Proteus WMS is working with Solihull Council and Business on the Move to inspire careers in logistics

It is well known that few young people see logistics and supply chain as their first-choice career. When coupled with the fact that the average age of a logistician is thirty-eight, it’s clear to see a skills shortage is looming for the sector in the very near future.

Solihull Council is working with local companies and schools in an effort to help rectify the problem. In conjunction with Proteus Software an event has been organised on Tuesday 19^th July in the Learning Hub at Birmingham Airport which will showcase the world of logistics for school pupils from Key Stage 2 through to Key Stage 5.

Teams of pupils will compete against each other by playing Business on the Move, an educational board game designed to enable young people to learn about logistics and global supply chains while demonstrating the skills needed in today’s business world.

By playing the game pupils learn how supply chains work from the point of order to end-user delivery, making business choices and solving problems along the way. The most profitable business at the end of the game will be the winner. Every participating school will be given a set of games so that they can continue to play the game and learn in a classroom environment, these have been generously donated by ProLogis.

Business professionals from John Lewis, ZF Lemforder, Royal Bank of Scotland and other companies will be involved in the game on each table to advise and pass on their experiences in the logistics world.

Linda Rodway of Proteus Software remarked, “Most people working in logistics will tell you that it is something that they fell into, rather than chose to do. Once in the industry however people tend to stay, saying that it is the best thing that they ever have done. The choice of career is wide ranging, covering all aspects of the Logistics and Supply Chain Industry from Fork Lift truck drivers to Consultants, Warehouse pickers to Operations Directors, HGV drivers to Marketing Managers.”

Peter Ward, UKWA CEO, will open the event with a talk about what it means to be involved in the world of logistics. The pupils will also hear from Mike Daly, non- executive director of Clipper Logistics who will share his fascinating logistics life story from “Rags to Riches”, and from Haydn Sandvig of Logistics Learning Alliance who will tell them about his interesting role in humanitarian logistics.

This event forms part of a wider programme of activities for young people in Solihull under the umbrella ‘Life Ready’. Life Ready is a framework, designed by local Head Teachers and senior teaching staff in Solihull, to support schools and colleges (from Foundation level up to Key Stage 5) in developing independent, life ready young adults and to help raise the standards of careers guidance.

Proteus Software UK Sales Leader Chris Warren expressed his delight that there is so much interest in the event by local schools and businesses. Chris said, “We are very pleased to be able to make a contribution towards the enlightenment of youngsters regarding the Logistics and Supply Chain field. We are positive that this event will encourage some children into a career that they may not have considered before; from my experience a career that can prove both very interesting and rewarding.”