Minister Chambers opens first ever LogisTYcs Expo for transition year students as job opportunities rise in sector

Minister Jack Chambers today welcomed hundreds of students to the first ever LogisTYcs Expo, a special event aimed at showcasing the career and educational opportunities available in the critical Logistics and Supply Chain sector, which underpins trade in the Irish and global economies.

The Minister of State with special responsibility for international and road transport and logistics met with TY students from across Ireland at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown, Dublin. The event is part of Logistics and Supply Chain Week 2024, which is now in its second year and ends tomorrow, Saturday 2 March.

The Logistics and Supply Chain sector involves the movement of goods around the world by road, rail, sea, and air as well as management of supply, demand, distribution, and procurement operations.

The number of higher education courses that relate to the logistics and supply chain has increased by 40% since 2019. In addition, enrolments in logistics and supply chain apprenticeships over the same time period has increased by around 52%.

However, the sector faces challenges:

• just 31% of workers in the Logistics and Supply Chain Sector are female by comparison with 47% in the wider economy
• at the same time, one in four truck & van drivers are 55 years and older
• 43% of other drivers and operatives are 55 years and older
• at today’s event, students will be briefed by author, comedian and ‘Climate Worrier’ Colm O’Regan, who is acting as MC. Also taking part will be Aoife McNamara, a young Irish fashion designer with ‘B Corp’ social and environmental certification, who will talk about her career and the importance of sustainable supply chains

In addition, four young apprentices working in the Logistics and Supply Chain sector will participate in a panel discussion with Colm O’Regan on their experiences and career paths.

Students will later split up into teams of six to take part in a LogisTYcs game where they will embark on a series of challenges to earn points as they explore the Expo. QR codes throughout the Expo provide access to different game elements such as photo challenges, trivia and participation in different activities with well-known exhibitors.

Minister Chambers said:

Minister Chambers will also award prizes to students, which include a day at the Virtual Driving Hub in Kildare and the Mondello Park Electrified Driving Experience.

Exhibitors at the LogisTYcs expo are: Amazon, DPD, Lidl, Primeline, Kuehne & Nagel, Road Safety Authority (including Shuttle Bus), Aramex, Iarnród Éireann Rail Freight, Gas Networks Ireland, Manna Drones, DFDS and Aramex. Driving simulators which students can try are being provided by Virtual Driving Hub (Barry Keatley) and DPD.

Education and training providers exhibiting at the event include: TU Dublin, Logistics Associate Apprenticeship/Commercial Driving Apprenticeship/Freight Transport Association of Ireland, University of Limerick & IPICS The Supply Chain Management Institute, National Maritime College of Ireland & Munster Technological University, Trinity College Dublin, South East Technological University, Irish International Freight Association, Innopharma Labs, Ballyfermot College of Further Education, City of Dublin Education & Training Board and Generation Apprenticeship.

There will be an outside expo area with vehicles on display:

• 1 electric HGV provided by Irish Commercials, Roy Cooney, Naas
• 1 gas powered truck provided by Gas Networks Ireland
• 1 Euro 6 diesel truck provided by Ger Hyland Transport (current President of the Irish Road Haulage Association)
• 1 electric van provided by Amazon Prime