Industry views sought on how to ‘attract, train, retain’ talent

The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for freight and logistics is asking for input from industry to inform its drafting of a new report on how diversity should be fostered within the sector’s workforce.

The announcement of the call for evidence (‘attract, train, retain’) follows a session of the APPG which brought together parliamentarians, Department for Transport officials, trade associations – including the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and Logistics UK – unions, campaign groups and logistics providers.

The event focused on topics including: the underlying causes of the lack of workforce diversity such as driver welfare issues; the critical need for a diverse workforce in the context of worsening skills shortages; and ways in which the APPG and its members could support the steps being taken to tackle these challenges.

“A report on the topic will now be drafted, using contributions during the session, along with submissions to the call for evidence,” said the APPG.

“When addressing this call for evidence, we are seeking responses on diversity with regards gender, neurodiversity, race, age, socio-economic, and career background.”

The APPG is seeking views on: which parts of the logistics sector have made the greatest progress on inclusivity and diversity, and why; where diversity is in most urgent need of improvement, and why; examples of where the sector has suffered as a result of an inability to attract a diverse workforce; barriers to entry and how they can be mitigated; and specifically, the challenges faced in retaining younger talent.

With each response, the APPG is requesting a brief explanation of the participant’s organisation, its work and whether they would like it to be mentioned in the report once launched.

The RHA said the APPG initiative was working alongside its campaigning “to bring more people into critical roles in our sector, where we will need 40,000 new lorry drivers in each of the next five years to meet national demand”.

Submissions for the call to evidence can be made via email at the APPG website until 24 July.

The APPG session was held as industry representatives gathered in Westminster for a parliamentary reception marking the third year of the Generation Logistics awareness campaign, where roads minister Lilian Greenwood MP said young logistics employees were “custodians of a sector that will help shape the future of this country”, and were “helping to change the story” of the sector.

“Your campaign has shown what we can achieve when the industry comes together,” the minister said.

“You’ve reached millions, shared impactful stories and opened doors to an often-misunderstood sector that usually operates behind the scenes…

“It is vital those in this room, and operators up and down the country, continue to push the campaign to new heights, because I am in no doubt Generation Logistics remains a leading way to shape a skilled and innovative sector, fit for the future…

“You have shown that logistics is unique. That it is a fulfilling career full of possibility.”

Logistics UK, which launched the Generation Logistics campaign alongside CILT(UK), says it has already built significant awareness among 13-24-year-olds of potential recruitment opportunities in the sector, with 1.7 million website hits and 8.2 million social media engagements.

Phil Roe, president of Logistics UK and executive sponsor of the campaign, said: “It is wonderful to hear how much of an impact the campaign has made with government, but as far as young people and their educators are concerned, the task is very much still a work in progress.

“There are still many young people, including some of those set to join the workforce this summer, who have never heard of logistics as a career, and that is why it is so important that we continue to raise awareness and cultivate the brightest and best talents for the workforce of tomorrow.

“We are set to launch our prospectus for the fourth year of the campaign very shortly, and I am keen to encourage businesses of all sizes from across the logistics spectrum to get behind Generation Logistics and become sponsors.

“Thanks to the incredible partners and sponsors that have been involved thus far, we have made great strides forwards but there is still much to be done. Our industry has exciting job opportunities to offer, but until we are considered as a career option in the same breath as jobs in retail, manufacturing, hospitality or healthcare, we will struggle to recruit the talent we need in the longer term.

“To attract and recruit the talent our industry needs is the responsibility of all of us within the sector – not just the larger businesses, but organisations of every size. Our sponsorship options can cater for companies right across the industry and I hope we can rely on the whole sector to continue its support to attract the workforce logistics needs and deserves in the years to come.”