The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport is to launch Everybody Matters, an innovative campaign to promote diversity and inclusion within the logistics, transport, and production and operations management sectors.
More than 30 senior leaders from within the transport and logistics profession (from SME through to large organisations) came together at a roundtable event on 8th October 2019 to discuss a new concept and campaign targeted at improving diversity, inclusion and better promotion of the profession.
The Everybody Matters campaign is a new concept which will be led collaboratively by the profession and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT(UK)) to help better promote the profession, attracting and retaining talent, in addition to addressing diversity and inclusion collectively.
The sectors that CILT represents employs more than 2.9 million individuals. The Everybody Matters programme aims to enhance support for existing and future talent, as well as showcasing essential role models across the profession in an innovative way to help address skill shortages.
The roundtable event was chaired by Sir Peter Hendy, President, CILT International President, and Chair of Network Rail Chair; and Paul Sainthouse, President, CILTUK) and Managing Director of Dawsongroup Bus and Coach. The senior leaders involved embraced the notion of developing a new concept to drive through this much needed change within the profession.
Everybody Matters is about supporting great people in a way that isn’t profit-driven. It’s about collaboration and a more sustainable model to address diversity and inclusion together. Everybody means everybody, with no exclusions or barriers.
The programme will cover three key areas:
1. A new campaign that focuses on how we can further help develop and nurture our great talent
2. Raising awareness and joining up of key sector activities and initiatives
3. A coordinated outreach programme for the profession
Those in attendance agreed that they want to use the campaign to help make the profession more diverse, with inclusivity tackled collectively as a sector priority. It will also look at attracting talent in and how this can be improved across the Transport and Logistics profession.
The sector and CILT will look to launch the campaign early next year and will be supported by a range of companies as well as the London Transport Museum. There will be a sector wide nomination process which will identify Everybody Matters ambassadors. The selected ambassadors will be recognised and publicised and help the profession to tackle the current perception of the sector, as well as providing them with a structured programme of support over and above that received by their companies.
Sir Peter Hendy said: “The essence of the programme is the opportunity to transform the transport and logistics profession and raise awareness of the opportunities that exist. Careers in Transport and Logistics make a vital contribution to society and the economy and the profession is at the forefront of solving commercial, consumer and environmental challenges within a rapidly changing world. I am delighted to be able to support this initiative.”
Anna Delvecchio FCILT, Strategic Account Director at Amey has been working with CILT and the London Transport Museum to develop Everybody Matters. She said: “We all know the challenges faced in the sector from skills shortages, not being a first-choice career, an ageing workforce, to a predominantly male orientated profession with lower than average BAME and women representation. I believe if we do things the way we have always done them, then we will end up with the same results. Small changes can lead to big impacts across the profession.
“Everybody in transport and logistics is important irrespective of ethnicity, region, sex, age, race, disability, background, sexual orientation and gender. Embracing differences, harnessing perspectives, talents, and insights is vital and core to the Everybody Matters programme.
“I can’t thank the 30 senior leaders enough for attending the roundtable event and for their overwhelming support to change the status quo.”
Kevin Richardson, Chief Executive at CILT, said: “Diversity and inclusion is fundamental to building a profession that is fit for the future. CILT understands that we can do more as a profession if we all work together, and I am delighted to see that organisations of all sizes from all sectors are committed to joining CILT on this journey.
“Through joined up thinking, we can do more together. CILT believes that this campaign will help address the skills gap, reduce labour shortages and improve the image of the logistics and transport sector.
“We have been delighted with the support from so many organisations committed to joining this campaign, as we embrace differences and harness our talents to benefit the individual, their organisation and the wider profession.”
The campaign, which will run in the UK, is currently being finalised in collaboration with businesses and is due to be officially launched in early 2020.
