Metro Archives | Page 26 of 34

Generation Logistics – a future career in the freight forwarding sector

Oct 5, 2022 | Metro, Training

An initiative by members of the logistics sector, trade associations and the Department for Transport (DfT), Generation Logistics launched this summer aims to build on the sector’s pandemic-linked profile boost and tackle the industry’s long-term recruitment issues.

Logistics providers played a critical role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering PPE, maintaining the global flow of essential goods and providing essential services - as key workers - during this most challenging time in our history.

By raising awareness of an industry often overlooked by those seeking employment, Generation Logistics will highlight the accessibility of those opportunities across all ages, locations and educational backgrounds.

Despite the sector’s high profile during the pandemic and employing over 2.6m people, the campaign’s research shows that 90% of the country has never considered a career in logistics.

The DfT has put £345,000 into the campaign which will be based on a new web portal carrying careers advice as well as job vacancies and will focus on demographic areas deemed to be “inclined towards taking up a role in logistics”.

Industry supporters have contributed an additional £350,000 and the campaign is backed by 24 private sector sponsors and 15 trade bodies including the RHA.

A particular focus for the campaign will be positively changing perceptions currently surrounding the logistics sector and - as a priority - addressing the shortage of skilled staff in roles like technicians, mechanics, warehouse staff and in new technology such as robotics and automation.

Generation Logistics is aimed at 16 to 24 year olds wanting to join the industry at any level from entry to degree, by showcasing the different career opportunities and roles that are available in the logistics sector.

One barrier to recruiting and training new talent for the industry has been a lack of suitable apprenticeships, but the logistics industry has now paid £700m into the Apprenticeship Levy and drawn out just £150m. Generation Logistics is a way of bringing more people into the industry.

The Department for Education (DfE) has also allocated £34m to fund skills bootcamps for HGV driving, though there have been fears that money might be being wasted due to DVSA bottlenecks in HGV driving tests.

Using a host of media tactics, and with a comprehensive information and recruitment hub hosted online, Generation Logistics is set to challenge perceptions about the opportunities which the industry provides.

Backed by businesses and trade associations from across the sector, supported by funding from the Department of Transport, the campaign is set to raise awareness of the roles available with groups that are currently under-represented in the industry, including those returning to work after a career break or those hoping to switch roles to a longer term career.

To help raise awareness the campaign is engaging multiple social media channels, including LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok – search @GenerationLogistics or visit the hub at www.generationlogistics.org.

We are committed to attracting and developing the careers of the next generation of forwarding professionals.

Our training team helped design the 1st International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship and now operate one of the most established apprenticeship programmes in our sector.

Working directly with universities, we offer comprehensive undergraduate placements, for students to experience the world of freight forwarding and join an expanding pool of potential post-graduate recruits.

We maintain personal development plans for all our personnel, to reach their potential and our Training & Career Development Manager, Colin Smith, leads the regional Young Forwarder Network for BIFA.

Golf day success despite clash with The Open Championship

Jul 21, 2022 | Metro

Metro’s golf day planners’ unintentional clash with the Open championship at St Andrews, proved not to be a critical issue, with competitors excited to be playing a course that has hosted numerous international tournaments, including the British Masters and the English Open.

The inaugural (as in first ever) Metro golf day, saw 20 competitors - a blend of customers, partners and colleagues - gather at the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, in the heart of the country, to play the renowned championship Arden course.

With perfect weather and temperatures reaching 74° players had the chance to reinforce working relationships, on a more personal level and for Metro, an opportunity to thank customers for their valued support.

All in all, the golf day has proven to be a fantastic way to mix business with pleasure and given the overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers, the event will be repeated in 2023, possibly with some interim events!

Unlike the competition being contested at the same time, on the Old Course, birdies and pars were somewhat elusive on the Arden Course, although, after a competitive round the eventual winner did card a very creditable 35 points, which is just one stroke over a nett par round.

Congratulations to our worthy champion Mr Peter Kang and to the 19 competitors who qualified for the 2nd Metro Golf Day in 2023.

More to follow…and if you are partial to a round or two of golf, please make contact with Tom Fernihough, who will share any opportunities that we have for further events, that we will be organising, to alleviate the day-to-day stress and strains of the logistics environment.

Protecting employees and the environment

Jun 16, 2022 | Environment, Metro

Critics often dismiss Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a gimmick, or short-term marketing ploy, but we are committed to give back and CSR is not just a responsibility it is our duty to society, which is why core environmental and employee welfare initiatives are continuous, with no timeframe to end them.

For the real cost of living

The longevity and experience of our team is a critical success factor for the business and highlights our commitment to a rewarding work environment, training and career development.

We are proud of our staff-retention and internal promotions, but we still need to attract new talent to join the business and see the freight forwarding industry as an attractive career choice, which us one of the reasons Metro is an accredited Living Wage employer.

The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate that is voluntarily paid by over 10,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs. It enjoys cross-party political support, with half of the FTSE 100 and big household names also accredited.

Signing up to the ‘Living Wage’ is a moral and ethical commitment by our management to (continue to) always do more than the minimum, which is why we haven’t even had to change anything to become accredited, as we already met all the criteria.

In committing to ensuring all our people, including third party contractors, will always be paid a wage that meets everyday needs, we join other major organisations including KPMG, Burberry, Nestle, Aviva and Google.

Achieving carbon neutrality

The UK’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDRs) bring together sustainability-related reporting requirements and will give insight on the environmental and social impacts of firms, but SDRs will have a long wait for legislative approval.

Metro is among the leading corporations that have already committed to SDR environmental transparency, by measuring and disclosing our environmental impact and working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests.

In 2021 we produced 139 Tonnes of C02 and offset this same amount into projects that are: protecting the Amazon rainforest; providing clean cooking stoves in Kenya; and providing renewable energy in India..

In offsetting these volumes, Metro is Carbon Neutral for:
Scope 1 - direct emissions/ owned/ controlled sources
Scope 2 - indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating etc.

Scope 3 is the indirect emissions that occur in our value chain, in delivering the services that support our customers. The ‘free of charge’ Eco module, that sits in our MVT supply chain platform, monitors the energy emissions, emission costs and CO2 equivalent emissions, of our customer’s consignments, by every mode. Which means that Metro customers can monitor the environmental impact of their supply chains and participate in offset projects that will eradicate their supply chain CO2 footprint.

To request a demo or discuss your requirements, please contact Simon George, who leads our technical solution team, or Claus Rasmussen to discuss carbon reduction strategies and the availability of offset projects.

VIEW MVT ECO WEB PAGE

Industry heavyweight to spearhead new Automotive division

Jun 16, 2022 | Automotive, Metro

Matthew Weight with 30 years’ experience and a specialist background in automotive logistics has joined Metro as Automotive Director. With responsibility for automotive services, Matthew will establish Metro as the first choice global logistics partner for finished vehicle, automotive components and aftermarket parts.

An ardent and experienced logistician, with a passion for coaching football, Matthew began his career working in fleet management with Vauxhall, before moving into the logistics side of the industry.

Working with a further three manufacturing marques, Matthew made his move to work with Jaguar Land Rover in 2012, leading the Global Special vehicle distribution and European plant evacuation teams.

As Automotive Director, Matthew will pull together all automotive experience in Metro, to create a new division that will deliver full spectrum logistics, freight and supply chain solutions for finished vehicles, automotive components and aftermarket parts.

The formation of a new automotive division will integrate existing automotive capability into a distinct entity and will allow the business to refocus on this important vertical, with development of people, processes and systems at its core, together with the engagement of existing and new customers and suppliers.

Grant Liddell, Managing Director, Metro commented: “As our business has evolved, we have developed complex operational and technical supply chain capability that are fully integrated within our business and deliver to customers the culture, service quality and logistical expertise that Metro is renowned for. The renewed focus and expansion of our automotive capabilities is a natural development designed to enhance our automotive proposition to existing and prospective clients in this important market. I am thrilled that Matthew joins us to lead the new division and I look forward to working with him and our clients in this important space.”

Simon George Technical Solutions Director, Metro added: “In recent years our supply chain management solutions, visibility tools and control tower platforms have successfully penetrated a number of key industrial, manufacturing and retail verticals. Matthew has a great reputation in the market and brings a high level of expertise across the automotive sector and we’re very excited to see what technical innovations will follow with Matthew at the helm.”

Matthew Weight, Automotive Director, “Having been a customer of Metro and my previous auto-events experience means that I ‘get’ the unique logistics challenge that goes with each activity, and the need to be agile and deliver on time, in full every time.”

“Designing the right logistics and technology solution for each individual challenge is critical, because ‘one-size’ rarely fits all in the world of Auto logistics and knowing and understanding the customer perspective means that solutions always have the customer in mind at all points.”

Metro has specialised in the automotive and construction vehicle sectors for over four decades. Working with the leading brands, OEM’s and suppliers our specialist teams coordinate the end to end movement of vehicles and machinery, optimising complex inbound and outbound supply chain operations, on all modes of transport.

We maintain long-standing partnerships and volume agreements with the leading vehicle RoRo carriers and container shipping lines, which means we can offer the widest choice of services, routes and solutions.

Please contact Matthew Weight, our new Automotive Director, to discuss any aspect of the market or learn how we could transform your global supply chain.