Businesses invited to Logistics Workshop in Newark

Newark Logistics Workshop will take place on Tuesday 14 June at Newark College between 8am and 10am and is free to attend.

The event is being hosted by Newark and Sherwood District Council in partnership with Newark College, part of the Lincoln College Group, the University of Lincoln and Nottingham Trent University.

Councillor Keith Girling, Deputy Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “We are committed to finding ways to support our businesses, increasing their skills, finding training opportunities for staff and recognising opportunities in the sector they operate in. Alongside our partners, we hope that our workshop will provide attendees with invaluable information about the future of logistics and the supply chain.”

A research project took place at the beginning of the year by Nottingham-based FOCUS Consultants to understand the skills and training requirements of logistics businesses in the local area. The findings will be presented as part of the workshop.

Feedback from the consultation will be used to inform what courses are required by both Nottingham Trent University and the University of Lincoln to ensure that local people are training to meet the needs of a brand new enterprise hub.

The Smart Innovation, Supply Chain and Logistics (SiScLog) Enterprise Area will not only create a centre of logistical excellence with regional and national reach but provide hundreds of jobs for local people.

The enterprise area is one of nine priority projects outlined in Newark’s Towns Investment Plan, which was awarded £25 million from central government in 2021 following its submission by the Newark Towns Fund Board.

The SiScLog will support innovation and growth in the transport, engineering and logistics sector by creating an industrial cluster that can benefit from its advantageous location within the East Midlands in terms of transport links and nearby assets. The outline business case is hoped to be completed by June 2022. Towns Fund investment seeks to unlock site infrastructure, commercial units and workspace suitable for new and growing businesses alongside a training provision.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to see some of the developments at Newark College, including the recent construction college expansion and the temporary home of the Air and Space Institute, both of which also received Towns Fund investment.

Work on the Air and Space Institute has moved at pace, with interim facilities being opened while progress on the building design continued. Since launching in September 2021, the first intake of students have been honing their flying skills in the flight simulator at Newark College and taking to the air in a leased aircraft, from Nottingham Aerodrome in Tollerton, to put their theory into practice.

Newark Construction College opened in June 2021, creating brand new educational pathways for local residents into innovative construction while also upskilling local people in trades such as gas fitting, bricklaying and plumbing using the latest equipment and tools.

Tom Marsden, Director Air and Space Institute at Newark & Group Director of Strategic Gr​​​owth at Lincoln College Group, commented: “Newark College is committed to serving the local community and is employer led; striving to develop the skills and aspirations of local people to increase the productivity of businesses locally and regionally.”

During the workshop, both University partners will explain how they can support local businesses and attendees will have the opportunity to ask any questions and offer their thoughts on the recent FOCUS study during open discussions.

John Latham FRSA FCMI, Director of DVC Projects at University of Lincoln, said: “The University of Lincoln is really pleased to work with the partners on this important project.  Understanding the needs of the logistics sector and having the chance to explain how the Universities and College can help them to respond to the challenges facing their business and the sector as a whole is vital.

“This workshop will help us to develop that understanding and is a great example of how higher education can work with businesses in the interests of the wider economy.”

Jeremy Hague, Director of Knowledge Exchange, Nottingham Trent University, commented: “The growing logistics sector is of increasing importance to Newark and Sherwood and Nottingham Trent University is pleased to support this event and to understand from business how we can further support innovation, skills and enterprise in the local economy.”

Light refreshments will be available during the workshop. To register your place, please contact Will Parkinson by emailing will.parkinson@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk  or calling 07773 149 982.