2012, a record year, pallet volumes just shy of 16 million.
Association of Pallet Networks
March 2013, Morrisons, last major supermarket to announce entry into home deliver.
Senior logistics industry individuals often talk of how they fell into logistics, many have degrees, none with the sector title of logistics. There is no graduate route into our sector. Large companies with graduate entry typically recruit geography, language or business studies graduates. An increasing number of masters quals in supply chain have a growing logistics content. MBA quals are seen more regularly in senior roles in the sector. Retail shift from High street to home delivery is driving volumes and reliant on latest technology to minimise stock at warehouse and route at speeds near to same day delivery.
In global logistics language is often viewed as the greatest need at senior level. Maths is always on the list. Fuel cost accounts more than 30 per cent of delivery, fleet optimisation, routeing and efficiency directly saves cost and all fuel saving is carbon dioxide green as Euro V1 regulations arrive.
Carl Lomas IOC chairman...
To attract a new management workforce able to deliver gain form latest technology the sector needs clever individuals, competent and loaded with sector specific knowledge.
IOC have begun data collection on a wish list for the content of a specific logistics qualification.
Data recruited at senior level during the March S4L sector group meeting for Mail & Courier.
What would you wish to see in a degree level qualification for logistics ?
The lines below are summarised extracts from individual lists.
- Maths always scores high, law related to transport operations and particularly compliance qualifications (CPC) certificate of professional competence.
- Maths & written English, CPC & Transport law, plus leadership and management.
- Transport law, routing and traffic planning, Buis studies, corporate law.
- Transport compliance law, CPC, commercial acumen, supply chain management, procurement
- Freight knowledge for both air and sea., buis studies, accounts and finance.
- Legislation, purpose and compliance, professional quals of cpc, also global market awareness
- Maths, transport compliance law, excellence in communications, IT, customer service.
- Maths, health & safety, transport law, IT
Ever more senior managers have taken a masters to progress the senior stairway of the sector. Hull focus on ports, Westminster on air. NSAL have worked with Coventry for a new foundation degree. Hull College are re launching their Foundation degree on the Open University. Huddersfield are set to deliver the first logistics degree Sept 2013 with job focus from engaged courier companies. The academic scene is changing.
This generation of logisticians will face change never before seen in the sector.
A revolution in technology has brought need for skills never before seen in the logistics sector
