Logistics is an “unstoppable force for economic growth" says Future of Roads Minister at Logistics UK Annual Conference

Wednesday 04 June 2025

The UK logistics sector “lies at the heart of government’s plan for change” and is an “unstoppable force for economic growth”. The comments were made by the Minister for the Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood during her keynote address at Logistics UK’s inaugural annual conference, at the QEII Conference Centre in London today (4 June).

The conference, attended by over 250 senior delegates from the UK’s logistics sector, also saw the business group launch The 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 is 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 the government is “ready to work with the sector every step of the way.”

Logistics UK President Phil Roe opened the conference, outlining the critical contribution the logistics sector 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. 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: www.logistics.org.uk/research-hub/reports/logistics-report.

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, 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. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk