Levelling up is good news to keep goods moving, says Logistics UK

Thursday 19 January 2023

Following the levelling up announcement made by government today (19 January 2023), Jonathan Walker, Logistics UK’s Head of Cities and Infrastructure Policy, comments:

“The announcement of successful levelling up fund bids, which includes a number of schemes with potential to improve infrastructure capacity and reduce congestion in local areas, will help to support existing – and develop new – business links within the supply chain. To ensure that goods continue to move smoothly from source to end user, we are now urging local and regional administrations to work together, along with national infrastructure bodies, to support the UK's highly interconnected supply chains. It is vital that the successful projects are delivered quickly to support industry with the efficient delivery of the products households, businesses and public services rely on every day.

“In addition to having the correct infrastructure, it is essential that cities and regions nationwide have policies in place to support efficient last mile journeys and logistics employment opportunities in their areas. We are encouraged by the fund’s focus on supporting carbon reduction nationwide and are urging successful local authorities to work with businesses to ensure that new schemes are delivered in a way that enables efficient freight movements and encourages businesses to invest.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading 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 COVID-19, Brexit, 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, sea 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.