Supply Chain Board Game goes Global

London – Thursday 28th June 2018: Four years after its initial introduction, today sees the official launch of the new Global Edition of the educational board game Business on the Move (www.businessonthemove.org) at the offices of international law firm HFW in central London.   This latest version of the game has been designed to have even more international appeal in a competitive and globalised world without losing the essential simplicity and fun of the popular UK edition.

With few of the 2,800 copies of the original version left, a cross-section of 42 supply chain organisations from around the world have come together to make the new Global Edition of Business on the Move a reality. The game’s core concept remains the same with players running multimodal businesses delivering freight as quickly, profitably and responsibly as they can. Players must make the same decisions businesses make every day.  How do I deliver? Will I make a profit? How should I grow? How can I cut my carbon footprint?

The new Global Edition of Business on the Move retains its versatility to meet the needs of widely differing learners, from pupils in primary school to post-graduates in international supply chain management, as well as seasoned professionals looking to convey the ‘big picture’ of logistics to trainees new to the sector.

Patricia Smedley, one of the game’s two co-creators and a Director of the social enterprise behind Business on the Move, comments on the game’s relevance: “At a time of skills shortages and increasing globalisation it has never been more important to build the curiosity and interest of young people in supply chains from an early age. It is important that ‘Logistics & Supply Chains’ become a career of choice rather than a fortunate accident. This requires those businesses and organisations in the sector to connect with young people, celebrating the importance of the industry, its relevance to their learning and its intrinsic ‘wow’ factor.”

The new global edition brings with it some new and significant features:

• The game is inherently global rather than UK-centric, featuring international sponsors from around the world;
• Trade flows are both west-to-east and east-to west and the currency used is US dollars, reinforcing its realism and international appeal;
• New dimensions such as being able to invest in ‘Skills training’ or ‘Electronic Data Interchange’ enable players to shape their own fortunes and make the game even more interactive than the first edition;
• The ‘Development Opportunity’ space on the new game board offers businesses a simple and cost-effective way to donate branded game sets to their local school(s). By adding their logo to this dedicated space on the game board and on the accompanying cards, an organisation can become an active part of playing the game.

The new Global Edition of Business on the Move represents an innovative and fun way for supply chain organisations to do just that, while at the same time enhancing their corporate social responsibility. Very much as planned, some two thirds of the first edition games, funded by business sponsors, were donated to primary schools, secondary schools and colleges all over the UK. What was certainly not envisaged back in 2014 was that Business on the Move would prove so popular elsewhere:

• Business on the Move is in more than 90 universities across the world including higher education establishments in America, Africa, Asia, Australia and, for reasons still unclear, especially Finland!
• Businesses involved in diverse aspects of the supply chain from trucks to trains, boats and planes, and freight forwarders across the globe, have purchased the game, regarding Business on the Move as a way of conveying the “big picture” of what they do.
• Training departments see the game as providing a sectoral overview which new apprentices and graduate recruits really value.
• UK regions such as the North West (through Peel Ports) and Humberside (through Modal Training) have invested in batches of bespoke games. The latest such order is for a customised game for Kenya.
• Given Business on the Move launched well before it was even decided to hold a referendum, let alone leave the EU, it is perhaps the game’s growing appeal overseas across five continents that is most striking. More than 40% of sales are exports and that’s before this launch of the new global edition.

Production of the new Global edition has received steadfast support from the game’s six headline sponsors, namely CHEP/Brambles, Clipper Group, DP World, Heathrow Cargo, HFW and Kuehne+Nagel. The focus for the new edition is to use the global sponsorship to reduce the selling price by some 30%, making the game more widely accessible to all forms of education and training institutions across the world and developing a more sustainable business model. An initial 5,000 copies of the game are being produced.

Organisations, either interested in games for their own internal training use or wishing to donate a class set of four games into their local school, are invited to purchase the new global edition through the SHOP page of the game’s website at www.businessonthemove.org.

Quotes from our Platinum Sponsors:

CHEP/Brambles

“As supply chains enter a new age of complexity, the world relies on having excellent professionals that can develop lean and sustainable supply chains. This social enterprise has an unmatched reach and impact, and we are honoured to support it. We feel we have a responsibility, as we help more companies move products through the supply chain than anyone in the world. CHEP are proud to sponsor this new edition of Business on the Move, which greatly reflects the truly global nature of today´s trade and will help inspire thousands of young minds to develop a career in logistics and supply chain management”. 
Inigo Canalejo, Sustainability Director, EMEA, Brambles

Clipper Logistics

Tony Mannix, CEO of Clipper Logistics said: “As a leader within retail logistics, we think it’s vital to invest time and resources in our people, helping them to develop their skills and get key training. In a time of skills shortages within the industry, it’s important to nurture the talent of tomorrow, and Business on the Move is a fantastic tool which is helping many businesses, including Clipper to do this. We’re thrilled to support the project as a sponsor, and to continue using the game to teach young people about the importance of our sector.”

DP World

“We have a portfolio of 78 operating marine and inland terminals supported by over 50 related businesses in over 40 countries across six continents including maritime services, logistics and technology-driven trade solutions. So as a leading enabler of global trade we see this as a fantastic opportunity to support and promote its importance and the role of the supply chain to future generations. Business on the Move is a great way to excite and inspire young people about career opportunities in the sector, as well as business as a whole. We’re delighted to be involved!”
Kate Willoughby, Head of Group Sustainability and Impact

Heathrow Cargo

“It is very important to keep the next generation inspired and to keep growing the skills pipeline in our industry – and “Business on the Move” is a key tool in meeting this objective whilst explaining in a fun, engaging way how the cargo industry links together to supply the world. For Heathrow, our role as the country’s biggest port by value, would not be possible without the talents of our colleagues – the training and skills programmes that build their knowledge are key to improving the way we operate, and keeping the UK open for business.”
Nick Platts, Head of Cargo at Heathrow.

HFW

“We are delighted to be sponsors of Business on the Move. We are one of the only legal firms which have a dedicated Logistics practice so it is great to see an initiative which educates and enthuses young people about this evolving industry.”
Craig Neame, Partner, Head of Shipping, Offshore and Logistics at HFW.

Kuehne+Nagel

“Business on the Move is so much more than just a board game. It brings to life the scale, complexity and excitement of the international logistics industry. So often, we get asked the question “what’s logistics” and this game is a perfect way of showcasing all elements of the supply chain process and as such the multitude of career opportunities available within our sector. It’s a fun way of learning for all ages and we are already using the game both internally and externally to support our employee development and school programmes.”

Claire Piotrowski, Future Talent Manager, Kuehne + Nagel UK