Kodiak sets up internal bursary scheme

ALAN PEAT TRAINING AND development is a basic foundation for any company in the forwarding industry, according to Colin Bowring, CEO of Kodiak Shipping, and must have a management commitment if it is going to succeed. “At Kodiak, which handles both general freight and dangerous goods,” Bowring told FTW, “this has evolved into a highly effective internal bursary scheme.” In this, the company aims to accommodate the needs of one staff member each year - paying all the fees for courses which are aimed at applicable specialities in the business - ranging from finance and hazardous goods handling, to air charter, forwarding and warehousing. “This,” said Bowring, “can be at all levels - everything from one-month courses to full degrees. “We will support these, provided they are being presented by an accredited institution.” It is also based on a self-generation principle. The employee is given a full choice of training courses. They must then research what is needed, and come up with an appropriate subject area. “If this is approved,” said Bowring, “then we will fund the learner through his training programme.” It can even be training in associated skills. A legal degree in international trade law, for example, could help the company establish its credentials in the international arena, according to Bowring. It must also be available to all levels of staff members. “It must even be available for our drivers,” Bowring said. “If they want to do a hazardous goods training certificate, and we feel it would be applicable to their advancement, we will fund that as well.”