Skills for Logistics Launches Carry and Deliver Goods Code of Conduct

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Skills for Logistics, the Sector Skills Council (SSC), has launched a national “Carry & Deliver Goods” code of conduct for freight industries. The new policy aims to train and support candidates to develop good customer service skills, improve planning for journeys and to combat the myth of the “white van man”.

“With just under 2 million light vans on the road having covered 57.9 billion kilometres in 2003, this sector is crucial to the UK economy,” said Ian Hetherington, Chief Executive of Skills for Logistics. “Therefore it is critical that we challenge and dispel the myth of the “white van man”. It has become a very unfair tag ““ underestimating the actual skills involved in doing this economically important job successfully.”

The “Carry & Deliver Goods” code of conduct will be used to in correlation with two other vocational qualifications developed by Skill for Logistics. All have developed in close consultation with employers to promote nationally recognised standards and to make sure these qualifications are available immediately.

La Maison des Sorbets Foods Ltd is one of the first employers to enroll for the “Carry & Deliver Goods” qualification. “Industry has been crying out for these sort of “skill” specific qualifications,” said Phil Darvell, General Manager. “Any form of vocational training that improves our ability to operate in a global market place has got to make good business sense.”

The announcement further supports the Government’s recent Skills White Paper, which addresses the need for qualifications promoting vocational education, and highlights the importance of ensuring that skills development, training and education are industry relevant and appropriate to benefit the UK economy.

Kate Watkins

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