IMHX will include a dedicated Skills Zone

The exciting career opportunities available to graduates and school leavers within the logistics and supply chain sectors will be highlighted by a dedicated Skills Zone at next year's IMHX.

The Skills Zone will provide a unique opportunity for young people to participate in a range of interactive features that demonstrate the diverse career options that logistics offers. It is being delivered in partnership with The Big Bang Near Me, organiser of a program of UK-wide events designed to encourage students to become interested in science, technology and engineering, and Think Logistics, a sector-led initiative that aims to redefine the image of working in logistics.

Rob Fisher, IMHX 2019 event director, believes the Skills Zone will bridge the gap between young people looking for a rewarding career and logistics companies seeking talented individuals capable of moving the profession forward.

"We know that there is a demographic time bomb in the logistics sector, so attracting talent into logistics is essential for the long-term prosperity of the sector."

The Skills Zone is supported by a number of key stakeholders, including the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA), the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and NOVUS.

Bethany Fovargue, Operations Manager at NOVUS, says: "The logistics sector employs a total of 2.35 million people in the UK, either directly or indirectly. That's a huge number, accounting for nearly 8% of the UK workforce. With demand on the logistics sector forecast to grow significantly in the coming years, employers need to have the best talent on board. That is proving quite a challenge.

"The transport, logistics and supply chain sectors need ever-increasing and changing skills to keep Britain moving. The IMHX 2019 Skills Zone will aim to show young people just how attractive supply chain operations can be and, by doing so, encourage them to consider embarking on a career in the sector."

IMHX claims to be the largest and longest-running exhibition in the UK for the logistics and supply chain industries and attracts over 400 exhibitors across four halls of the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. Next year's event will run from 24-27 September.