President Beverley Bell expressed the need for challenging stereotypes, raising the profile and addressing the skills gap in the logistics and transport profession.

Beverley Bell FCILT, Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain and CILT’s new President in the UK asked guests at the Annual President’s Inauguration Lunch: ‘Why don’t people want to work in our industry?’

Beverley addressed the need to improve and raise the profile of the logistics and transport industry in order to attract more young people to join the profession. She spoke of a need to challenge the stereotypes placed on our industry, with particular reference to the ‘typical lorry driver image’, and that more should be done to champion the great work being done every day.

Speaking at the CILT Annual President’s Inauguration lunch, which was attended by nearly 90 senior members and special guests, Beverley Bell highlighted the astounding figure that the supply chain, transport and logistics industry contributes to the UK economy; £92 billion. Beverley emphasised the disproportionality of the industry’s contribution to the economy and society at large in comparison to the profile and recognition the industry receives.

Beverley acknowledged that we should do more as an industry to champion those out there in the field who are doing the day job. She emphasised that we should celebrate the successes our industry achieves every day. She stated that the young people of our industry are the ‘heroes’ and demanded that we all do more to recognise and develop that.

Addressing the three challenges that both the industry and Institute must address Beverley outlined the themes of her Presidency:

• Skills gap – Beverley highlighted that by 2020 the logistics and transport industry will need another 1.2million workers and we must work harder in order to recruit such a significant increase in workforce
• Training – Beverley demanded that we ‘must invest in our employees’ and told guests that the industry’s record of training people was low and that this needs to be addressed
• Revenue – the Institute must increase membership as well as increase training services. Beverley expressed that CILT is a ‘fantastic organisation’ and should do more to sell itself.

Beverley commented that she was ‘privileged’ to take on the role of President for 2015-2016 and she also thanked outgoing President Jim Spittle FCILT for doing a ‘great job’, expressing that he would be a hard act to follow.

Over £900 was raised at the lunch for CILT’s charitable careers foundation, Aspire.