Logistics businesses urge Welsh government to plan for the future

Friday 29 September 2023

Logistics businesses have this week urged the Welsh government to provide a clear future plan for logistics at a roundtable hosted by Logistics UK, attended by Welsh Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS.   

At the event, hosted at Owens Group’s facility in Cardiff Bay, members and industry leaders discussed the key priorities for the Wales National Freight and Logistics Plan due to be published in 2024. Discussed was the need for the plan to include practical measures to ensure a green, integrated and effective multimodal logistics network as well as build on best practice for last mile delivery and support future skills development in Wales.   

Following the meeting, Chief Executive of Logistics UK, David Wells OBE, commented: “Our members, who are responsible for transporting everything that Welsh businesses and consumers need every day, are keen to see progress on a national plan which optimises the benefits our sector brings to the Welsh economy and communities. To ensure the plan is effective, and achievable, continued communication with our industry is vital.  

“The roundtable meeting was extremely productive, and it is encouraging to see such positive engagement from both the Welsh government, and industry. With many practicable objectives highlighted in the meeting, Logistics UK will now continue to work with the Deputy Minister’s office to ensure that the key points discussed are taken forwards and that the Freight and Logistics Plan works for the businesses that keep the Welsh economy running daily.”  

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 decarbonisation, 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, 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.