Recruitment and retention have become a growing challenge within the logistics and removals sector. The rapid growth and increased demand for skilled workers frequently leave the hands-on industry understaffed, creating barriers to entry for many young people across the UK.
New research outlines the full extent of the issue, a growing reliance on skilled members of the workforce leads some organisations to prioritise short-term solutions over long-term investment.
Practices like competitor poaching and temporary staffing have disincentivised recruiting and training up new fulltime staff (Occy). Simon Hood, Executive Director of John Mason International, explains how such practices are magnifying the problem:
“By poaching staff we’re preventing young people forging a career in the industry. For too long, the removals and logistics sector has failed to invest in young people and talent. Rather than pass our knowledge on to the next generation, we’re operating in an increasingly small talent pool.”
To solve the issue, Simon argues apprenticeship schemes are the only solution: “Apprenticeship schemes are the way forward, introducing more young people into the sector is not only good for us but good for the economy. Providing a solid foundation for workers to learn and become skilled in the sector is our only long-term solution.”
Simon’s organisation, John Mason International, is at the forefront of driving this change, offering a range of apprenticeship schemes that cover specialties from removals to international freight.
One of their newest apprentices, 18-year-old Sonny Harrison, shared what the scheme means to him: “I’ll be in college one day a week during my apprenticeship – so they can see where I’m up to and how I’m getting along. These qualifications will help me get to where I want to be – I’m doing this so going forward I can do whatever I want to do and be whoever I want to be.”
David Romanowski, 20, who transitioned to a full-time role at John Mason after his apprenticeship reflected on his personal experience: “I was looking for job after dropping out of university and it was quite difficult at that time to find employment. Lots of workplaces tend to describe their team as one big family. When I used to work at a retailer on the shop floor, they used to say it all the time, but here [John Mason] it very much does feel like one. We can rely on and support one another.”
Ian, President of the British Association of Removals (BAR), adds: “I firmly believe that businesses in our sector must fully engage with bespoke apprenticeship standards, covering a broad range of disciplines across operational, administrational and sales roles and which properly invest in career development opportunities for our staff.
“It is imperative if we as an industry are to successfully compete with other sectors to resolve the skills gap that currently exists. I am delighted to see that Kohn Mason International, one of our most prominent members, has embraced that ethos and I wish them, and of course their apprentices, every continued success.”
The group, who launched their scheme ‘BAR Young Movers’ in 2017, aim to actively introduce more young people into the removals and storage industry. Through peer networking and learning driven as a key focus of their apprenticeships, the group intend to pass industry business knowledge onto the next generation whilst setting them up with skills and relationships to last the length of their career.
Simon continues: “Promoting our industry and ensuring young people can come through the ranks to achieve a long-lasting and rewarding career has been a challenge.
“But as a sector, expanding the use of apprenticeship schemes means we’re finally on the right track to drive real change in the workforce.”
For more information on John Mason International and the services they provide please see here.
