New apprentice degree course looks to plug the supply chain skills gap
New apprentice degree course looks to plug the supply chain skills gap
A new degree apprenticeship course in supply chain management is looking to address the increasing gap in management and skills within the UK’s supply chain and logistics sector.
The course was jointly developed by the Supply Chain Academy, Leeds Trinity University and the Institute of Supply Chain Management in collaboration with a number of logistics and supply chain companies.
It will cover a number of areas, including procurement, purchasing, risk management and supply chain management.
Alex Mortimer, Director of the Supply Chain Academy, said: “There is a real demand across all sectors for highly trained managers to support a strong supply chain process. We are very pleased to be part of this trailblazer with Leeds Trinity and are confident that the new qualification not only responds to employer demand but can also support the crucial role that businesses, particularly SMEs, play within the local economy.”
Apprenticeship degree courses are designed to combine university study with paid work, and the new qualification will provide supply chain managers with a chartered standard.
The course is financially supported by a £50,000 development grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). It is amongst 18 projects that the HEFCE has funded.
Robert Halfon, the UK Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships, said: “Apprenticeships work; that’s why we’ve launched degree apprenticeships that give people a real chance to earn while you learn; putting you on the fast track to a top career.
“This multimillion-pound fund will allow universities and colleges to work with top employers to design high-quality degree apprenticeships that give people a ladder.”
The HR Director at Uniserve Group, Paul Stone, said that his company, which is one of the organisations that participated in the course’s development, is excited to assist supply chain managers through the specific creation of this high-level qualification. He added that the course will be instrumental in providing businesses with the best future supply chain talents to meet their critical needs.
