This year’s European Supply Chain Day included open days, a live Twitter Q&A and children and adults playing Business on the Move, Melanie Stark reports.
Your Institute has championed the ELA initiative, European Supply Chain Day, for the second time here in the UK. European Supply Chain Day took place on Thursday 16th April and the sector celebrated by organising numerous physical and online events to promote the supply chain to young people and the general public at large.
European Supply Chain Day was established in 2014 and so is still in its infancy. It is a unique and exciting opportunity to raise awareness of the logistics and supply chain profession, and the Institute promoted the event to industry, as well as organising events of its own on the day.
CILT hosted an open day at its Corby Office for personnel from RAF Halton, during which they were introduced to the work of the Institute and the capabilities of its International Knowledge Centre. Delegates were also invited to play the CILT-sponsored educational board game Business on the Move.
CILT corporate member and Business on the Move sponsor CEVA Logistics, with CILT East Midlands Region, organised an open day at its Centre for Logistics Excellence. Employees were encouraged to bring their children to work and to introduce them to the career opportunities and the world of logistics through playing the board game, as well as giving them the opportunity to have a tour around the interactive centre. The children also enjoyed a demonstration of 3D printing, courtesy of Hayley Rogers, Marketing Co-ordinator, CILT.
Joanne Griffiths, Senior General Manager, Organisational Capability, UK, Ireland & Nordics, CEVA Logistics, said: ‘We are thrilled to be involved with and to promote this initiative with CILT. It is a great opportunity to help young people find out about the careers and opportunities in logistics.’ Business on the Move co-founders Pat Smedley and Andy Page attended the day’s activities at CEVA and introduced the game to the children. Pat Smedley said: ‘Logistics is a hidden gem that young people need to know about, which is why we have developed Business on the Move. Our aim is to raise aspirations amongst young people.’
One of those who attended, nine-year-old Evan, was so enthused that he created a videolog of the game on his tablet and of the demonstration of 3D printing. The children played the game all morning and feedback from them demonstrated that they had really enjoyed it, finding it fun and educational. The overall winner was awarded with three copies of the game, donated by CILT, to take back to school to play with classmates.
Collect+ also got involved with the day by playing Business on the Move at its head office in Watford with staff from John Lewis and Marks and Spencer, all sponsors of the initiative. Neil Ashworth, Chairman, CILT, and CEO, Collect+, took part in the Institute’s first live Q&A on Twitter and spent an hour answering questions. CILT corporate members were encouraged to provide a quote on the day about supply chain and logistics.
The Logistics Institute at the University of Hull said: ‘Supply chains are the business today; we want to inspire the professionals of tomorrow to be successful and lead the sustainability revolution of trade through better logistics.’ The Logistics Institute has also organised some presentations for the local schools and colleges in Hull to raise awareness of the importance of logistics among young pupils for continued support of the initiative.
Computacenter UK (Ltd) hosted an open day for students studying at the University of Hertfordshire. This involved briefings with its Supply Chain Services Director and UK Operations Director, as well as tours of its automated warehouse and IT configuration centre.
Bill Acres FCILT, European Supply Chain Day Champion in the UK, said: ‘This year’s event has been a great success and I am thrilled that so many companies took the opportunity to celebrate and showcase the opportunities and capabilities of our profession. I look forward to building on this momentum in making next year’s event an even greater success.’