Excellence in logistics
October 01st 2005 Northampton College, together with a number of partner colleges and companies across the East Midlands, has won funding from the European Social Fund to offer specific training for the Logistics Industry. The contract worth at least £475,000 over the next 2 years gives a kick start to skills training in the East Midlands.
It is well recognised within the industry that Drivers, Transport Office and Warehouse staff, and their managers lack formal qualifications.
Many have worked their way up into senior positions but have never had any formal training. Many operatives could improve performance by some training towards a nationally recognised standard.
Peter Ellement, the Project Manager explained ‘This project aims to kick start this training by offering pilot schemes across the industry of 10 or less employees on a site, at no cost, with a view to convincing management of the benefits of having a more highly skilled workforce.’
‘Most partners are also offering additional places at a reduced rate.’
The courses are NVQ’s in Driving Goods Vehicles, Warehouse and Storage, and Traffic Office, and they are available at operative level and also at supervisor level for employees in those roles. Beneficiaries, must be over 25, employed in the industry, and keen to gain a qualification.
Our experience over three years at the college of offering Logistics Qualifications, including the Professional Qualifications of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, is that businesses benefit in a practical and economic way from these types of training.
This is a scheme with financial benefits, not only in terms of subsidy to employers of the cost of training; but those trained offer improved productivity and improved motivation to their employers.
We have a number of case studies over the last 3 years that show that starting one of these schemes on your site will-
Your opportunity to recognise well motivated employees and encourage them to progress with a formal qualification toward a more senior role.
The project operates in Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Rutland, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, with locally based partner training organisations delivering to your employees locally. We have 9 partners; some colleges and some private companies, but all are excellent in their provision of Logistics Training.
We will assess all potential beneficiaries and their co-workers for Basic Skills, and will introduce them for help if required at no further cost.
We aim to develop into the one stop shop for Logistics training in the East Midlands over the next 3 years.
For more information contact Peter Ellement. Milt Logistics Development Manager at Northampton College on 01604 736261 More articles from Northampton College: | 
