Speaking at the Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport (CILT) Annual President’s Inauguration lunch, Beverley Bell FCILT, Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain and new president of the CILT in the UK expressed the need to raise the profile of the industry to attract more young people to join the profession.
Beverly said it was necessary to challenge stereotypes, raise the industry’s profile and take a look at the skills gap in the logistics and transport profession.
The CILT event was attended by nearly 90 senior members and special guests. Beverley highlighted that the supply chain, transport and logistics industry contributes £92bn to the UK economy.
The new CILT president emphasised the disproportionate nature of the industry’s contribution to the economy and society at large in comparison to the profile and recognition the industry receives. She acknowledged that more should be done as an industry to champion drivers in the field who are doing their day jobs and emphasised that the industry should celebrate the successes it achieves every day. stating that
“The young people of our industry are the heroes,” she said. “We all need to do more to recognise and develop that.”
Addressing the challenges that both the industry and Institute must address, Beverley outlined the themes of her Presidency:
- Skills gap – By 2020 the logistics and transport industry will need another 1.2 million workers and must work harder in order to recruit such a significant increase in workforce;
- Training – The industry must invest in its employees. The industry’s record of training people is poor and that needs to be addressed; and
- Revenue – the Institute must increase membership as well as increase training services.
Beverley commented that she was privileged to take on the role of President for 2015-2016 and she also thanked outgoing President Jim Spittle FCILT for doing a ‘great job.’ She said he would be a hard act to follow.
