New Academy launched

St Helens College and Knowsley Community College were joined by a host of VIP guests and industry players to unveil the Northern Logistics Academy at one of the sites in Kirkby.

Over 100 VIP’s including local MPs, councillors and industry employers representing several sectors across the global logistics industry came together to help launch the Northern Logistics Academy, a project approved late last year by the Liverpool City Region’s growth deal fund in a bid to help close a growing skills gap.

Councillor Ian Maher, portfolio lead for employment and skills for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “The £1.38m of funding from the Growth Deal will ensure that the Liverpool City Region can offer logistic skills training and learning opportunities to meet employer’s needs, which will play a critical role in future economic growth.”

The Northern Logistics Academy has two sites, one in Kirkby and another on Langtree Street in St Helens.

The investment has seen the development of brand new standalone distribution and warehouse environment training centres equipped with IT rich data processing centres with logistics software suites and dedicated transport simulators, providing a realistic student training facility.

The two centres offer students a realistic working environment in which they can learn about product movement, from the initial receipt of goods through to storage, picking, packing and despatch as well as forklift truck training and HGV operations. An elevated viewing gallery will allow students to observe a working warehouse in action.

Rt Hon George Howarth MP officially opened the facility. He said: “This new development is a very important step forward in training local people for an employment growth area – logistics. I hope this will prove the first of many such training opportunities.”

The Northern Logistics Academy has been designed and developed with key employers to meet the future skills needs of the sector, helping to bridge skills gaps and develop tomorrow’s workforce.

The equipment, resources and facilities will create a training environment that prepares both young people and adults for a career in this growing industry by providing qualifications and training to update and complement existing skills and to develop new ones.

Anne Pryer, Principal of Knowsley Community College and Jette Burford, St Helens College Principal welcomed guests to the event and added: “Logistics is central to the dynamic growth of the Liverpool City Region and our work with key employers in this sector has contributed to shaping our Northern Logistics Academy.

“Our aim is to provide a pipeline of professionals to the sector over the next 20-30 years. The opportunities that this presents to young people and adults cannot be underestimated and we believe that the Northern Logistics Academy will be truly transformational in creating an employer centred approach to skills development for logistics.”