Logistics UK comment on the publication of the interim Milburn Report

Thursday 28 May 2026

Bethany Windsor, Logistics UK’s Head of Skills Policy and Generation Logistics commented: “Today’s publication of the interim Milburn Report makes sobering reading about the prospects for the next generation, particularly the scale of the rise in young people who are NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training.)

“For sectors like logistics, this is also a moment of opportunity. Apprenticeships, traineeships and initiatives such as @Generation Logistics play a crucial role in opening up pathways for young people who may never have considered a career in the sector. They provide not just entry routes into work, but clear progression, practical skills and long-term careers in a sector that underpins the whole economy.

“The focus now needs to be on ensuring that the skills system is responsive, joined up and aligned with employer need. Reform that strengthens technical routes, improves careers awareness, and makes it easier for employers to engage will be essential if we are to connect more young people with meaningful opportunities.

“Getting this right is not just about social mobility; it is fundamental to the long-term resilience and productivity of the UK’s logistics workforce.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk