We’re offering young people a career at the very heart of our economy
3 min read
Last year I was elected Chair of the Freight and Logistics APPG, where I’ve been working closely with the industry to tackle key issues like freight crime, driver welfare, and promoting greater diversity in the workforce.
Almost a fifth of my constituents in North Warwickshire and Bedworth work in the freight and logistics industry, which is the backbone of the local economy and vitally important for the West Midlands. This isn’t just a sector that directly contributes £127 billion to UK GDP every year; it’s no exaggeration to say it underpins our entire economy, from the products on our supermarket shelves to the components delivered to our factories and drugs supplied to our pharmacies.
Yet one of the key issues the freight sector is facing is the challenge of recruiting new workers. Despite employing a whopping 8.2% of the UK’s workforce, staff shortfalls are stalling growth, and businesses are reporting shortages of mechanics, HGV drivers, warehouse staff, van drivers, forklift operators, and transport managers. These shortages were thrown into sharp relief during the pandemic when shop shelves were left empty because drivers were ill or off the road.
Through my work championing the industry, I came across Generation Logistics, an industry-backed initiative to get more young people into freight and logistics, co-ordinated by Logistics UK and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. The scheme is also backed by more than 30 industry sponsors, including Maersk, Maritime, CEVA, Prologis, Wincanton, DHL, and GXO – all of whom have bases in my constituency.
Generation Logistics seeks to fill skills gaps in the logistics sector by highlighting to young people – aged between 13 and 24 – the exciting opportunities offered by a career in the industry. With one in eight young people currently not in education, work, or training in the UK, it’s great to see Generation Logistics proactively bridging the gap between their industry and young people who don’t quite know where to find the right opportunity for them.
It’s an initiative I believe is desperately needed. I’ve spoken to many businesses who’ve told me about the career support and progression they offer, alongside state-of-the-art facilities like new gyms, canteens serving healthy meals and spaces to deal with private matters, yet they are still struggling to recruit.
Generation Logistics works to promote careers in logistics to young people, including by challenging misconceptions about what it means to be a freight worker and showcasing the industry as a dynamic and rewarding career choice. With women currently making up less than 2% of freight drivers across the country, and only 16.6% of the broader workforce in this industry, challenging the idea that this isn’t a career for women is one of their major objectives.
Launched in August 2022, the campaign has been using online tools and mobile ad vans to target messages to young people. Their website highlights a diverse array of case studies including from Prologis and Maersk, and advertises jobs like internships, entry level roles, graduate schemes, and apprenticeships.
Beyond this, Generation Logistics has put together lesson plans and other materials to help bring logistics into the classroom, and they now have over 100 ambassadors who give careers talks and share their experiences with young people. For a constituency like mine, bringing the value of logistics into the classroom will undoubtedly be a source of pride, while allowing those who didn’t know anything about it to learn about all the opportunities they have close to home.
Generation Logistics has already won 14 awards and held its first Generation Logistics Week last year, which I know was hugely popular with students and teachers. I’m excited to see what they do next, and I’ll be continuing to promote their good work in Parliament and my constituency.
Rachel Taylor MP, West Midlands Mission Delivery Champion
