Redditch, UK: Oakland International’s is running a training seminar from the Food Storage and Distribution Federation (FSDF) to give staff career progression.
David Hoey, HR and purchasing director, Oakland International says: “FSDF Pathway Qualifications are rapidly becoming the recognised standard for operational managers and those looking to progress within the food and logistics supply chain, providing a platform whereby skills and competencies can be measured, the qualification is also intended to attract young people into taking up a career within the food and logistics industry.”
An industry wide initiative, collaboration is helping support the development of a wider and deeper pool of talent for the future. Part of Oakland International’s People Plan, their goal is to establish the Level 2 qualification as the benchmark standard for all warehouse employees by 2014, a performance standard designed to attract, retain and develop people who wish to continue building their skills and knowledge.
The benefit to Oakland International is an engaged and skilled workforce able to capitalise on the company’s future growth as the business forges ahead and is crucial to supporting Oakland International’s customers as they expand the range of service models and platforms both here in the UK and Ireland.
Chris Sturman, chief executive, FSDF says: “FSDF, in collaboration with Skills for Logistics, has carefully designed and implemented the FSDF Training and Skills Pathway, funded by Government where possible, to ensure that the special requirements of the food logistics sector are recognised and integrated into a training regime to meet the current and future needs of current and prospective members across the supply chain.
“The results for individual employees, the teams in which they work and their performance and motivation, as well as the business units themselves, achieved to date are highly visible, and work through to improved efficiency, customer and product care and profitability. It also provides a more visible platform from which to encourage young people to seriously think about logistics as a realistic and exciting career option, and our pre-employment qualification initiative provides that first step on the journey.
“We are working on a complete suite of qualifications from pre-employment through to supervisory, with connections then to the CILT UK Certificate and Diploma professional qualifications and alignment also with first degree and masters modules with some well know Universities. I am delighted that Oakland International are helping to trail blaze this programme.”
