Worth £75bn annually and employing approximately 2.3 million people, the logistics sector is undoubtedly a mainstay of the UK’s economy. However, with 63% of the 381,200 people employed in goods handling and storage occupations within the industry only having qualifications up to S/NVQ Level 2 (according to Skills for Logistics, the skills council for the freight logistics sector), it is clear that there is considerable scope for raising the bar in terms of the skill set of many of those employees and the industry as a whole. 

The importance of such training, particularly in the warehouse environment, has never been more apparent.  With vast amounts of stock, complex checking systems, expensive vehicles and racking systems, along with a greater-than-ever emphasis on responsibility to the client, warehousing operations have to ensure that they are operating to the highest possible standard.  

Suitable training in areas such as IOSH working safely, manual handling, forklift truck training and refreshers, and three day first aid courses can produce a number of benefits in the overall efficiency of a warehouse and help companies to stay competitive when drawing out of the recession.  

Safety and accident rates can be lowered, motivation and staff morale improved and productivity increased due to faster and safer working practices.  Proactive investment in such training inevitably leads to less time spent of fixing problems - and more time spent doing the job well.  

As one of the UK’s foremost logistics training providers, Carlisle-based System Training has led the way in terms of raising the quality and standard of occupational learning in the industry over the past decade. 

System Training offers a diverse range of transport and logistics industry training options – making it a true ‘one stop shop’.  Its portfolio of high quality courses has been carefully and systematically developed through collaboration with employers to meet the precise needs of the transport industry.

Courses are regularly scheduled at the company’s training centres, and can also be delivered on-site anywhere in the country.  Highly experienced instructors and tutors holding appropriate qualifications are subject to regular audit to ensure continuous improvement and compliance and external quality control standards.  Course materials are regularly updated to ensure consistency with current legislation.

In order to support businesses through these legislational requirements and change System Training offers a range of funding options that, dependent on candidate eligibility, cover a vast suite of courses – allowing companies to up-skill members of staff in an extremely cost-effective manner.

This dynamic approach ensures System Training proactively manages the significant effects of changing health & safety legislative requirements which continually impact upon the transport and logistics sector.