FTA sets up clearing house for Armed Forces leavers

FTA has launched a ‘careers clearing house’ for anyone interested in a career in the logistics industry – whether they are from the Armed Forces or not. By emailing [email protected] jobseekers can be put in touch with companies looking for staff.

James Hookham, FTA’s Deputy Chief Executive, was speaking to service leavers alongside FTA members DHL and Pertemps at an event at Catterick Barracks organised by the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) which provides resettlement services for those leaving the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Marines, and which also operates as an intermediary service for employers wishing to hire service leavers.

Armed Forces personnel leaving service in the next 3-6 months heard from industry experts on the different career options available to them in transport and logistics, the training and qualifications required and the ways in which they can maximise their chances of success within the sector.

James Hookham said: "The logistics industry is looking for qualified, experienced and highly skilled people and it makes perfect sense to engage with service leavers, who can bring a wealth of skills to an organisation. There are attractive and fulfilling careers in logistics across all business sectors and modes – including haulage, retail, construction, rail freight, shipping, air cargo, storage and warehousing, journey planning, supply chain management.”

Possible careers in logistics include purchasing managers, transport managers, warehousing managers, import and export managers, transport and distribution managers, drivers, fork truck drivers, postal workers, mail sorters, couriers. 

The logistics industry has 1.5 million employers, employs 8 per cent of the UK workforce, and expects to recruit 1.2 million additional employees by 2022.