gray is anything but complacent, however. “With heritage comes responsibility,” he said, “Although members use us because of our standing, we never have, or will, take it for granted.”

*logistics.org.uk/training

Published On: 22/10/2020 15:31:37

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