eStore Logistics Wins SCLAA Training, Education and Development Award for Employee Development Program

eStore Logistics is proud to announce that it is the 2017 national winner of the Training, Education and Development Award presented by the Supply Chain and Logistics Association Australia (SCLAA).

The award was presented to eStore Logistics at the prestigious Australian Supply Chain Logistics Awards (ASCLA) Gala Dinner on Friday 17^th November 2017 at the Grand Ballroom, Luna Park in Sydney.

eStore Logistics winning entry detailed the company’s Employee Development Program which was developed and implemented to identify internal talent and develop staff into leaders at eStore Logistics.

This award is a testament to eStore Logistics commitment to training and professionally developing our people.

Employee Development Program

The program led by Albert Amato, Development, Safety & Quality Manager over a two-and-a-half-year period has delivered positive results for staff and the business.

Warehouse staff account for more than 90 percent of the workforce at eStore Logistics and one of the key areas of focus is to invest in identifying and developing talented warehouse staff which would result in mutual beneficial outcomes for both employees and the company. To support this part of the program implementation, career path options for warehouse staff were determined.

eStore Logistics embarked on a complete review of every role across the business. Onboarding and training plans with detailed day structures for each role were developed. This high level of commitment to training resulted in staff being able to work independently in quicker time, fewer errors made and minimal impact to the operation due to more efficient and consistent training being delivered.

A key focus for existing managers and supervisors is to communicate to their teams that eStore Logistics would be offering genuine career progression to top performers. Managers and supervisors were responsible for identifying talented staff in their teams, gauging their interest in career progression and beginning to develop their leadership skills.

The strategies utilised included:

1. Offering upskilled training to warehouse staff. This included forklift licencing, first aid accreditation and attending leadership conferences.

2. Additional responsibilities were given to selected staff, throughout annual leave periods for existing leaders.

3. Future leaders were also identified through review of performance management KPI’s by managers and supervisors, and the implementation of the employee of the month award which identifies and acknowledges staff who went above and beyond their role each month.

4. Internal hiring and promotion occurred by displaying the job advertisements internally and communicating opportunities via toolbox talks across the business. This presented an opportunity for all staff at eStore Logistics to apply for advertised roles.

Results

Over the past two and a half years 25 staff members have been promoted internally to operational, leadership, administration, IT and customer service roles that would have previously been filled through recruitment agencies.

This resulted in significant savings in recruitment agency fees and a 43% reduction in training costs compared to external agency hires.

Staff retention increased by 32% since implementation. This was attributed to increased career opportunities and rapid career progression being offered to internal staff. Upskilled training was offered to warehouse staff and the implementation of structured training for each role and a performance review process which rewards talent also contributed to the increase in staff retention.