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Policy & Compliance
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Kyle Lawrence
Georgia Sumner
Alfred Pryke
Apprentices: living proof that apprenticeships are working
What advice would you give to employers considering recruiting an apprentice? Give a young person a chance; an apprentice could be the future of your business. Kyle Lawrence, OIA Global, London What stage of your apprenticeship are you at? I finished my apprenticeship in 2019, so one of the first to complete it. How has your career progressed? I have progressed into full time employment and, recently, became the youngest ever supervisor at OIA Global, my current employer. I have had some good mentors along the way, which is vital. What is your proudest achievement? Five years ago, I was a finalist for Apprentice of The Year. In 2022, I was also asked to join the BIFA Council as recognition to my service to the Young Forwarder Network. If you could sum up your experience in three words, what would they be? Fun, challenging, rewarding. What advice would you give to employers considering recruiting an apprentice? I support apprenticeships as it gives employers the opportunity to take on a new employee who is a blank canvas that they can mould. What would you say to someone considering an apprenticeship in logistics? Consider an apprenticeship, you are provided with a structured programme, you can earn while you learn and potentially gain a full-time job at the end of it. There is also a good chance you will receive a recognised qualification as well.
With a proven pathway to futureproof your workforce, get out now to promote the great opportunities available in the logistics industry
Georgia Sumner, DHL, Birmingham How did you get into logistics? I had a few seasonal jobs and worked part-time in Costa. But, having grown up with my mum working in logistics it seemed like the natural route to take. The apprenticeship provided me with a perfect opportunity to gain a qualification, which I completed in June 2022. What area of the business do you work in and describe a typical day? I work on the customer specialist team, focusing on one main account. It is always busy and fast paced as I work in airfreight, but never the same. I am learning new parts of the business all the time, which I enjoy. What is your proudest achievement? Speaking on a panel at Multimodal about the next generation in logistics. Help promote your industry We urge all BIFA Members to do something for either National Apprenticeship Week (6-10 Feb) or National Careers Week (7-12 March) within their local community. If you need ideas, you can visit the BIFA website https://apprentices.bifa.org/ where you can find several resources to assist you. Please let us know what you are up to by emailing Nezda Leigh at n.leigh@bifa.org and we will showcase your activity across BIFA’s social media.
With National Apprenticeship Week taking place at the start of next month (6-10 February) we talk to three young people who have taken the apprenticeship pathway but are at different stages of their career. Alfred Pryke, Momart, London What stage of your apprenticeship are you at? I only started in July 2022, so I am currently five months into it. I work in the shipping department and my job is to deal with Customs entries for import and export shipments on a range of modes, but typically road and air. Why did you choose logistics? I chose logistics because I saw an industry in need of some youth that is crucial to the world running as we know it. It will always be needed and having such an infinite number of job opportunities and types within it was something that greatly interested me. Tell us about the best parts of the job? The best part of the job is the sense of community that I have found; this industry is full of welcoming friendly people with a diverse set of skills who want to help you progress. This is something I find extremely encouraging in the job. What advice would you give to employers considering recruiting an apprentice? I would say that it is a brilliant way to integrate youth into your company and make a necessary difference in what will otherwise become an ageing industry.
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January 2023
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