Logistics Employers help create Foundation Degree

Employers in the logistics industry have collaborated with The University of Bolton, with help from Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance funding, to create a genuinely business-led Foundation Degree in Logistics Management. The programme, which will be geared around adults in the workplace when it takes its first cohort in September 2008, is addressing a perceived skills shortage in the sector.

Businesses of all sizes have been involved in the development of the Foundation Degree, including the UK’s leading soft drinks manufacturer AG Barr – makers of Irn-Bru and other well know brands. The work is one of 23 Special Projects - funded by the GMSA - designed to improve opportunities for progression to higher education for full-time workers.

Julian Coleman, Senior Lecturer at the University of Bolton, is responsible for running the project: “We firmly believe there is a demand for this and employers in the sector are supporting that view. Third party logistics providers, food distribution companies and manufacturers with large distribution networks have all been consulted. There’s a gap in Greater Manchester’s higher education provision.”

“We are giving employers what they want from a university course. Each module provides a free standing certificate or diploma so companies don’t have to commit their employees to the whole two-year programme. If they wish, they can select a single module that will address their immediate need and the employees will receive a degree level award.

“For every module we will provide block delivery. This means we take the employees on a three day workshop, before they return to work equipped to complete a live project focused on their own job.

“We will provide training to somebody from within the company, to enable them to offer in-house support as the projects progress, and we are always on hand to back that support up. This is the type of qualification that employers are requesting.”

Each module will fit into the GMSA Advance scheme, which is designed to meet the demand for small, bite-sized chunks of learning. It will allow employers to hand-pick university level modules for their employees, from a range of higher education providers in Greater Manchester, to create a tailor made degree level qualification.

The full Foundation Degree will include a Certificate of Professional Competence - an existing and recognised logistics qualification - and Dr Coleman believes the programme will hold broad appeal: “Employers of all sizes have indicated that, while they would welcome any funding support, they are willing to pay for this kind of staff training.”