Month in the media – March 2022

The high cost of fuel, the cut in Fuel Duty announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, and the skills shortage have all featured prominently in the headlines over the past month, and Logistics UK’s media team has been working hard to ensure the views of members are heard on these issues and others. The team achieved 455 pieces of media coverage between 23 February and 29 March, creating the opportunity for over 46.5 million people to see Logistics UK and its messages.

Coverage at a glance: the numbers:

• Radio and TV broadcasts – 42 
• National online and printed press – 21 
• Regional press – 12 
• Online (transport, regional and trade) – 315 
• Magazines (printed transport and trade magazines) – 50 
• FTA Ireland coverage – 15 

FUEL DUTY

Logistics UK wrote to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP asking the government to introduce a temporary reduction in diesel Fuel Duty in the Spring Statement to protect the economy, due to sky high fuel prices which place an unsustainable burden on UK businesses. Coverage was secured in the print editions of the Sunday Mirror and The People, as well as on mirror.co.uk, MSN UK, Austria and South Africa, and Logistics UK’s comments were published by around 35 regional and trade publications. Comments given to Stormont's Infrastructure Committee about rising fuel prices and fuel availability resulted in coverage in the Daily Star and on the Independent, Evening Standard, Yahoo, AOL, MSN and 118 regional newspaper websites across the UK. Following the subsequent announcement of a 5p a litre cut in fuel duty, our reaction was published in the Daily Mail, and an interview undertaken on the BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle Inside Business programme on the same subject. 

SKILLS SHORTAGE 

Natalie Chapman took part in an interview on BBC Radio Northampton and the team’s continuing promotion of the Driver Academy Group, highlighting the number and diversity of driver training applicants, was covered across the trade media. A statement on the Skills and Employment Update was published on Bloomberg and by around 10 other publications and our work on International Women's Day was quoted on BBC Radio Humberside, in particular our statistics on the number of women in the industry and the shortage of drivers; the trade press covered our comments on Scottish Apprenticeship Week.  

P&O FERRIES

Challenges caused by the P&O ferries situation resulted in a flurry of local radio interviews - including BBC Radio Kent and BBC Radio Ulster - on the developing situation, which caused a build-up of traffic at ports and had knock-on effects on the supply chain. Comments were published in the regional and trade press, including The Grocer, The Belfast Telegraph, The Irish Independent and MSN Ireland. Seventeen items of radio broadcast coverage were achieved on the effect the situation was having on the Larne route, including BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Sussex, BBC Radio Surrey, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle; our comments were also published on BBC Online. 

SUPPLY CHAIN CONSULTANCY 

The team achieved items in 16 transport and trade publications following promotion of the launch of the Supply Chain Consultancy's new service to help businesses decarbonise their vehicle fleets. 

THE MONTH AHEAD 

The press team will continue monitoring ongoing supply chain challenges and take every opportunity to promote the Supply Ukraine campaign, as well as continuing to plan for the Future Logistics Conference and Van Driver of the Year competition which both take place at ITT Hub in May, and Logistics UK’s other forthcoming events, which include the Vans Today briefings and Fleet Engineer. 

Have you got a story?  If you are keen to speak to the media about a pressing issue – from Brexit readiness to skills shortages, urban restrictions to future logistics – or to shout about some of the great work your organisation is doing, we would love to hear from you.  We are also keen to hear from those with personal achievements to shout about – maybe moving a very unusual load, staff members who have received special awards or with unusual hobbies or expertise. And as always, the media is keen to talk to women working across the industry – we are particularly on the lookout for female drivers who are happy to talk to the press. Please contact Eleanor, Freya or Rona in the media team at press.office@logistics.org.uk – we look forward to hearing from you!   

Published On: 31/03/2022 16:00:39

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