Industry leaders have highlighted the importance of creating stronger routes into logistics, developing leadership capability and increasing investment in workforce development if the sector is to meet future skills challenges.
Speaking at Logistics UK’s Learning to Lead: How Workforce Development Creates Opportunity round table, sponsored by Talented People, employers, educators and policymakers discussed how the sector can widen access to careers while ensuring people have opportunities to progress throughout their working lives.
The discussion took place during Learning and Work Institute’s Get the Nation Learning Week (2 – 6 November 2026) and against the backdrop of the anticipated Milburn Review, with participants highlighting the importance of creating opportunities for young people, career changers and those furthest from the labour market.
Participants agreed that attracting talent into logistics requires clearer pathways, a greater focus on transferable skills and stronger links between education and employment.
Bethany Windsor, Logistics UK head of multimodal and skills policy (pictured), who chaired the discussion, said, “A key theme that came through was the need to break down barriers that continue to prevent people from accessing careers in logistics.
“Perceptions of the sector continue to be a challenge, as do inflexible recruitment practices and a tendency to recruit for the ‘perfect candidate’ rather than recognising potential.
“Participants also argued that employers can widen access to opportunity by focusing more on aptitude, skills and capability, helping talented individuals enter the sector from a broader range of backgrounds.”
Alongside attracting new entrants, attendees stressed the need to strengthen leadership and management capability across the workforce.
Effective line management, mentoring and ongoing development were identified as critical factors in improving retention, supporting progression and boosting productivity.
Attendees noted that workforce development should not end once someone secures a role but should continue throughout their career to help individuals and businesses adapt to changing demands.
Research from the Learning and Work Institute suggests that more than three million additional adults would be participating in learning if engagement rates were consistent across all social groups, underlining the importance of widening access to development opportunities throughout working life.
Logistics UK has also highlighted growing demand for leadership, management, digital and technical skills, in its own research, as the sector adapts to new technologies and changing ways of working.
There was broad agreement that employers, educators and policymakers must work together to create a more coherent and accessible skills system.
Participants called for greater awareness of available funding opportunities, improved coordination between skills programmes and long-term government support to give employers the confidence to invest in workforce development.
Windsor concluded: “As logistics continues to evolve, participants agreed that the sector’s long-term success will depend on its ability to attract, develop and retain talent at every stage of a person’s career.
“There is also a desire for collective action across the sector and participants agreed that no single organisation can address workforce challenges alone.
“Stronger collaboration between industry, education and government will be essential to create clearer career pathways, develop leadership capability and ensure logistics has the skilled workforce needed for the future.”
