IOC Tracey Worth chairs diversity for DfT STAT group, the strategic transport apprenticeship taskforce. ‘We must tackle the lack of diversity in our sector, our task is to raise awareness, encourage a new demographic, build an alliance, I ask you to sign our pledge today.’
Phil Martin DfT Head of Freight Policy 'We know from research that companies with more diverse workforces outperform their rivals and are more profitable. It’s time for transport and logistics to unlock that potential.'
Tracey was at Portcullis House, Westminster for 29th May, standing room only reception to ask for data, fill in the new inclusion survey, take a Post-It note today and write one ‘want to do to make change.’ Tracey added, sign the pledge of equality in our sector today.
Portcullis was a hot house of diverse workforce leaders in logistics, rich in operators, apprentices and next generation, it was an exchange of best practice with reception sponsored by Jacqui O’Donovan.
Tracey Worth, ‘Millennials: 37% of your next employees will look at your diversity & Inclusion policy before making a job application to your company.’ My impact change today is to bring you four inspirational key speakers. HS2 , Diamond Logistics, Whistl and Kuehne & Nagel. K&N bringing their own undergraduate apprentice Rasa Savickaite.
The four key speakers, our disciples in equality, they are here today to talk to you, help you make your journey.
Alistair Cochrane Whistl - ‘Diversity is about what you have, Inclusion is about what you do.’
Alistair Cochrane
The one thing to capture is inviting diversity to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance. - ‘What is diversity? Race, sexual orientation, social class, ethical values, national origin, political beliefs.’ Fostering breadth in diversity is about encompassing the companies true potential.’ ‘Inclusion is about welcoming diversity, Inclusion is about what you do.’ Looking at Whistl, 1751 staff, 38 Nationalities, 37% female. Operational roles have a high percentage of EU Nationals. Data is still the biggest challenge to determine other demographics. Whistl are members of the disability confident scheme. The scheme offers guidance and assistance. Whistl had our first mental health week this year, we are not hiding mental health, we are taking it out with communication to the workforce. Whistl are out there and talking the talk, one thing to take away today, establish belonging, a top-down approach, quotas don’t automate inclusion, minimise fear, maximise joy.
Kate Lester Diamond Logistics, ‘At Diamond, Diversity starts with equality, it's about contribution.’
Kate Lester
‘Over twenty-seven years ago I joined the logistics world, it was an old school boys club.’ Where does that leave us? Kate talked middle-aged white male boards in logistics. Only 24% of our sector is female, Team Diamond has parity of numbers in gender count, a majority female board. Age is no barrier in our business, parenthood does not inhibit ability to work with us, it's about contribution. Our core value, people at our heart. Diamond delivers, values of shared success, a company to work with, trust and belong to. We enable our team to fulfil their own ambitions, at Diamond diversity starts with equality. Its about future proofing your business, recruiting the best. Logistics is not a sector people dream of joining. If your business is fun and inspiring then you can massively expand the team and build growth. Live equality, breath it, mean it. Equality is good for business.
Mark Lomas HS2
We are running out of talent fast. Diversity is about sustaining the cycle’ Research shows a diverse workforce makes a company more profitable, research shows inclusive work sites are safer. Arrive to find a site safety notice in English, the person who speaks the best English translates to the next person, who then waterfalls that translation to others. HS2 employees thousands of people up and down the UK but it's also the businesses we work with. Looking at career choices, construction and rail is low on the desire list of young talent. How did we get there? We face a situation where the workforce is ageing and leaving, we don’t have replacements. We are running out of talent fast. Diversity is about sustaining the cycle. Let's talk women in construction, we did a survey, the number one reason for not returning to the sector was not finding a role flexible enough. HS2 are working on flexibility, construction sites work in shift patterns. Let me finish on, ‘Don’t leave it, you will be left behind.’
Claire Piotrowski and placement student, Rasa Savickaite, Kuehne & Nagel
We need to work externally to attract the next generation of talent to join us. Kuehne & Nagel have over 80 thousand global employees but we don’t have all the answers, I want to talk growing in strength. Right person in the right place at the right time to make the right contribution. We are facing a reducing workforce, lowest unemployment since 1975. Immigration slowed, UK birth rates down. At K&N we have internships, apprenticeships and partnerships, working with DWP and Novus. Fining routes of new engagement. Claire talked board game, ‘Business on the Move,’ bringing the sector to life for younger individuals. It helps explain what we do in logistics. Rasa, a supply chain student undergrad approaching her third year. 'I joined for the opportunity, strong support, a great mentor, I benefit from great networking events like this one today.'
Tracey Worth - Who are we and what do we do?
Today is about taking away and doing that one thing, start your journey today, sign the pledge commitment board for diversity today, here before you leave. Placing 86 employer commitments here today.
Tracey explained, this is the DfT STAT Year of Diversity for logistics and transport. ‘STAT is a voluntary, cross-sector industry body that has been given the responsibility for promoting awareness and access to apprenticeships, sector diversity and promoting transport as a career.’ Today you are asked to sign a pledge and help build a toolkit for the future of inclusion in our sector.
Our aim for the Year of Diversity is:
o To create a network of transport people who are committed to tackling the lack of diversity within the sector
o Create a culture where diversity is celebrated, and inclusion is the standard
o To raise awareness of the practices and activities organisations can engage in to increase diversity
o To encourage new demographics of employees to join the sector
o To build a cross-sector alliance of employers who have signed the pledge and will act of agents of change in the industry
o To implement and share learnings industry-wide
Tracey Worth, ‘Adding value to your logistics company with inclusion of workforce. Think millennials and your next generation workforce, diversity & inclusion is cultural changing and makes your future workforce.’ Key points for you to take away - Ask your workshops to make D&I a pathway for your logistics workforce success. ‘Creating ambition in freight workforce. Understanding representation, mirroring society, staff retention. Do one thing and champion diversity in your business.’ All hot topics.
May 29th STAT photo Gallery
First to sign the pledge – Alistair Cochrane & event sponsor Jaquie O'Donovan
HS2 Mark Lomas keynote delivery
Kuehne & Nagel keynote
DfT Katherine DeMarco – City of London, Caroline Dwyer.
IOC chair Carl Lomas with Diamond Logistics Kate Lester & Wincanton Helen McGraw
STAT full house at Portcullis for Diversity event
Jacqui O’Donovan and Tracey Worth with Year of Diversity signed pledge
Rosie Bailey CitySprint Head of Customer Relationships
Christine Hurlgrave Skanska
DfT STAT meeting
Strategic taskforce for apprenticeships in transport
IOC CEO Tracey Worth was with Mike Brown for the DfT STAT, strategic transport apprenticeship taskforce meeting this week. Mike Brown ‘We are seeing good progress in the increase of diversity and inclusion; it's really important. How do we understand apprentices and frame this industry as welcoming to all?’ The STAT team are all-set for 'meet the minister' date next week at Portcullis House. Longer term, they have set the date for the annual STAT review. Improvements in the diversity of our sector across all modals has improved, especially in engineering roles. STAT continue to provide support to employers in discussion with the IFA highlighting issues through the trailblazer quals.
Set the diary for July 10th
10th July - save this date for the launch of the STAT annual report. The event will be hosted by Mike Brown (Commissioner, Transport for London and Chair of STAT). Showcasing Apprenticeship winners from across the sector of logistics.
Join STAT Diversity at IMHX in the NEC this year.
Our final event will focus on the future at the end of the year, putting it in place.
Tracey Worth – Year of diversity in Transport
‘We are here to Shout about Diversity in Transport.’
‘Sign a pledge and build a toolkit.’
DfT, ‘Year of Diversity’ for transport and logistics. ‘ We are here to shout out about and to engage with the individuals who represent the transport industry, multi-modal. Road, Ports, Airports and Rail. In today’s environment, 37% of millennials will review your Diversity and Inclusion policy before making an application for a job. 37% of OUR workforce could be lost from the sector.
Tracey explains,
Our commitment is to provide more opportunities for apprenticeships within our sectors. To offer access to all and welcome everyone to take up the opportunity of a career within our industry. This is the beginning; the Year of Diversity for transport and logistics and we need your help. We need you to help make tangible changes in our industry.
In the STAT Diversity Portcullis House event, May 29th Tracey Worth commented,
You are here to support, to engage and leave this event with a task, a job to do! That task is to ask yourself – What one thing can I do – that will make a change to the way you and or your company engage with diversity and inclusion policies.
Today we ask you to sign the pledge, commit to making a difference in your role, in your business.
Embrace Diversity and Inclusion as a pathway not a goal.
Our aim for the Year of Diversity is:
o To create a network of transport people who are committed to tackling the lack of diversity within the sector
o Create a culture where diversity is celebrated, and inclusion is the standard
o To raise awareness of the practices and activities organisations can engage in to increase diversity
o To encourage new demographics of employees to join the sector
o To build a cross-sector alliance of employers who have signed the pledge and will act of agents of change in the industry
o To implement and share learnings industry-wide
What one thing can you do?
We want to create toolkits to help all of us achieve these aims
Firstly we need to collect data, know where we are now and you all can help in this. A survey link will be sent to you and we hope, well I actually expect you all to complete the survey. Tell us as much as you can, share your learnings and play an active part.
Secondly, By signing the pledge you have said you are interested and you have made a commitment to supporting diversity, but we need you to take that next step and decide on an action. Take a post it note and tell us what you think you can do. Ensure we have your contact details and we will be in touch to discuss how we can support you on that journey.
In today’s environment, 37% of millennials will review your Diversity and Inclusion policy before making an application for a job. 37%.
If WE do not change that’s 37% of OUR workforce lost.
