The RHDTC has recently granted Skills for Logistics (SfL) additional funding of over £400,000 over two years, which will be spent on developing further curriculum resources and careers materials.  These resources will be used in schools across the UK to raise the awareness of the sector with young people, in order to increase the number of new recruits in the future.

SfL, supported by the RHDTC, has already designed curriculum materials to support Maths and Enterprise teaching in secondary schools.  Its ‘Made in China’** resource is currently being piloted by a number of schools across the UK, with a view to it being rolled-out in the 2008-09 academic year.  This curriculum development work is complemented by the production of careers materials, which highlight the many exciting and varied opportunities that the logistics sector has to offer. 

SfL will continue to work with young people in schools over the next two years in order to address the fact that;

• Currently only 11% of the logistics workforce in the UK is aged between 16 and 24
• Less than 8% aged between 16 and 24 work in road haulage.
  

“SfL aims to raise awareness of the exciting career opportunities logistics has to offer by producing innovative careers and curriculum related materials.  These resources will not only present a strong and appealing image of the sector but will also demonstrate how vital the industry is; one which affects everyone’s lives, everyday.  The aim of all of our work with young people is to encourage them to take in an interest in the industry and consider it a viable career option, commented John Bowman, Skills Director at SfL.

“We are delighted that the RHDTC has offered its continued commitment to the development of these materials and are helping us target the workforce of the future,” he concluded.

The additional funding will enable SfL to roll-out the ‘Made in China’ materials to more schools across the UK and create additional materials targeted at pupils aged 11 to 14 and 16 to 18 year olds.  In addition, specific careers materials will be created and made available to those involved in career development of young people.