Sector Skills Agreements (SSAs) are intended to operate, as formal and public documents, that:

Form an agreement between employers within the sector to undertake collective action to invest in skills, improve the supply of skills and raise productivity

Operate between Skills for Logistics and partner organisations that need to act in various ways to fulfil the Agreement

Operate between each sector and Government, which will use various means to support implementation.

Work in Northern Ireland has now been completed on the first four stages of the Logistics SSA.

Download the Northern Ireland SSA here (Stages 1-3)

Download the Northern Ireland SSA here (Stage 5 Action plans)

Sectoral Development Branch encourages the Sector Skills Councils and other relevant organisations in Northern Ireland to positively impact on their sector by providing support to them to undertake specific projects that meet the skills needs of their particular sector. Within the document below is a list of the projects running in March 2010. More detail can be found from the individual SSC on how projects are progressing.

Download the list of Sectoral Development Branch Funded Projects

In Northern Ireland we have established a skills forum where employers will either meet or communicate electronically to explore areas of common interest regarding skills.

These will become a robust and respected source of information regarding the sector and a means of identifying and spreading good practice regarding skills development.
Join the Northern Ireland Employer forum

The logistics industry faces a major challenge from September 2009 when the European Driver Training Directive comes into UK law. This will require each professional driver to hold a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) and undergo five days of training every five years. We estimate this will mean an additional 500,000 training days per year split pro-rata across the four nations.
Find out more about the Driver CPC

1/10/2009 - Skills for Logistics congratulates Top Irish Training Operator - Norfolkline

Download this press release

19/8/2009 - Northern Ireland Further Education prepares to deliver logistics

Download this press release

A profile providing comprehensive information on the size and scope of the logistics sector, the current issues facing the sector in terms of recruitment, workforce skills and training.
Download the Labour Market Profile for Northern Ireland

TOP TRAINING OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2010 - This award will be presented to the company who operates the highest standards of in-house training programmes developed in line with both Government directives and leading edge training providers. For further information and entry details please contact Geraldine Quinn

There is a wide range of careers available in the sector, from managerial positions to driving roles. Access to the sector is possible at all qualification levels. A warehouse assistant could enter with no qualifications, while driving positions require appropriate driving licences and managerial positions require at least a NVQ equivalent Level 3.

Download the logistics sector fact sheet for Northern Ireland

The Stairway provides a common platform for employers, employees and stakeholders to manage career development. It enables a variety of tasks to be carried out relating to skills development, recruitment and selection and staff appraisals

In Northern Ireland, Skills for Logistics have accessed funding from Department for Education and Learning (DEL) to implement the stairway. If you are interested in finding out more or getting involved in the project contact Geraldine Quinn.

Find out more