We spoke to Wen Shao, who has been awarded a sponsorship to study a four-year Transport and Logistics degree at Aston University, funded by the RHA’s Benevolent Fund. He impressed trustees with his passion for the industry and having previously held several warehousing jobs.
How does it feel to be awarded with the sponsorship?
It feels great to be sponsored and a big thank you to the RHA for their student sponsorship. I am very excited and happy to be the first person get RHA Benevolent Fund. The RHA Benevolent Fund has been very helpful and supportive and I feel the importance of road transport in the UK and the opportunities for a young future. Through this sponsorship I feel that my passion for the industry has been recognised and supported.
How will it help you?
The RHA Benevolent Fund has helped me to complete my studies and gain a deeper understanding of land transport in the UK. The RHA Benevolent Fund helps to ease my financial stress and allows me to focus more on my studies. This type of sponsorship can give me a deep sense of how sponsorship can help me, and in future, when I am able, I would like to sponsor or help someone in need in the same way.
What are you looking forward to learning?
I am looking forward to learning more about logistics and supply chain management in my degree and I will also be learning more about road transport in the UK and internationally in TP2. I also hope to learn more outside of my textbooks and gain more practical work experience during my placement. I will be putting into practice what I have learnt at university, which will help me to do my work better. I will apply what I have learnt in the first two years of my internship in my third year, while gaining more experience in a related industry. I will take all the information and knowledge with me into my final year to gather more relevant information and knowledge and be prepared for my final year.
Why did you choose to study at Aston?
The reason why I chosen Aston was mainly because of the strong reputation within this particular industry the institution has and the university is always delivering on it's promises whilst supporting the students. Aston University is designed to allow students to join a diverse, international community of current students and alumni. and it also provides a one year opportunity to study another language, which attracted me.
Why did you want to learn about Transport and Logistics?
Logistics and supply chain management is one of the most important career fields in the world, it’s not only related to businesses but also individuals. Effectively and efficiently manage the supply chain can help the company to reduce costs and increase profit margins, this also will help the customers to reduce the prices. By studying logistics and supply chain management, I'll received in-demand qualifications that set me up for a career with the potential for significant financial and professional satisfaction. Logistics touches everything, it stores and moves the clothes, foods and almost everything we need.
Do you have and plans for the future?
My temporary plan is to learn more about road transport in the UK and internationally in TP2 and to do in-depth research. I will then do a placement year in a related industry in my third year, which I think is very important as a full time placement year will help me learn a lot of knowledge and experience that I would not be able to gain from school and university, this is very important for my future development and final year. My current plans also include to continue with a Master's degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management after completing my undergraduate degree to gain an in-depth knowledge of logistics and supply chain management industry.
The sponsorship is an entirely new venture for the RHA’s charity and will provide individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds or underrepresented groups, who might otherwise find it difficult to join the sector, with the opportunity to gain the skills and experience needed to start their career.