WarehousingIreland.ie – Outgoing UKWA chairman warns of skills of shortage

Outgoing UKWA chairman warns of skills of shortage

Jul 17, 2011 Warehousing Ireland News 0

In his last official duty as chairman of the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) Derrick Potter has called on companies operating in the logistics industry to increase their investment in training if the sector is to avoid a skills shortage in the future.

Speaking at the UKWA’s AGM, held recently at London’s Dorchester Hotel, Derrick Potter commented: “I believe most employers understand the importance of developing the skills of their workforce but, generally, supply chain companies have been slow to invest and, as result, the Sector Skills Council for our industry – Skills for Logistics – faces a funding challenge.

“With an ageing workforce and a perception among those currently in education that logistics does not offer an attractive career path, the sector may well find itself facing a skills shortage in the near future. It is therefore vitally important that we begin to attract young people and bring a greater diversity of skills into the sector.

“One of UKWA’s key objectives over the coming years will be to encourage members to engage with Skills for Logistics to develop logistics related apprenticeship schemes that will attract Government funding.”

After four years, Derrick Potter’s reign as chairman of UKWA ended at the Association’s AGM. Derrick is succeeded by John Maguire, sales and marketing director of Flexi Narrow Aisle Ltd.

One of the most influential figures in the UK logistics industry, Derrick Potter is founder and executive chairman of The Potter Group, which provides a complete range of logistics services and solutions. He is also a director of the Rail Freight Group, a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Transport Administration and a member of the Advisory Forum of the University of Hull Logistics Institute.Founded in 1944, UKWA has over 600 members providing storage and third party logistics services, and represents the industry to both commerce and government.