While representing Logistics UK at recent political party conferences, it became clear to me that the English devolution agenda is picking up speed — presenting a powerful opportunity for the logistics sector, but only if we grasp it.
Regional mayors and their combined authorities are becoming ever more influential, directly shaping transport, planning, skills, and economic development policies. Empowering their work is now a central plank of the government’s growth agenda. With logistics being a national sector, with hubs and customers across the country, it is imperative that, as an industry, we engage effectively with the combined authorities to support and shape the delivery of their growth plans, helping them, and our sector, to deliver for the economy.
Each elected regional mayor faces their own challenges and opportunities in driving growth for their communities. This will inevitably lead to different approaches to economic strategy across the country, which risks creating fragmentation for a sector like ours, operating nationwide. The issues our industry needs to see addressed, from outdated vehicle regulations and ageing transport infrastructure to uncertainty over decarbonisation policy, are common wherever you operate or are based. Should mayors take radically different approaches, we risk a patchwork of rules that make it harder to operate efficiently.
However, there are big opportunities too. The English regional devolution agenda gives businesses in each region a stronger chance to influence policy, especially when they can demonstrate their ability to deliver new skills, innovation, and investment. And while each mayor is tasked with developing a regionally focused growth plan, those plans must also align with the government’s overall strategy. This is another reason why it was so important that logistics was recognised as a vital contributor to the economy in the Modern Industrial Strategy earlier this year, and why it remains essential that the forthcoming Integrated National Transport Strategy ensures transport works for logistics as well as for other transport users.
While it is understandable to be concerned that mayoral administrations may not have logistics and freight corridors at the top of mind – as the local authorities that comprise them rarely seem to – we cannot be defeatist. Yes, they will be focused on vote-winners like schools, hospitals, and urban regeneration, and yes, they will have stretched budgets. But they also know their mission is long-term growth. We must work together to make the case for efficient transport corridors, planning approaches that support sustainable development, and investment in the skills our sector will need for the future. Regions must also look beyond their own boundaries, to how they connect to each other and to the UK’s international gateways.
We must demonstrate that efficient and sustainable logistics underpins both the economy and the public services that matter most to voters. We should also be willing to work in partnership to trial new approaches, and then make the case for successful ones to be rolled out consistently, rather than adapted locally.
This approach is already bearing fruit, as shown by new regional growth plans published this year. The West Midlands Growth Plan recognises that the region’s innovative logistics firms underpin the manufacturing and other sectors it seeks to boost. The East Midlands Growth Plan identifies logistics as one of the region’s established strengths, while the Liverpool City Region’s Plan for Prosperity emphasises the importance of transport and logistics to its future ambitions.
It is also important that we do not take our eye off the pan-regional transport bodies that have been maturing over recent years. While mayors will be focused on their city regions, it is organisations like Transport for the North, Midlands Connect, and Transport East that have the strongest collective voice beyond Whitehall on the strategic transport infrastructure the country needs to boost growth. They understand the importance of freight transport to the economy and will continue to be vital allies in making the case for logistics regionally and nationally.
Logistics UK and its members remain committed to driving growth across the whole country. Achieving this requires a joined-up approach and cooperation between mayoral authorities, pan-regional bodies, and the government. To support this, I would like to see a formal Logistics Forum established within England’s developing devolution architecture. This body would develop common approaches to urban logistics, decarbonisation, major infrastructure, planning, innovation, and skills – underpinned by strong evidence on how to smooth the movement of goods nationwide and boost growth. The sharing of best practice will be key to preventing costly errors, avoiding fragmentation, and ensuring that logistics delivers for every region of the UK.
Phil Roe, president, Logistics UK
