Whilst change is afoot in the fast-paced landscape of logistics, women are still underrepresented, including in leadership roles. But as the call for gender balance becomes increasingly louder, the Transport and Warehouse Operations Supervisor Apprenticeship offered by TRS in association with the RHA presents an opportunity to champion women in leadership positions within the transport and warehousing sectors. This apprenticeship is not just a pathway for operational excellence in logistics but a tool for empowering female professionals in a historically male-dominated field.
Supporting Women into Leadership Roles
Winner of the AAC Transport & Logistics Apprenticeship Provider 2024 award, TRS is committed to continual improvement in the logistics industry through targeted initiatives and progressive training programmes. While women have been historically underrepresented in logistics, the industry has seen a significant positive change in this respect thanks to the concerted efforts of initiatives like Women In Transport and Women in Logistics. With the introduction of female trainers and the promotion of female apprentices as logistics role models, TRS too is focused on helping shape an industry which welcomes women and supports them to ascend to leadership roles.
The increase from 1.9% to over 9% of women on TRS LGV apprenticeships in two years is a testament to their dedicated strategy to enhance diversity. Their partnership with Generation Logistics and accreditation with White Ribbon UK underline TRS’s commitment to not only attract but also retain women in the logistics industry.
The Value of Professional Training
TRS’s Transport and Warehouse Operations Supervisor Apprenticeship equips candidates with the skills needed to excel in managerial roles and address the operational risks inherent in the logistics sector. Compliance with health and safety regulations, effective supply chain management, and robust staff management are but a few of the critical areas covered by this comprehensive training.
For women stepping into leadership positions within logistics or warehousing firms, this apprenticeship serves as a useful framework to gain essential leadership and management skills. It empowers them to manage teams, achieve targets, and handle the complex challenges of the industry with professionalism and confidence. There is a choice of two pathways on the apprenticeship: transport or warehouse.
Modules Designed for Managing Risk
For those who chose the transport route, alongside the coveted Transport Manager CPC qualification, the apprenticeship comprises a range of modules designed by industry experts aimed at mitigating operational risk within the sector. These include, but are not limited to:
Health and Safety: Establishing protocols and ensuring a safe working environment for all staff.
Vehicle Compliance & Route Planning: Ensuring legal compliance in transportation while optimizing routes for efficiency.
Resource Management & IT: Leveraging technology for more streamlined operations.
Managing People: Enhancing the skills necessary for effectively leading diverse teams.
Operational Management: Boosting productivity and managing the day-to-day tasks of logistics operations.
Communication & Customer Service: Ensuring excellence in client-facing interactions and internal communication.
The Transport and Warehouse Operations Supervisor Apprenticeship presents an opportunity not just for the acquisition of refined operational skills, but as a strategic tool that firms can use to encourage and support women into logistic leadership roles. This TRS/RHA successful apprenticeship programme paves the way for women and men too, to confidently step into logistics leadership and manage risks.
Clare Jackson, Senior Talent and Development Partner at Sysco GB, herself a role model for women aspiring to logistics leadership, has several team members undertaking this apprenticeship. She says:
“The Transport and Warehouse Operations Supervisor apprenticeship is an invaluable framework for developing our colleagues to hit the ground running when stepping into supervisory roles. TRS has helped us develop a bespoke version of the apprenticeship which incorporates our company values, policies and practices into the overall training plan. We have several colleagues undertaking the specialised apprenticeship, and they are already putting new supervisory skills into practice with clear benefits to the company.”
Encouragement for Prospective Female Leaders
This apprenticeship is one way that TRS and the RHA are working together to shape a progressive future for women in the logistics industry. They invite operators actively committed to increasing the number of women in leadership roles within their organisations to find out more about using the Transport And Warehouse Operations Supervisor to facilitate this. Also, they encourage women themselves to consider harnessing the potential of this apprenticeship to carve out a rewarding career in logistics leadership.
This apprenticeship which includes the Transport Manager CPC delivered by the RHA, can be funded fully by the Apprenticeship Levy or 95% by Government funding.
Our partnership packages are a flexible and accessible way to support Women in Transport and your organisation's equity, diversity and inclusion objectives. Learn more about our partnership opportunities here and contact us if you would like a meeting to discuss how we can work together.
Follow us @transportwm on Twitter, on Linkedin at Women in Transport and at @transportwmn on Instagram for events, news and updates.