Leading global supply chain solutions provider, DP World, has ambitious plans to double in size. Making these goals a reality required both a recruitment drive and a push to strengthen leadership roles within the business.
Solving the skills gap
On its mission to double in size, DP World was facing challenges finding qualified candidates with the right skills to fill leadership roles within the organisation.
To help ease some of its skills gap pressure, the business turned to several apprenticeship schemes but found that they weren’t focused enough on giving learners the necessary logistics, warehousing and manufacturing skills.
Previous programmes hadn’t provided enough guidance or support for apprentices, or too focused on logistics, rather than the full operational scope the businesses had discovered that its team needed.
Following successful collaboration with the Prologis Warehouse and Logistics Training Programme (PWLTP), delivered in partnership with Goodwill Solutions, to support residents near DP World’s facilities in accessing employment, the business once again turned to PWLTP for support — and this time on a bespoke basis.
Recognising the need for a tailored training solution to upskill its existing workforce and ready employees to take up leadership roles, the business partnered with PWLTP to design a bespoke training programme, which addressed the specific challenges the business was facing.
The Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship was aimed at developing budding team leaders, over 12 to 18 months, to step into senior roles across various DP World sites. The training has been initially developed for 10 staff members - seven existing employees and three new recruits.
The apprenticeship has been designed so individuals can enter the business as operators and develop the skills and competencies needed to lead teams in the business. During the programme, individuals learned a wide range of skills, from the core aspects of leading a team, specific logistics and operations knowledge and developing the soft skills relevant for their future roles.
Designed to match DP World’s operational needs, the Goodwill Solutions delivery of the PWLTP programme incorporated feedback from previous training. This meant that individuals would be trained with hands-on experience at Prologis Park Midpoint, with a buddy system on the shop floor to provide guidance and mentorship.
Futureproofing the workforce
Through working with PWLTP, DP World’s existing workforce were primed with potential team leaders prepared to step into roles across the country. Upskilling existing staff members meant that the company was in a position to promote from within, as existing employees had been given skills they needed to excel. A combination of theory, practical and industry-relevant skills has created a pool of enthusiastic individuals who can bring resh perspectives and ideas to the company.
Following the success of this initial apprenticeship programme at Prologis Park Midpoint, DP World has plans to expand the initiative to other plants in the coming months. With new employees joining in 2025, the company plans to replicate the training to build a continuous pipeline of team leaders.
“The collaboration with PWLTP has been a key element of our current growth plans. We’ve worked together previously, but the tailored apprenticeship has exceeded our expectations, as we’ve created a pool of talent with the exact skills that we need. We’d absolutely recommend PWLTP for training needs in the industry, nothing is too much trouble for them, and we’ve had an extremely positive experience.” Nichola Elliott, HR Business Partner, DP World
The Prologis Warehouse and Logistics Training Programme addressed a critical talent shortage that was hindering the growth of the business with a customised apprenticeship programme. With a focus on hands-on learning and DP World specific skills, the apprenticeship scheme has created a foundation for future talent development.
To see how PWLTP can help bridge the skills gap in your business, get in touch.
