NOVUS scheme wins at 2015 European Supply Chain Excellence Awards
The NOVUS team collect their trophy at the 2015 European Supply Chain Excellence Awards.
Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:25:00 GMT
“...its goal is to train new generations of experts in logistics...”
A UNIQUE University of Huddersfield degree programme, backed by increasing numbers of major companies and which guarantees employment to its graduates, has scooped the latest in a succession of awards.
The degree scheme is named NOVUS and its goal is to develop the next generation of supply chain professionals. At the 2015 European Supply Chain Excellence Awards it was named winner of the Training and Professional Development category. The announcement was made at a prestigious ceremony in London, presented by Nick Hewer, famous as Lord Sugar’s right-hand man on The Apprentice.
This new recognition for NOVUS follows victories as Supply Chain Innovation Project of the Year at the 2014 Retail Week Supply Chain Awards and the Development of People prize at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Annual Awards for Excellence.
University of Huddersfield lecturer David Leach, who is Programme Director of NOVUS, is delighted by the latest honour, part of an awards scheme backed by the industry journal Logistics & Supply Chain and PwC.
“Last year we were also shortlisted in the Training and Professional Development category and were commended for our ambitious plans to create a new pipeline of talent for the industry. The fact that we were victorious this year reflects our growth and development,” said Mr Leach.
◄ NOVUS students Ellie Langdon and Alex Heard
The NOVUS programme – which incorporates two degree courses that develop expertise in different dimensions of supply chain management – was launched three years ago and now has 90 students. They are mentored and have work placements with the companies – most of them household names – who sponsor the scheme and are closely involved at all stages.
There are now 30 sponsoring companies and the roster has recently been joined by supermarket chain Morrisons and food giant Muller. NOVUS students, who successfully complete their degree courses, are guaranteed graduate-level employment at one of the sponsoring firms.
In order to gain a place on the shortlist at the European Supply Chain Excellence Awards, Mr Leach – with Sophie Austin of Wincanton and Andy Kaye of BiS Henderson – gave a one-hour presentation to judges.
The NOVUS party that attended the awards ceremony included two of its current students - Alex Heard, currently on placement with DHL at Heathrow, and Ellie Langdon, whose placement is with Asos in central London.
“Alex and Ellie are great examples of the talent the scheme is delivering”, commented Mr Leach. "They have been mentored by industry professionals, gained work experience while at University and are now thriving in challenging one year placements. They will return for their final year at university and then embark on their careers with backing companies."
NOVUS was launched as a strategic solution to a serious skills gap and shortfall of graduate talent in the vital supply chain and logistics industry. Its students are accepted via an assessment centre process that involves the firms that sponsor the scheme.
