Page 57 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan

4.7 Wholesale and Logistics
The wholesale and logistics sector plays an important role in the foundational economy through assisting the logistical movements of goods and services across the regional economy. The logistics sector encompasses road, rail and sea based transportation alongside associated activities including warehousing and sorting. Wholesaling refers to non consumer facing retail and can incorporate a range of different activities from general to specialist wholesaling. In addition the increasing development of online shopping is placing a greater emphasis on to the door retailing placing demands on delivery and courier staff as well as sorting staff.
Within the wholesale and logistics sector an aging demographic profile has been highlighted as a significant area of concern considering the licensing and regulatory demands for driving heavy goods vehicles. The high cost and age limitations of training for a HGV licence has been seen by many as a barrier to entry into the logistics sector.
Specific skills requirements within the wholesale and logistics sectors include:
• HGV and Class 1 drivers
4.8 Employer Skills Priorities
There have been a number of secondary research studies undertaken at both a Wales and UK level to identify the current and future skills requirements. One of the largest activities undertaken is the employer skills survey undertaken by UKCES which is the most comprehensive survey of its type.
Increasingly to address identified skills gaps employers are seeking a number of different ways to engage with learning and development opportunities including a growth in digital learning techniques such as e-learning. ‘Use of online training or e-learning and of other self-learning was common among training employers (45 per cent and 38 per cent respectively), and generally increasing, particularly for online training and e-learning.’110
4.9 Demands of Regional Large Companies
It is important to recognise the role of large companies with over 250+ within the South West and Mid Wales region as although companies within this size bracket.
To support the understanding of the skills requirements of the large companies within the region the RLSP alongside LSKIP in South East Wales commissioned with funding support from Welsh Government a detailed study into the skills requirements of large companies within south and mid Wales.
Below are some of the reports key headlines with a full version of the South West and Mid Wales report available within the annex.
Manufacturing accounts for 38% of large private sector units (18 companies), highest sub sectors included food (5 units) and Metals (5 units). The next largest sector was wholesale and retail which accounted for 19% of companies (9 companies).
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110 Employer Skills Survey 2015:UK Results – UKCES 2016
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Foundational Economy