Page 22 - Linkline Yearbook 2019

Logistics Associate Apprenticeship:
Future Proofing the Transport
& Logistics Sector in Ireland
The freight distribution and logistics industries are a vibrant and vital sector for the Irish economy.
Contributing in excess of €1billion a year to the exchequer in the form of PAYE PRSI and road taxes. Irish goods and service exports have increased by over 33% between 2011 and 2016 from €175 billion to €258billion and the economy is now ranked twelfth most competitive in the world1 . Brexit is shining a light on the transport and logistics sector as politicians and stakeholders struggle with the complexities of the supply chain and contemplate the enormity of the decisions to be made that will impact future trade for generations to come. This poses many opportunities for investment, support and innovative new ways of doing business. However, this sector, as a career choice often appears to be unattractive to young people with many unaware of what jobs are available and what they entail.
The transport sector has been less successful than others in recruiting younger workers due to a perception that it is made up of predominantly low skilled jobs and long hours. The transport and logistics sectors unfortunately are suffering from a serious skills shortage across all levels which hinders progress and makes dealing with change extremely difficult. To add to this, the industry is on the verge of Brexit in early 2019 and on the cusp of an automated revolution. The main ways to deal with the situation are to invest in adding value to careers with training, education, upskilling and continuous professional development of staff. The other way is to make roles within transport and logistics more
attractive to school leavers and young people with new exciting initiates such as the new Logistics Associate Apprenticeship.
About the Apprenticeship:
The Logistics Associate Apprenticeship is a two-year programme, with one day a week that the individual studies in DIT and works four days a week with their employer. After the two years the apprentice gains a Level 6 Higher Certificate in Logistics. The “earn as you learn” apprenticeship and traineeship plan was launched by government in 2016 and offers career options to school leavers and mature students who prefer paid on-the-job training, rather than a full-time educational solution. This apprenticeship is the first non-craft apprenticeship to be offered by Dublin Institute of
Aidan Flynn, Professor Brian Norton, President of DIT, Minister John Halligan, Dr Mary Liz Trant Solas, Decaln Allen DIT and Paul O’Reilly Head of School, School of Management DIT
1 http://ow.ly/fv7g30mwMWJ
22 The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport
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