Roger Williams

The United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) is embarking on a two-year knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) project in conjunction with Westminster University to develop new ways of helping logistics companies.

Roger Williams, UKWA's CEO, explains that there is a culture among small- and medium-sized logistics firms that sometimes prevents the owner from accurately assessing his or her performance. "In part, this reflects the fact that many SMEs have a single boss who is often reluctant to seek help when required and an inability to recognise when the business is underperforming."

The project will help companies in the sector analyse - and subsequently improve - their business performance. It also aims to help the UKWA identify new services for its 650-plus member companies.

"Of course, UKWA is proud of its value offering to existing member companies and we are determined to continue to provide quality business-related services and benefits which will have a direct and positive effect on our members' bottom line. But we aim to identify and introduce additional resources that will help our members to progress," Williams says.

A KTP is a relationship between a commercial company or organisation and an academic institution, which gives the company access to the knowledge, technology and skills that it may lack.

The UKWA wants to appoint a KTP associate to work on its project for two years. The successful candidate will be based at UKWA's central London offices and will be supervised by Westminster University's KTP team.

This project has considerable strategic importance to UKWA. We are looking for a graduate with some work experience and feel that this project could provide an ideal first step for someone who is seeking a career in logistics," Williams adds.