News and Views

Nearly 100 learners completed a funded Skills Bootcamp course in Logistics in the last financial year with the Cumbria LEP with a further 75 training places now allocated this year. Funding has been in high demand with logistics training providers seeking additional funds to cover industry demands.

CLEP’s logistics partner SP Training spoke to Pioneer Foods about the training that they received through the co-funded government Skills Bootcamps.

Jonny Forsyth, Operations Director at Pioneer commented how the training has impacted their business. Jonny said:

“Like most companies, we are being affected by the nationwide driver shortage. Trying to recruit drivers who are suitable for the job and have the appropriate licence continues to be a struggle. This training has allowed us to pinpoint individuals already working for us and give them the opportunity to gain a Class 2 licence and consequently progress within Pioneer. This enables us to promote and retain good staff throughout the business.”

When asked how the funded ‘Car to Class 2’ training helped him, Antony Hayhoe who took part in the HGV training with SP Training’s instructors said:

“It has been great because, not only have I been able to gain a new skill, it has also allowed me to progress my career at Pioneer. Re-training was a nerve-racking experience at first but the training itself and subsequently passing my Class 2 test has been great for my confidence both in and out of work. Being selected for this training and earning this qualification that I will have for the rest of my life has been a really rewarding experience.”

We know that training staff has multiple benefits including boosted morale, improved quality of work, better productivity and upskilling current staff can lead to promotion and therefore release easier to fill lower skilled opportunities. It is essential that any training achieved via the Skills Bootcamp programme must not only be fully engaged with employers but led by employer demand and be an additional benefit to the business. Whilst the training is hugely beneficial being heavily subsidised, it does have a cost and staffing issue of releasing their staff to have time to learn.

When integrating the training with their day-to-day business Jonny said:

“We found that the training fit in really well with our day-to-day business. The fact that most of the studying for the theory test was done at home was a major benefit. This gave us an insight into how keen the employee was to do the course and it also meant that they didn’t have to do work for this during working hours. SP Training were really flexible when it came to the driver training and would quickly come up with other dates if those given initially were not appropriate.”

Quality Assurance is key to the delivery of the local element of the Skills Bootcamp programme. When asked if Pioneer Foods would do this training again, Jonny said:

“We would 100% do this training again. Not only has it been a good experience for our staff it has allowed us to move our logistics department forward a great deal. We know have good drivers that have a good prior understanding of the business. we literally have nothing negative to say about the whole process.”

For more information on Skills Bootcamps and current available provision visit our Skills Bootcamps page or contact Naomi Morgan, Skills Bootcamp Programme manager at naomi.morgan@thecumbrialep.co.uk.