WJS Kent branch

Report of meeting

18th March 2008

Training - Future skills shortage? (Transport Industry Seminar): In common with our own discipline, the transport industry is seeing a decline in people coming into the industry. As a result the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE), supported by Mid-Kent College (MKC), The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT), The Chartered Quality Institute, Kent Branch (CQI) and ourselves (WJS Kent Branch), organised this joint seminar at Mid-Kent College (MKC), Oakwood Park Centre, Maidstone, preceded by escorted tours through the Motor Vehicle Workshops.

To an audience of over 80, Fred Holmes (IRTE, SE Centre and MKC) introduced Brian Weatherley (Editor-in-Chief, Commercial Motor and Truck Driver) who chaired and enlivened the meeting with poignant questions and suggestions for the panel and the audience to consider. From the panel: Sarah Sillars (IMI Group CEO) succinctly explained IMI analysis of the motor industry, public perception, changes (actual & projected) in legislation and technology, changes in employment in the retail sector (1984 - 2014), where, surprisingly fewer technicians but more sales and customer support staff are projected and what the industry and IMI in particular, needs to do to avert any crisis. Ian Chisholm (Head of Technical Services, IRTE) considered similar factors from the commercial road transport aspect. He highlighted the run up to the 2012 London Olympics where, for the 20,000 construction workers and materials required, a complete logistics infrastructure will need to be developed. Dorothea Carvalho (Director of Professional Development, CILT) took as her theme the challenges and rewards of the future. She also considered some of the factors covered by the previous speakers and how CILT proposed to play its part. Gary White (Volvo Truck & Bus) explained how Volvo had organised a workplace supported training programme through Stephenson College, to satisfy its own requirements and had 330 technicians qualified via this route since 1994. Stephen Grix (MKC Principal) welcomed government initiatives for apprenticeships, the 'Train 2 Gain' scheme, raising the learning age and how these will assist MKC to meet local transport industry needs.

A lively debate followed the presentations from the panel, from which it was concluded that:

1. The negative image of the industry and adverse careers advice in schools is restricting the flow of new young blood into the industry and needs to be addressed.
2. The increasing incidence of school leavers with poor levels of numeracy and literacy skill was also seen as a problem.
3. Training, re-training, qualification and skills needs to be relevant to and portable within the industry and the institutes have a key role to play in this respect.

Thanks must be expressed to all those involved, including various Departments at Mid-Kent College, who collaborated to ensure the event was adequately publicised, planned and ran smoothly during the evening.

N E Baldwin - Chairman, Kent Branch