RLC Foundation Covid-19 Virtual Event 13 October 2020

The RLC Foundation hosted a very successful virtual COVID-19 EVENT on 13 October.  The event was opened by Lieutenant General (Retired) Sir Mark Poffley KCB OBE, the Master General of Logistics.  Planning for this event started back in March, with the event composition changing many times due to heightened levels of social distancing guidelines over the past few months.  This event brought together a unique blend of commercial logistics companies and military personnel to share their varied experiences, for the benefit of all.  The event  addressed the following 4 themes:

• Theme 1 – RLC Response.  RLC soldiers gave an overview of their experiences and an account of their own contribution during the pandemic.  This embraced initial supply and tasking to support the NHS Distribution Centre, the in-load to Nightingale Hospitals and the deployment of logistic specialists to augment emergency command and control centres
• Theme 2 – NHS Response.  NHS guest speakers articulated the initial supply chain challenges they faced with PPE, demand planning and modelling and the herculean effort in setting up the Nightingale Hospitals
• Theme 3 – Commercial Logistics Response.  TVS Supply Chain Solutions, World Fuel Services, DHL and Wilson James focussed in on their individual businesses and operational challenges during the pandemic and how they collectively supported the national effort
• Theme 4 – Military Aid to the Civil Authority (MACA) & Military Supply Chain Response.  Team Leidos, partnered with Kuehne & Nagel, TVS Supply Solutions, Leidos Supply and Agility gave an overview of how they managed the impact of COVID-19 on MoD suppliers.  As part of the MACA response the Engineering and Logistic Staff Corps shared their experiences with deployment to the NHS, the Nightingale Programme Team and support to the PPE supply chain.  Senior military officers gave a personal account, from a strategic operational overview, as to what challenges unfolded during the pandemic