Forwarder aims to help bridge the industry’s increasing age gap in the UK

UK forwarder association BIFA’s young forwarder network governor for the Midlands, Chadd Blunt, is hoping to help bridge the “increasing age gap within the sector’s workforce” by raising awareness of the sector with young people.

Blunt, who took up the role at BIFA earlier this year and is also chief executive of Birmingham-based Millenium Cargo, said he would take an active an active role in helping to promote the association’s new career development initiative within his local region.

Educating young people on the possibility of a career in the sector is key to raising awareness.

Chadd said: “The issue is an educational issue. Whether in school or in higher education there is a significant lack of schooling on supply chain and logistics despite the fact it is an integral part of society’s makeup, and yet a huge proportion are still blissfully unaware of what freight forwarding and logistics actually involves.

“Recent studies have found that a startling 42% of young people know what the term ‘logistics’ means and that only 8% of young people consider the sector to be an attractive career option – ultimately proving that the lack of education surrounding the industry as a whole is a serious issue that needs correcting.

“The demand for freight will not only continue but is likely to increase over the next decade therefore more needs to be done at within education to position freight forwarding and logistics as an aspirational career prospect for young people in order for the UK to continue to develop successfully.

“My involvement with BIFA’s Young Forwarder Network is to help focus on educating and raising the awareness of freight forwarding to young people across the Midlands and promote the sector as a strong career choice whilst also attempting to break down longstanding preconceptions surrounding the industry – in particular those concerning its viability as a promising career option.

“Freight forwarding is something that I am passionate about and I look forward to engaging with the minds of the future generation and sharing my own personal knowledge and years of experience the industry with young people within my local region.”

The significant lack of young people within the supply chain and logistics sector has in particular been touted as a prominent issue facing the industry in recent years; with claims that up to 25-33% of the supply chain workforce is now approaching retirement age.