The logistics sector is seeing a significant increase in demand for import and export specialists, according to one of the country’s leading logistics and supply chain recruitment consultancies.

Macildowie, which supports businesses across Nottingham, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Derby and Northampton, has found that trends in the type of vacancy being recruited for, has changed every quarter since last Autumn.

Over Christmas 2017, operations staff were highly sought after, followed, in the first few months of 2018, by an increased need for logistics professionals experienced in continuous improvement, who were able to rework inefficient operational processes.

As companies geared up for peak periods throughout June and into July, we saw a marked increase in the need for logistics candidates for freight businesses.  Additionally, as previously mentioned, the demand for import and export specialists grew markedly.

Richard Haaker, associate director at Macildowie, explains how unpredictability in resource planning, combined with acute candidate shortages is putting pressure on firms to upskill existing employees.

“Focusing on retention and development, as well as recruitment, is absolutely crucial.

“Organisations that perfect the art of hiring individuals whose personal motivators compliment the goals of the organisation, experience the highest retention levels. After all, individuals can learn skills and productively apply that knowledge if they have the right motivational attributes in the first place.

“Added to that, a company culture that fosters honest conversations about performance and where future improvement opportunities lie, helps to enhance an organisation’s ability to nurture talent effectively.”

Macildowie’s logistics recruitment team has also seen a hike in demand at almost every level for employees with an evolved mindset of continuous improvement and process efficiency. In addition, most organisations cite their best performers as those who can engage diverse audiences and those able to calmly deal with the pressure of deadlines.

This includes significant interest in operations specialists within the e-commerce trade, as online shopping and technology are having an ever-greater impact on how consumers require goods and services to be delivered.

An awareness of how similar innovations may impact future operations is therefore cited as being of paramount importance, as Richard continues:

“Looking ahead to the Autumn, Christmas, and even well into 2019, firms who reliably anticipate where skills gaps will appear in their workforce and mitigate risk accordingly, are likely to outperform rivals who don’t. Seeking advice from recruitment specialists with expertise in the logistics sector could help.”

For more information about Macildowie, visit: https://www.macildowie.com/

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About the Author: John Loughran