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Logistics is "Unstoppable force for economic growth", says Future of Roads Minister


Speaking at the inaugural Logistics UK Annual Conference 2025, Minister for the Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood acknowledged just how important the logistics sector is.  

The UK logistics sector “lies at the heart of government’s plan for change” and is an “unstoppable force for economic growth”, she said. The comments were made by the Minister during her keynote address at the conference, at the QEII Conference Centre in London on 4 June.  

Attended by over 250 senior delegates from the UK’s logistics sector, the event saw the launch of the Logistics UK Logistics Report 2025, its annual review of the sector which shows logistics generates £170 billion for the UK economy, employs over 8% of the nation’s workforce and will be a key enabler in the government achieving its growth agenda.  

In her speech, Ms Greenwood recognised that the “industry wants more clarity from government” and stressed that “logistics lies at the heart of government’s plan for change”, saying that it is “ready to work with the sector every step of the way.”  

Logistics UK President Phil Roe opened the conference by outlining the critical contribution the industry makes to the UK economy: “Logistics is not a background operation,” he said, “it is a driver of growth and a barometer of economic efficiency. When logistics thrives, the economy thrives.  

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“The Minister’s address at our conference today shows the government is keen to work with the sector but there still needs to be a step change in how logistics is understood, supported and prioritised in national policy making. Key to this is recognition of logistics as a foundational sector in the Industrial Strategy, underpinning, as it does, all industry.”  

Recognising the challenges the sector is facing, especially in the areas of decarbonisation and skills, Ms Greenwood says the government will continue to champion the Generation Logistics awareness campaign and said that the government wants to work with the sector with a spirit of collaboration.  

Finishing her keynote with a “thank you” for “keeping the wheels turning, driving economic growth and improving lives,” Ms Greenwood reassured delegates on behalf of the government that “we are listening.”  

The Logistics Report 2025 provides a comprehensive benchmark for the industry, reflecting on the past year and identifying future trends and sentiment within the sector.  

It combines the latest official statistics, insight from industry experts and the findings of Logistics UK’s Industry Survey which canvassed over 500 of its members to gauge industry sentiment - a summary and details of how to obtain the full report can be found here.

 

Published On: 06/06/2025 11:46:19

 

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News In Brief

National Highways rejects claims that private finance for the Lower Thames Crossing would push up tolls

National Highways, which is leading the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project, has rejected claims that using private finance to fund the project would push up current tolls, saying it anticipated they would remain at current levels, inflation adjusted. 

Transport Action Network has warned that those wishing to use the Dartford Crossing could see tolls more than triple if the government utilises a private finance model to fund the LTC.  

Logistics UK supports the LTC and is awaiting a decision at next month’s Spending Review on how it will be funded. However, we are clear that while road charges are necessary to fund new infrastructure, tolls need to be reasonable, as the logistics industry pays disproportionately more towards construction costs than private road users.  

Natalie Chapman, Head of Public Affairs at Logistics UK, said the approval of the crossing was “excellent news” given the delays to traffic at Dartford. She added: “Industry recognises that road charges are necessary to fund new infrastructure, but tolls need to be reasonable, as industry pays disproportionately more towards construction costs than private road users.” 

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