A new high level ëthink tankí addressing the key people issues in the logistics and transport industries has been launched by the Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Called the HR Directorsí Forum for Logistics and Transport, it will consist of 200 senior HR practitioners from manufacturers, retailers, logistics service providers and passenger transport operators. The forum will meet four times a year.
Launching the new HR Directors Forum for logistics and transport was Paul Carvell, Chief Executive of Business Post, the fourth largest express delivery company. Speaking on the theme ëMaking a Real Difference to Board Thinking ñ will HR ever get there?í he said: ìResolving people issues that previously had led to low morale and high staff turnover, and was costing the business between 1-2m per annum, has helped raise the share price by 300% and reduce staff turnover to less than 5%.î
He concluded that HR can make a difference to board thinking only when it is integrated into the fundamental role of shaping and delivering strategy and by moving logistics and transport businesses from being capital intensive operationally led organisations, to being people intensive customer service led organisations.
ìIt is relatively straight forward to set up simple key performance indicators in the HR area and measure people performance against them,î Paul advised. ìIn the past HR has been guilty of jumping on the bandwagon of ëflavour of the month solutions and theoriesí and having a ëwoollyí approach to measuring real improvements in performance and productivity in the transport and logistics industries.î
Already over 30 companies have pledged their support to the new HR Directors Forum for Logistics and Transport prior to the launch including: Sainsburys, Tesco Stores, Virgin Retail, WH Smith, Whitbread, Boots, DHL, The Disney Store, Exel, The Lane Group, Ryder, Frontline, Palletways, Defence Transport and Movements Agency, and EWS Railway.
Commenting following the launch meeting, chairman of the new Forum, Jan Szymankiewicz said: ìLogistics and transport operators, retailers and manufacturers are facing an unprecedented skills shortage. They are having real difficulty in attracting the best candidates across the whole range of blue-collar, white-collar, graduate, middle management and senior management positions. Logistics and transport operators are faced with major legislation, which will affect working time in the industry and push up costs. Never before has resolving people issues been of such paramount importance in the logistics and transport industries. The debate on key people issues, the sharing of knowledge and the benefit of examining solutions from other industry sectors can only help members find an effective way forward for their own organisations.î
The next meeting of the new HR Directors Forum for Logistics and Transport will take place at the New Connaught Rooms London on Friday 5 December when the theme will be Skills Shortages. Subsequent meetings are planned for March and June 2004.
The HR Directors Forum for Logistics and Transport uses the model of the highly successful Logistics Directors Forum, which has been running for over 11 years and has over 150 members. Each meeting opens with a keynote address on a major topical issue followed by break out sessions to debate aspects of the topic and a feedback session. The debate takes place under ëChatham Houseí rules to prevent any disclosure of any commercially sensitive information outside of the meeting and creates a ëuniqueí opportunity for professionals to enter into constructive debate that can only help to enhance the standing of the logistics and transport industry in business and in the eyes of potential employees, current employees and the general public.
With over 22,500 members, The Institute of Logistics and Transport is the premier professional organisation for people with careers in logistics and transport, from students through to board level directors.
For further information on the HR Directors Forum, please contact Helen Opie at Peter Acton Associates on 01737 353636 or helen.opie@paa-pr.co.uk
HRimpact on Board Thinking addressed at successful launch of HR Directorsí Forum
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