As the year draws to a close, there’s no better time to reassess what you want for the new year. If that happens to be a new job, the logistics and distribution industry could be a good place to look. At the end of September, there were 52,000 vacancies within the industry, so there’s no better time to try your hand at a rewarding and lucrative new role in this sector. Packaging retailer RAJA UK has pulled together everything you need to know about the qualifications and skills required of you to land a role in logistics in 2022.

Seven roles within the Logistics and Distribution industry that you may want to go into:

HGV drivers:

• Daily tasks may include planning schedules and routes, vehicle checks, ensuring items are safely loaded and paperwork.
• Requirements include having a full car licence, being over 18 and passing all parts of a CPC test.
• Starting pay is usually £19,000 and can go up to £36,000 for more experienced drivers.
• Manchester is currently looking to hire the most HGV drivers, followed by Warrington in Cheshire.

Warehouse operative:

• Job role includes packaging items, loading and unloading stock and other general warehouse duties.
• Head to Leicester if you’re looking for a warehouse operative role as this city has the most vacancies.
• Requirements include having good physical strength, computer literacy for software systems and competence with hand tools.

Supply chain manager:

• This role includes overseeing and managing every stage of the production flow.
• Entry-level salary starts at £24,337 and goes up to £46,998.
• Requirements include a degree in a relevant subject or you can work your way up with qualifications from the CIPS or the Chartered Institute of Logistics (CIL).
• Behind HGV drivers, this role has the most vacancies in the sector.

Transportation planner:

• Transportation planners develop transportation strategies that meet the needs of all transport users.
• Bristol currently has the most vacancies, with an average pay of £42,500.
• To qualify for this role, you’ll need a degree in a relevant subject such as civil engineering, economics or mathematics.

Purchasing manager:

• This role oversees the purchase of products, equipment and services for their employer. They develop and implement purchasing strategies to get the best deals.
• Daily tasks include looking at levels of demand for services and products, negotiating contracts and building relationships with suppliers.
• Of the jobs listed, this one is the third most in-demand with 3,400 job listings available.

Sourcing specialist:

• Sourcing Specialists streamline the sourcing process to be more efficient. They use sourcing strategies to negotiate with suppliers to get the best price on goods, services and materials.
• London has the most sourcing specialist job postings, with salaries starting at £37,500 and venturing up to £62,500 per year.
• Depending on the role, travel both in the UK and abroad and a full driving licence is required.