Government Youth Employment Drive "A Lifeline For The Next Generation"
Logistics UK
Business group Logistics UK says that the government's employment drive to support young people into work, announced today (16 March) is a "lifeline for the next generation". According to Ben Fletcher, the group's CEO, the funding will enable logistics businesses across the country to attract the new talent they need and ensure a pipeline of talented young people to futureproof such a vital industry.
"Young people are vital to the continued success of our sector," he says, "and today's announcement will ensure that they are supported in considering the meaningful, long-term roles that logistics businesses can offer them. The options include apprenticeships to help them earn while they learn and guaranteed employment through the expansion of the Jobs Guarantee scheme.
"At the same time, the new funding will encourage employers from across the sector – many of whom have struggled to recruit as a result of squeezed incomes, lower margins and a downturn in trade – to take on young people and insure their talent pipelines for the long term. Logistics is at the heart of all activity across the economy – nothing moves without the work of our member businesses – and it is vital that they can draw on the talents of young people to ensure that the right talent is available to their businesses.
"Many logistics businesses have been operating on incredibly narrow margins for some time, making new recruitment a pipedream. Today's announcement will help turn the recruitment tide to a positive and provide a real lifeline for the next generation of logistics workers, as well as businesses of all sizes across our sector. "
Under the funding plans announced today, an additional £1 billion has been invested in grants to unlock over 200,000 paid jobs for young people, providing , employer hiring incentives and an expansion of the Jobs Guarantee from 18-21 to 18-24. In addition, the government has published the first list of new Apprenticeship Units, to enable the training of people in at all stages in their career in skills identified as vital by Skills England.
"The introduction of the first Apprenticeship Units also responds to a longstanding need amongst businesses in our rapidly changing sector to be able to use the Levy to fund flexible, shorter courses on subjects such as AI and working with electric vehicle infrastructure. We look forward to continuing to engage with Skills England as this new suite of courses expands to cover more of the skills gaps across the economy."
"There is still detail to be examined," continues Mr Fletcher, "but the indications are that the combination of funding streams and Apprenticeship Units will enable businesses of all sizes from across the sector to capitalise on the opportunity to employ the next generation at a time when our industry is looking to drive growth right across the economy. Losing the Operations Manager apprenticeship standard will be a blow for those looking to step up in the next few years, but the overall picture is positive. It is now in the hands of the sector to take full advantage of the opportunities that today's announcement will create, to provide roles and training for the next generation of logistics talent, and ensure the industry can take on the brightest and best in the coming months and years."
Further Information
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-employment-drive-to-help-unlock-200000-new-jobs-and-apprenticeships-for-next-generation
About Logistics UK
Logistics UK is one of the UK's biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods.
With decarbonisation, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk
