Teesside ’ s ecology experts
Serving the Teesside Business Community | 31
Tees Valley Logistics Academy driving careers in vital sector
The Tees Valley Logistics Academy is working with some of the region ’ s biggest employers to help put the spotlight on logistics .
Their aim is to help raise awareness of the industry among young people while providing training opportunities that respond to the real demands of the sector .
It ’ s not a quick fix . After all there are currently 2.3m people employed in logistics in the UK , but the demographic profile of those in the industry means within the next 15 years 50 % will have retired .
Michael Duffey , who is heading up the academy , in collaboration with Stockton Riverside College , said : “ We want to equip people with the skills to start their careers , to inspire a new generation of logistics managers and leaders , and plug some of the skills gaps .”
For despite being an essential element of almost every other industry , when it comes to young people planning their future careers , opportunities in logistics are often overlooked .
The Tees Valley Logistics Academy started as an awareness-raising programme for 16 to 18-year-olds offered at the college in partnership with Career Ready and PD Ports .
Michael said : “ Working closely with industry employers and hearing about the wider needs of the sector led to the introduction of an advisory board and ultimately the academy was formed .”
It now works towards six key strands of area development : school engagement , the Career Ready programme , pre-employment and skills , apprenticeships , commercial training and higher education .
Michael said : “ It has been a successful first year and this is just the beginning .
“ As well as continuing our work with the Career Ready programme and increasing logistics apprenticeship start-ups , we have launched our first sector-based work academy , helping to support the unemployed back into work by giving an underpinning knowledge of the industry .
Michael Duffey , head of the Tees Valley Logistics Academy
“ But most significantly , we are serving the real needs of employers , providing bespoke commercial training and higher education to enable them to invest in their current workforce .”
The Tees Valley Logistics Academy is currently recruiting for experienced logistics trainers to support the academy ’ s growth . To find out more or to have your say as part of their employer advisory board , get in touch by emailing TeesValleyLogistics @ stockton . ac . uk or on Twitter @ TVLogisticsAcad Visit : www . stockton . ac . uk / tvla /
Naturally Wild :
Teesside ’ s ecology experts
Stockton-based ecological and environmental consultancy Naturally Wild insists it is committed to retaining its headquarters on Teesside despite boasting large-scale contracts across the country with such major operators as Network Rail and Highways England .
Set up in 1996 by Julie and Graeme Skinner , Naturally Wild has been providing ecological services to clients across the country on a wide variety of challenging work with protected species and habitats .
The firm ’ s small team of highly skilled ecologists – each with their own area of expertise – has worked on a number of significant Teesside projects including the Wynyard Park development , surveys for Grade II-listed Stokesley Manor house as well as working on a major renewable project in Teesmouth .
And they recently completed important ecological services during the large-scale restoration of Whitley Bay ’ s former tourist hotspot , the Spanish City .
But despite Naturally Wild ’ s most significant work being based in the South- East and South-West , director and company founder Graeme insists the firm will stay true to its roots .
Partnership – Julie and Graeme Skinner set up Stockton-based Naturally Wild in 1996 .
“ A number of our biggest clients are based in the South of England and we ’ re proud of those major contracts ,” said Graeme . “ But we ’ re passionate about Teesside and want to continue to build our business here .
“ We were previously based in the South for five years , with offices in Fareham and Salisbury , but we returned to our roots here on Teesside and we ’ re committed to remaining here . We ’ ve already proved that the distance has no effect on our ability to deliver a quality service on time .”
The firm ’ s work isn ’ t all bat surveys and
ecological site assessments , as they have an active outreach programme with groups such as York ’ s Askham Bryan College and local natural history groups as well as delivering professional photography
Whatever your ecological needs – from protected species surveys to preliminary ecological assessments and advice on local species – Naturally Wild offer a bespoke , tailored service based on quality and integrity to suit every project .
For more details call 01642 061541 , email hello @ naturallywild . co . uk or visit naturallywild . co . uk