The stability and security of UK supply chains could be undermined by a lack of adequate skills and training, according to a new report.
Conducted by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) among 460 members in the UK, Australia and South Africa, the survey indicated that 45 per cent did not believe they had been given the necessary training.
Moreover, 60 per cent said they did not feel the profession was respected within their business, while eight in ten of those who felt inadequately trained thought malpractice could be taking place in their supply chain.
This is despite the fact that the recent CIPS Risk Index for Q2 2015 indicates that global supply chain risk has risen to its highest level since late 2013.
David Noble, chief executive officer of the CIPS, said: "Supply chain professionals are doing the best they can with insufficient training, but as the threats to British supply chains continue to evolve, so skills must be continuously renewed to keep up."
The report also showed that adequately trained supply chain managers were 50 per cent more likely to carry out annual supplier audits, whereas only 16 per cent of those with inadequate training were able to see the entire length of the supply chain.