On World Youth Skills Day (15 July), the Daily Update explored the current landscape for jobs and skill development, as well as the newest set of qualifications released by the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade’s apprenticeship arm, IOEx Ltd.
Skills shortages
Concerns have been raised about the UK’s existing skills gap, with research suggesting that by 2030 a sizeable minority of UK workers (20%) will be ‘significantly under skilled’ for their roles.
Among the complicating factors are the rapid increase in digital requirements for many roles and increased worker shortages in a number of sectors following the UK’s exit from the EU.
This is particularlyapplicable to the supply chain and logistics sector, with Logistics UK highlighting skills shortages and the breadth of roles available across the area in its most recent report.
In particular, trade-related roles have experienced an uptick in vacancies across England and Scotland post-pandemic, with heads of procurement and warehouse management up 10.6% and 15.7%, respectively. Warehouse manager roles were seeing a 1.2% and 4.2% increase in vacancies, respectively.
Logistics UK writes that ensuring vacancies are filled with appropriately trained staff is vital for increased economic growth, with the sector increasing in value in response to the growth of e-commerce.
Regional development
Providing hands-on skills aligned with productive and fast-growing sectors has been identified as a template for greater nationwide economic growth.
Andy Burnham, who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, noted that control of education and skills was a point of consensus among all 12 regional mayors that attended a meeting with new PM Sir Keir Starmer last week.
“The single biggest risk to the government’s growth ambition is a schools system overly focused on the university route and an incoherent and fragmented skills landscape beyond it.”
Burnham noted that two thirds of young people don’t follow the higher education route, meaning the ability to tailor education to both their needs and the demands of local industry would offer students “an education system that works for them”.
The Chartered Institute
Combining on-the-job training with educational modules, apprenticeships aim to provide learners with the skills needed to succeed in their chosen career.
Recognising the need to provide industry with the skills to support trade and offer those entering the sector the best start, the Chartered Institute’s apprenticeship delivery wing, IOEx, has launched a suite of new qualifications.
Following the introduction of the Freight Forwarder qualification earlier this year, IOEx has introduced apprenticeships to support those developing their career in the logistics sector, including in-demand leadership roles, such as operational or departmental manager and team leader or supervisor.
For those earlier in their careers, there’s also a Supply Chain Warehouse Operative qualification, designed to provide learners with the skills necessary to thrive as part of a team working in a warehouse environment.
To learn more about apprenticeship qualifications delivered by IOEx, you can contact apprenticeships@export.org.uk.