Clipper supports graduates with Novus Trust

Retail logistics specialist Clipper has underlined its track record and commitment to professional development, by joining together with other companies to sponsor an innovative scheme for supply chain undergraduates.

Through its involvement in the newly formed NOVUS Trust, Clipper will provide financial support, mentoring and jobs to supply chain students. The logistics and supply chain industry is fast paced, dynamic and exciting, requiring ever more professional managers; but one faced with a real shortage of graduates. NOVUS, a charitable trust led by the industry, has been established to market the sector and attract high calibre students to Logistics and Supply Chain degree courses, thus opening up the varied and professional careers on offer. Working in partnership with employers, the University of Huddersfield has developed the NOVUS course based on the needs of the sector. It is a highly participative programme and includes added vocational courses.

To gain entry to the scheme students have to achieve high A level grades and successfully participate in an assessment centre. Working with the University; Clipper is providing input to the course, mentoring students and offering them summer jobs, 12 month placements and permanent roles upon successful completion of their degree. In return, Clipper can expect high quality candidates with 'real world' experience, in what is an extremely specialised sector. Clipper has worked closely with The University of Huddersfield on the project, a recognised leader in logistics further education.

Huddersfield graduate Naomi Phillips has been contracted to work with Clipper as a graduate trainee following completion of her Logistics and Supply Chain Management BSc course in 2013. Naomi's course was a forerunner to the NOVUS Trust scheme. She commented: "You don't just learn industry skills, you also develop personal and managerial skills so that you're equipped and ready for a fast paced job in supply chain. Having the reassurance of support from a well-respected industry leader such as Clipper made the course all the more enjoyable, and I'm excited about my future career with them."

Ted Johnson, HR Director at Clipper said: "Supporting the NOVUS Trust is very important to Clipper. Finding the right calibre of new employees in this very specialised sector isn't easy, and having the opportunity to help develop and shape a career is something that fits in well with our way of working. We're delighted with the progress Naomi has made and we were eager to sign her up to work with Clipper as soon as she graduated. Over the next few years we expect the NOVUS Trust scheme will help us to recruit many high calibre students". David Leach, from the University of Huddersfield, said: "Logistics and supply chain is an industry where the demand for graduates has traditionally outstripped the number of young people choosing to study the subject. The NOVUS scheme brings together logistics industry experts and the academic world to attract and develop talented people focused on the supply chain industry and to get them on the career ladder. We have a shared goal to increase both the quality and quantity of young people choosing to study and work in this field."

Undergraduate Logistics and Supply Chain Management student Naomi Philips talks about her experiences on her course at the University of Huddersfield at http://www.hud.ac.uk/undergraduate/student-life/current-student-profiles/logistics-transport-and-tourism/