In a unique communications partnership, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and ITN Productions have launched a news and current affairs-style programme.

‘Tomorrow’s Supply Chain, Today’ looks at how the modern supply chain is reacting to new challenges and demands. These range from responding to the UK’s increasing consumption of coffee with fast delivery of machines, to accurately and rapidly supplying hospitals with blood stocks. The programme explores how convergence between different elements of the supply chain are improving services, and also examines the challenges posed by government devolution, such as the fragmentation of urban supply chains across the UK. 

‘Tomorrow’s Supply Chain, Today’ premiered at the CILT Annual Conference on June 16th. Presented by national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, the programme features key industry interviews and news-style reports, along with sponsored editorial profiles of some of the leading organisations in the sector.

Ensuring that the sector is up to date with continuing technological shifts is a key priority for the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. Creating long-term sustainable solutions and promoting flexibility are just two ways that this expansive and varied industry is keeping up with these fast-paced changes. In an interview, the CILT Chief Executive Kevin Richardson FCILT discusses how the CILT is supporting its members and encouraging more young people to join the sector.

Recognising and managing skills shortages and encouraging younger people to enter the sector is another key theme in ‘Tomorrow’s Supply Chain, Today’. 

A total of nine sponsored news-style reports feature in ‘Tomorrow’s Supply Chain, Today’, championing innovation and forward-thinking sustainable solutions:

• BITO Storage – understanding personalised customer care, growing demand for faster deliveries, and e-commerce 
• Briggs Equipment – how their online fleet management tool is delivering transparent, live customer data and analysis which is helping to reduce spend and increase efficiency
• Hako Machines – the importance of thinking sustainably and providing long-term cleaning solutions to customers that are designed to stand the test of time 
• Howard Tenens – Working with Costa Express – how the company is responding to Britain’s growing love of coffee and supplying the Costa Express chain with machines at a very fast rate
• Howard Tenens – Working with LightSource – how they are installing solar panels at the speed needed to meet demand and how they have overcome the logistical obstacles that slow down the process
• Impact – the importance of Automated Guided Vehicles which assist warehouse operations and also help keep costs down
• JLL – how understanding the property supply chain and providing innovative solutions is changing the landscape across the UK and beyond
• Michael Page – how they are responding to skills shortages in the logistics sector by providing highly-qualified staff, enabling companies to quickly increase the scale of their operations
• ToolsGroup - providing end-to-end supply chain systems that ensure life-saving blood stocks are always available to NHS Blood and Transplant, and O2 customers are kept in touch with the latest handsets. 

Kevin Richardson, Chief Executive of the CILT, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with ITN Productions once again this year in delivering a logistics and transport news-style programme. The Institute is working hard to raise the profile of the sector and the significant contribution it delivers to both society and GDP and this initiative will help us to do so.”

Simon Shelley, Head of Industry News, ITN Productions said: “The logistics and transport sector is very diverse and evolving rapidly with new stories to tell every year. ITN Productions is delighted to continue its partnership with the CILT to explore the latest learnings and best practice in the profession.”

‘Tomorrow’s Supply Chain, Today’ is now available at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s website: /itn