Transport and Distribution

This industry is known as the ‘logistics’ industry – it manages the flow of goods and other resources, including mail and people, from one place to another.

• General distribution handles goods in store before they are sent out, while they are being moved and after they arrive.
• Air transport includes jobs in the air but also on the ground.
• Train companies run passenger and goods services all over the UK and through the Channel Tunnel to Europe.
• Road transport carries passengers and goods.
• Sea transport includes ferries, cruise liners and merchant navy vessels.

Including those who work in logistics jobs in other industries, the logistics sector in Scotland employs around 113,200 people, accounting for 8% of the country’s workforce. The current financial climate, variable fuel costs and decline in consumer spending makes it difficult to predict future trends in employment levels in the industry. However, it is projected that nearly 48,000 additional workers will be needed by 2017. The highest demand will be for managers, customer service staff and transport and machine operatives. The industry includes freight and air transport, cargo handling, storage and warehousing, national post and courier services and other transport activities. The Scottish workforce is largely male, (83%) and the proportion of part time workers is 16% (26% is the national average). In Scotland, passenger transport employs around 71,700 people. It is a broad sector encompassing aviation, bus, coach, rail, taxi, transport planning, community transport, driver training and waterways. The bus and coach sector is the largest employer followed by taxi and private hire. The most recent figures report that the UK air transport sector employs around 120,500 staff including, Air Travel Assistants, Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers, Air Transport Operatives and Air Traffic Controllers with around 8% of that figure in Scotland. Air passenger travel fell slightly in the UK in 2008 and 2009, but increased again in 2011. However, with the global economic downturn and charges such as air passenger duty, there could be a negative effect in the coming years. The rail industry in the UK employs around 190,000 people, 8% of which are in Scotland. Passenger numbers and freight traffic remain steady. The road freight industry currently employs around 18,100 throughout the country. In the merchant navy, there is a continuing demand for officers and cadets. Warehouse work is increasing as more people order goods by phone and through the internet; wholesale work accounts for over a third of the logistics workforce. There is a new website recently launched which highlights available opportunities in the transport and travel industry called careersthatmove.co.uk

To work in transport and distribution you should be reliable and punctual. Services must run to time. You also need to be responsible, methodical, well organised, able to remain calm in emergencies – and friendly and polite to passengers. You can get into many jobs in this area without formal qualifications. There are also opportunities through Modern Apprenticeships, where you would normally study for Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) while at work. There are qualifications available at various levels, including professional qualifications, some of which are essential for certain jobs. You can often take these after working your way up from a junior job. The jobs and courses are divided into 5 sectors:

• General distribution
• Air transport
• Rail transport
• Road transport
• Sea transport.

Sources

State of the Nation Report 2013: Passenger Transport, People 1st (The Sector Skills Council for the passenger transport industry)

Transportation and Storage Sector Skills Assessment, Skills for Logistics (2011)

http://www.deliveringyourfuture.co.uk/get-the-facts/scotland/

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