Owens Global Logistics
“Good training makes for good people and good profits.” Sheldon Copland-Mander Managing Director
- Business sector:
- Transport
- Employees:
- 5-49
- Region:
- South East
- Company profile:
- Owens Global Logistics is an international freight consolidation company, based in West Horndon in Essex. It was set up 15 years ago by Sheldon Copland-Mander, its Managing Director.
The Challenge
Handling cargo for South Africa, the Far East, New Zealand and Australia is all in a day’s work at Owens – and as such, it’s a highly pressurised business. Sheldon needed to make sure his team were absolutely confident in what they were doing, and performing to the very best of their ability. “Our key problem is profitability in a very competitive market,” he explains. “To be competitive you must have the best people around you.”
The Solution
To get the best people, Sheldon knew he needed to invest in training, so he signed up to the Employer Training Pilot – the scheme which has now developed into the national Train to Gain service. This gave him access to a free skills assessment and advice on which training was most appropriate to his company’s needs. It wasn’t a huge investment either, as the service also included training subsidies and wage compensation to cover loss of earnings while his employees were actually doing the training.
Five of Sheldon’s ten staff are now trained to NVQ Level 2 with a special emphasis on customer care. “I’m now looking to do the same with my other five employees – and maybe for myself too,” he adds.
The Results
Sheldon is convinced of the benefits of having a well-trained team, and says the programme has:
- Had an impact on productivity.
- Helped boost the company’s annual turnover.
- Helped his employees acquire new qualifications which will stay with them for life.
“I’m doing something for my team to show them how much I appreciate them.”
