Logistics employers are entering a period in which recruitment and technology strategy are closely connected. Forklift trucks, shuttle systems and warehouse robots increasingly rely on batteries, electronics, sensors, software and connectivity. The people who maintain them will need broader skills than the traditional mechanic.
Apprenticeships are expanding in England, but the pattern is uneven. Starts rose 4.1% in 2024/25 to 353,500, and participation reached 761,480. Level 4 and higher starts increased by 15.1%, while degree apprenticeships accounted for 17.1% of all starts.
For technical employers, the decline in entry-level routes is more concerning. Engineering and technology recorded more than 100,000 starts, up 5% year on year, yet engineering-related starts remained 9% below 2014/15. Level 2 engineering starts have more than halved since 2017/18. The IET found that 76% of engineering employers struggle to recruit people with key skills.
A route into skilled work
These figures point to a need for practical training alongside university and higher-level study. Future logistics technicians may work with battery systems, electronic controls, diagnostic software, sensors and autonomous equipment. Employers that offer structured learning can develop these capabilities while giving young people a direct route into skilled employment.
Germany provides one example. More than 1.2 million people were in dual vocational training at the end of 2025, despite 461,900 new entrants, a 2.8% annual fall. Intralogistics manufacturer STILL welcomed 58 new apprentices and dual-study students. All 34 members of its previous Hamburg cohort accepted jobs offered by the company, which now has 241 young people in training across eight sites.
For jobseekers, the message is that logistics maintenance is becoming a technology career. For employers, apprenticeships offer a way to build recruitment pipelines before the shortage of technical skills begins to restrict growth.