It has been clearly identified that there is a skills shortfall at some management levels. Three clear issues have been identified:
- Limited and inconsistent progression opportunities for people from operatives into management
- Limited success in attracting graduates into logistics
- Skills gaps among junior and middle managers
Current level 2 and level 3 qualifications aimed at operatives in the industry focus too much on the craft or technical skills associated with their jobs (how to be a driver) and not enough on the core or behavioural skills such as customer service, communications and interpersonal skills. More balanced programmes addressing both craft and core skills needs will result in improved performance by the operatives and will also prepare those that want to move into management and close the gap.
Too often, when people become junior managers they are then given generic 'management training' which addresses the core skills but neglects the craft skills associated with managing a logistics operation. Once again, this balance needs to be addressed, both for managers developed within the organisation and for graduate entrants.
There is a need for this more focused management development to be particularly directed at smaller and medium-sized firms (SME's) through publicly available programmes. SME's face a difficult and uncertain future if they cannot develop a longer-term vision of where they are going and a more positive approach to professional development. Without leadership from the top, there is little chance that lower level and more specific skills needs can be identified and met.
So what's being done?
- Focus will be placed on the skills mix for those at operative level. Traditionally more emphasis has been placed on craft skills in these jobs making progression to supervisory and managerial roles more difficult due to a lack of more generic core skills.
- The Professional Development Stairway can be used to idenfity the mix of core and craft skills necessary at every level in a logistics career. At every level in The Stairway the appropriate mix of core & craft skills focus will be reflected in both qualifications and programmes.
