In December 2009, the government published an action plan "Simplifying Trade Across UK Borders". This identified a number of opportunities to improve UK trade performance. I am contacting you in relation to the actions relating to education and training. The plan identified weaknesses in the way international trade is promoted as a career and potential gaps in the training provision and qualifications needed to create a properly skilled and competent workforce.
SITPRO, working with Skills for Logistics, has brought together a group of trade bodies and training experts to take this work forward. The group is assessing current training and qualifications provision aimed to support individuals and companies working in international trade. Given the range of knowledge and skills involved in international trade, it needs to be clear which occupations and skills are generally agreed as being central to businesses in international trade.
A simple questionnaire has been developed that will take only a few minutes to complete. This asks you to review a list of occupations and skills and confirm or otherwise that they are part of international trade activity. If you consider an important aspect to be missing you are invited to tell us what it is. Once we have the definitive list, the group will map existing training provision for each occupation. This will enable us to promote existing qualifications and courses and work with employers and training experts to address any gaps. If you would like to keep in touch with the project, you are invited to register your contact details.
- The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RFZYJLD
- The Simplifying International Trade action plan is available from http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file53811.pdf
- The survey will remain open until the end of June. If you have any questions please contact education@sitpro.org.uk
Electronic Bulletin originally sent 8 June 2010
Return to SITPRO News: Electronic Bulletins
