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Logistics can learn from other industries to tackle talent crisis

[ May 10, 2019   //   ]

The logistics industry can tackle its labour issues by learning from other industries and refreshing its image, a banking expert will tell delegates to this year’s Multimodal 2019.

HSBC global head of resourcing and onboarding, Hamish Nisbet (pictured, below left), will join Dr Naomi Irvine (below, right), Director, Naomi Irvine, Ian Nichol, head of logistics at Career Ready and Leigh Anderson, managing director, Bis Henderson Recruitment, to discuss the importance of investing in recruitment and marketing the positive career paths to be found in the transport and logistics arena.

The panel of will share their insights and ideas on how the sector can take a fresh look at its approach to encourage a turn-around, both in the numbers, and quality of job applicants.

“There is nothing a company does that is more important than recruiting and developing its people, and yet all too often we forget to consider how we can invest in our talent pipeline, and how the next generation of recruits sees our sectors,” said Nisbet. “Just like the logistics industry, finance faces image issues when it comes to attracting and retaining staff and it takes investment and often a shift of focus, to solve a labour crisis.”

The Labour Crisis panel will take place on 18 June, the first day of the show’s three-day education programme, which this year shines the spotlight on positivity, collaboration and the next generation of logistics leaders.

A special session on day three of the exhibition will offer secondary school students first-hand experience of the depth and breadth of the industry.

“Financial services, science, technology, health and construction, in our experience, are much more proactive than logistics and as such they are recruiting the best talent by offering students more work placements and paid internships,” said Nichol. “It is essential that the logistics sector is more proactive in engaging directly with young people in schools and colleges, if it is to address the challenges of skills shortages and an ageing workforce.”

The missed opportunity of ignoring the benefits of a diverse and inclusive approach to potential employees will also be highlighted.

“Business leaders need to create a culture where difficult and important issues are confronted with openness and readiness for change, because often diversity and inclusion efforts can ‘miss the point’ by focussing only on upskilling an underrepresented group,” said Irvine. “If your organisation is open to diversity and inclusion, this will help to tackle the skills shortage by providing you with a pipeline of people you might not previously have considered, and who might not normally consider you. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,” added Irvine.

Voting has now opened for the FTA Multimodal Awards which recognise companies and individuals that have made exceptional contributions in categories such as Young Logistics Professional of the Year and Operator of the Year, across every sector.

 Thee FTA Multimodal awards ceremony also features a gala dinner, which Steve Davis, snooker legend, will be hosting this year. To vote, visit www.multimodal.org.uk/awards/awards-list; voting ends on 31 May.

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