SSO LOGISTICS BOOST GREEN KNOW-HOW WITH TRS TRANSPORT MANAGER SKILLS BOOTCAMP 

Scott Benson of SSO Logistics is among the first to complete TRS’s new Transport Manager/Sustainability Skills Bootcamp funded through Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The 23-year-old enrolled on a 12-week Skills Bootcamp designed to supercharge the skills of logistics personnel working across the Liverpool City Region. As part of the training, he has obtained the highly sought-after Transport Manager CPC level 3 qualification. 

Since completing his course, Scott has been applying his newly acquired skills, enabling him to implement more carbon-mindful strategies in his logistics planning role.

Precision Transport Planning

SSO Logistics provide distribution, warehousing and freight forwarding. From their base in Haydock, Scott first worked as a logistics co-ordinator, recently moving into the role of transport planner.

He told us:

‘After sixth form, I completed an accountancy apprenticeship, moved to SSO and have been here for 18 months. Since completing the LCR Combined Authority-funded Skills Bootcamp, I’ve taken my contribution at work to the next level. The TRS tutors opened my eyes to how competitive the logistics industry is. I never realised how slim the margins are! As a result, I am now precision-planning fleet movements which positively impact the organisation’s bottom line.  

“The course has also taught me about environmental impact and how logistics must adjust to reduce carbon footprint and embrace change. The next step is for me to produce a carbon reduction plan.’

Critical Carbon Reduction

A principle objective of this course is to develop sustainability skills to support logistics companies in implementing greener, less wasteful practices. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority fully funds the course, and all participants are appointed as their organisation’s sustainability champions on completion. Through this programme, the LCR Combined Authority and TRS Training are facilitating the development of skills to support the region’s sustainability strategy. As SSO’s sustainability champion, it is now Scott’s responsibility to develop the firm’s carbon reduction plan. 

Kevin Birch, MD at TRS Training, says:

“The development of Liverpool City Region’s green skills is certainly an exciting and rewarding project to be involved with, and we are very grateful to the LCR Combined Authority for funding our new Skills Bootcamp course. We encourage employers to think about their own organisational skills capacity when it comes to carbon reduction. If your team could do with a sustainability skills boost, now is the time to do something about it.”

Sue Ennis, Skills Broker at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority says:

“Scott is a great example of how the Skills Bootcamp programme is having a direct positive impact in the Liverpool City Region. Green skills are vitally important in the logistics sector. A course that combines the transport manager qualification with strategic sustainability skills is essential in educating those in the positions to make a difference.”

Sharing Career Experience

Scott told us his TRS tutors had impressive industry experience in addition to being great teachers. Students worked in small groups during the course and acquired leadership and communication skills.  

Scott’s line manager, Josh Martindale, director of operations, says:

‘Spending time with other industry professionals and receiving intensive coaching has helped to broaden Scott’s knowledge of transport planning. With his background in accounting and newly acquired skills, he brings fresh ideas and approaches to the table. SSO is committed to developing and retaining talent. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Skills Bootcamps are playing a role in this.’

Scott has career ambitions to progress higher up the ranks of management. In the future, he may sign up for leadership training to support this aspiration.

Investing in Training

Scott completed TRS’s Transport Manager/Sustainability Champion Skills Bootcamp. Participants attend one day a week over 12 weeks and gain the Transport Manager CPC level 3 alongside skills to develop and implement a carbon reduction plan in their company. 

Skills Bootcamps for the Workplace provide flexible, hands-on courses of up to 16 weeks, which are part of the government’s Levelling Up agenda and Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

Skills Bootcamps aim to help participants to find jobs in a range of growing sectors across the Liverpool City Region and help employers to close skills gaps. The programme is funded by the Department for Education and developed locally by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, working closely with local employers.

TRS Training is contracted to deliver this Skills Bootcamp through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.