Why employers should take on an apprentice when they are at their busiest. Adrian Grove, business development director, Qube Learning explains.
Dover, UK: “The old saying goes that ‘If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it’ and it reflects on just how much more focused, efficient, and organised we can find ourselves being at busy times. For many employers in the cold chain industry, although it might feel counter-intuitive, the best time to take on an apprentice is when the supply chain is under the most pressure.
The cold chain industry is a multi-billion-pound business in the UK and is a vital pillar of several sectors including agriculture and food production, manufacturing, and retail. To put it in context, the UK frozen and chilled food industry is estimated to be worth more than £19 billion.
The last 18 months have driven a marked shift in how people buy groceries; consumer demand for food products have changed, and the closure of restaurants and bars has meant that supply chains are becoming difficult to predict and more complex overall. In addition, the recent global pandemic hasn’t only increased our reliance on the cold chain industry for food supply, but critically, for pharmaceuticals too – and in 2021 this includes the essential Covid 19 vaccines that are both transported and stored at cold temperatures.
Added to this is the impact of Brexit, which came into force mid-pandemic. The Road Haulage Association has warned that many delivery/HGV drivers returned to their countries of origin during the pandemic with large numbers not expected to return due to stricter visa regulations post-Brexit. This is also the case for other roles within the cold chain industry, including warehouse operatives and packers, for example.
Bloomberg also reported last month that almost a third of British logistics companies expect to face driver shortages this year, and 10% say recruitment issues will pose an “extreme barrier” to the recovery of their business from the pandemic.
Consequently, the cold chain industry, and the logistics sector generally are under more pressure than ever before, and from several different angles. But it is possible to take advantage of the growing pressure points by growing your logistics team from the ground up and meeting demand whilst educating the next generation of workers.
According to the government’s Logistics Evidence Report, the logistics sector employs one in 12 people in the UK, across a range of roles and skill sets, from warehouse operatives and drivers to systems analysts and robotics engineers. This is a huge industry for the UK, and as such logistics is an appealing and secure sector for potential candidates. But are there enough apprentice level opportunities to welcome in the much-needed new workforce?
Many cold chain industry employers seem reluctant to start an apprentice programme because they perceive it to be too complicated, too much work or are simply overwhelmed by the paperwork. But this is exactly when and where they need all hands-on deck to ensure the future workforce is equipped and experienced enough to carry business through the end of the pandemic and into the future.
Apprentices help to secure the long-term future of the workforce through specialised industry training, filling the roles and requirements currently experiencing a shortage – with massive government funding schemes available to support employers in paying their wages. Apprenticeships are, simply put, good for business. This is a fresh new candidate, willing and eager to be moulded in your required area of skill and expertise, to deliver the precise abilities your business needs to grow.
Qube Learning is able to help employers with apprentice recruitment, from handling the paperwork and funding applications to sourcing suitable local candidates for the roles on offer. Learning providers like us provide highly effective industry training, delivered in partnership with employers and which relate to both the employer’s and apprentice’s priorities.
Apprenticeships are designed to enhance an individual’s level of professional confidence by developing their practical skills – ideal for the cold chain sector where employers can identify specific roles that need filling now, or which are likely to experience a shortage in the near future.
To ensure that apprentices qualify fully equipped for their chosen field and that their employers can be confident in the training and progression, apprenticeships each have a set of ‘Standards’ to complete. Throughout the apprenticeship, candidates monitor their learning against these Standards and must show that they have full understanding of them as part of the End-Point Assessment – resulting in a skilled, confident, and competent employee.
And concerns that an apprenticeship programme is too expensive to run should be alleviated by additional funding announced as part of government recovery plans following the pandemic. Employers can apply for £3,000 funding for new apprentices who start between 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021. An additional incentive payment of £1,000 is available for employers hiring an apprentice aged 16 to 18 years old. This means that the maximum incentive for a 16–18-year-old is £4,000 and for an apprentice aged 19+ a total of £3,000 is available.
These incentive payments will be made directly to employers in two equal instalments; firstly, when the apprentice completes ninety days and then on day 365 of their programme.
Realistically, the cold chain industry is under too much pressure not to take advantage of apprenticeship schemes. 81 per cent of apprentice employers in Qube Learning’s recent survey told us that apprentices make their businesses more productive. Through the government incentives available, apprenticeships can reduce training and recruitment costs whilst also developing a skilled, motivated, and qualified workforce.
With direct correlation between a motivated workforce and improved performance, productivity and loyalty, there are simply too many benefits to apprenticeships for cold chain industry employers to miss out on the opportunity.”
Did you know…?
Apprenticeships are not only reserved for new staff. They can also be an important tool for upskilling existing employees. Further training to your staff will give them knowledge and capabilities required to work more efficiently. These skills may come from an apprenticeship that is not necessarily linked directly with the position. For example, a Level 3 Team Leader apprenticeship is relevant across multiple sectors and can help develop natural born leaders, helping to secure your business’s future.
