Snapfulfil puts weight behind apprenticeships

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK economic growth has increased at its fastest rate in more than three years after a 0.8% increase in national output in the last quarter to September, with national output had growing by an impressive 1.5% in the last year.

In tandem with this, the ONS has revealed that the number of unemployed people in the UK fell by 48,000 to 2.47 million between July and September, a drop of 7.6%, the lowest rate in more than three years. Youth unemployment also showed signs of improvement, with the number of jobless 16-to-24 year-olds falling by 9,000 to 965,000.

However UK companies can help the youth jobs market further, according to Loughborough based warehouse management software provider, Snapfulfil, who say that there has never been a better time for the distribution / supply chain industry to train, develop and retain a talented and skilled workforce.

The role of the warehouse in the supply chain has never been more important or more sophisticated. As skill demands and levels amongst warehouse staff increase,  staff retention is far more critical for the continued efficiency of a company’s distribution process. By investing in the training, well-being and future of warehouse staff, a company is more likely to secure staff loyalty and higher levels of staff retention.

Apprenticeship develop skills and knowledge in a practical sense, through on the job training in an active warehouse environment. Warehouse apprenticeships offer employees the opportunity “to earn whilst they learn” through real work experience and allows them to gain a nationally recognised qualifications. The skills and operational knowledge acquired will allow warehouse staff to become professionally competent in their field of work; improving their confidence and self-worth. By investing in warehouse apprenticeships, a company makes its warehouse staff feel valued.
 
Most warehouse apprenticeship programmes offer a balance of on-the-job training, independent study away from work, work experience and a combination of knowledge and competence based assessments. The focus of these is to develop both individual and team working skills. The apprenticeship provides a broad and comprehensive spectrum of experience and skills  in warehouse affairs including health, safety and security, team working, customer service, housekeeping, stock control, moving and handling goods including receiving / despatching goods.

It should be pointed out that warehouse apprenticeships are not simply aimed at new employees, but also existing staff who are changing job roles or have new or additional responsibilities.

Gavin Clark, Commercial Director for SaaS warehouse management system provider Snapfulfil, comments: “The need for well trained, well drilled warehouse staff is paramount today because the role of the warehouse has become much more sophisticated. Companies look for additional value-added services and extra curricula functions to be executed in the warehouse, in addition to the traditional and historic storage function.

He continues: “Typically additional services demanded of the warehouse often include product configuration, finishing, packaging, labelling, ticketing, pricing, and creating shelf-ready product displays. To meet the demands and requirements of the increasingly more sophisticated warehouse environment, are dynamic SaaS  ( Software as a Service ) warehouse management system providers like Snapfulfil”.

Gavin Clark adds: “ The Snapfulfil warehouse management system offers a greater level of functionality, flexibility and versatility to meet the demands of the increasingly more diverse and multi-purpose warehouses.”