Better training needed for warehouse personnel
Recruitment and supply chain consultant Bis Henderson has called for better training for warehouse personnel as jobs become more complex.
Andy Kaye, CEO of Bis Henderson Group said: “Lots of warehouse jobs are low skilled but they are getting more complex. Picking is becoming a more demanding role, and we need to give people the right qualifications and pay reasonably.”
Kaye added that Brexit was already having an impact on the recruitment sector.
“We’ve got big issues to deal with, because of currency fluctuations, we’ve already seen Eastern Europeans going home. We think there is around 50,000 Eastern European HGV drivers in the UK. If half leave that’s a big gap to fill. At the moment, we don’t have sufficient people interested in the role.
“There are some great opportunities too. The Apprenticeship Levy is a very clever piece of legislation, essentially it tells companies, train or we tax you.
“Add to that the large number of graduates, capable but under-utilised, who are coming through, and we have a great opportunity to get the right people into logistics. We just need to get the message out there.”
To best meet these, and other opportunities and challenges, Bis Henderson Group has realigned its four core business units – Recruitment, Consulting, Academy and Space – in a bid to create an integrated and cohesive force capable of meeting the ‘omnipresent’ needs of the logistics sector.
The business has redesigned its websites and launched fresh branding.
Kaye said: “The demands placed on modern supply chains, and the logistics practices that support those supply chains, is changing fast. In the retail sector consumers expect omnipresent service – being able to order what they like, when they like and get it whenever they want it. For businesses, that’s a tough challenge and it’s not getting any easier. We believe that Bis Henderson is in a unique position to help businesses meet those challenges.”
Bis Henderson Group is a multifaceted business providing talent for companies through its recruitment services, practical logistics and supply chain expertise through its consultancy division, training and support for developing labour resources through its academy, and offering a comprehensive service for delivering logistics solutions – from warehousing space to fulfilling operational needs – through its space division.
“2017 is going to see significant pressure placed on UK plc through a weaker pound, a tighter labour market, concerns over Brexit and the impact of the National Living Wage. All this, combined with increased competition in home and international markets means companies will be looking for greater agility as they look to offset risk,” said Kaye. “Businesses will be looking for support organisations that can provide the necessary flexibility within their supply chains.
“By creating greater connectivity within Bis Henderson’s operational divisions we are now in a stronger position to leverage our resources and expertise across the group to bring results for our clients, as and when they need them – whether it is in finding the right talent to run a supply chain; applying consultancy expertise to upgrade performance; training and developing staff within the business; or providing warehouse space and services for extra flexibility.”
