Focused on the future

THE ROLE of warehousing has changed unimaginably with the explosion of ecommerce and online shopping, where activities commonly associated upstream with manufacturers and downstream with retailers are increasingly being undertaken in the pivotal mid-ground of warehouses. This explains both the growth in the number of warehouses and the increase in the size of facilities to accommodate the additional activities and the larger workforce required to execute many more roles, as detailed in our 2024 Report compiled by Savills (The Size and Make Up of the UK Warehousing Property Sector).

Last year, UKWA launched a national ‘Year of Warehousing’ campaign, aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of the sector within supply chains and its contribution to the UK economy. Marking the 80^th anniversary of the inception of the Association, UKWA CEO Clare Bottle undertook an epic journey to all corners of the UK as part of the campaign, visiting 80 warehouses across the year to showcase the extraordinary variety of work undertaken in warehouses, including innovation in sustainability and the circular economy. In many cases, Clare was accompanied by a Minister, MP or local dignitary, many of whom had never been in a warehouse before and were visibly impressed that such companies operated within their region.

This, together with a series of 8 Regional Roadshows, helped UKWA achieve its mission of building community and raising the profile of the sector both at governmental level and with local policy makers.

Influencing Policy

The focus for 2025 is to build on the success of 2024 The Year of Warehousing, to create a powerful platform for developing the Association’s already strong links with those influencing policy on issues affecting UKWA members. Examples include Planning Reform, Sustainability & Solar Power, Business Rates, Apprenticeships & Training. 

As the Voice of Warehousing, UKWA has invested substantially in assembling a talented and highly skilled team of Policy and Public Affairs specialists, whose role is to articulate the views and interests of the sector, and where relevant, respond on behalf of members to government consultations.

The UKWA Policy Manifesto sets out our key ‘asks’ of the government, and the UKWA Advisory Boards provide a valuable opportunity for members to share best practice and to feed into shaping policy around key areas, specifically:

• Digitalisation & Technology
• Energy & Net Zero
• People & Skills
• Property & Planning
• Safety
• Trade & Borders
• Young People

Skills & Training; UKWA Warehouse Manager CPC 

 As warehousing becomes more automated, the roles within the sector have become more complex. While warehousing offers many entry level job opportunities, increasingly there are additional demands for software developers, engineers, maintenance technicians, and workers across the board to be upskilled, as people learn to work alongside technology.

Last year, we were proud to launch the first independently accredited Level 3 UKWA Warehouse Manager Certificate of Competence (CPC), as an equivalent to the established Transport Manager CPC. Written and delivered by experienced industry experts, this was widely welcomed within the industry and attracted candidates from growing SMEs to big brand retailers.

This year we will be offering a new stream-lined, accessible digitised format that mixes face-to-face classroom tuition and site visits with more online modules. This offers additional flexibility for study, alongside a wide range of short courses that can stand alone or build towards the full qualification.

In 2025 the UKWA Policy Team will be working to have the UKWA Warehouse Manager CPC incorporated into the existing L3 standard Apprenticeship and allow the Trailblazer group to identify our short courses which can become eligible for levy funding.

We will also continue to support Generation Logistics in their campaign to attract young talent into the industry, and this year will be working with the Royal Academy of Engineering to facilitate a series of warehouse visits as part of the Academy’s Graduate Engineering Engagement Programme (GEEP). The aim is to place warehousing & logistics firmly on the radar of students seeking exciting employment opportunities.

Sustainability: Solar power on warehouse rooftops

Since our 2022 milestone report into the benefits and barriers of solar power on warehouse rooftops, a great deal of progress has been achieved. For example, solar power can now be installed on commercial rooftops throughout the UK without going through the planning system, expediting solar rooftop projects and reducing costs for businesses looking to embrace renewable energy. 

UKWA has continued to engage at a high level on this topic; last year, we held a round table forum in London, bringing together high profile leaders from all sectors of the industry, including occupiers, developers and landlords, with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for State at the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) to discuss the challenges faced by those trying to ‘do the right thing’  but finding cost and complexity nearly impossible to manage.

In 2025, we will be updating and reissuing our Solar Toolkit for members in the light of the changing landscape, and will be holding a Parliamentary Reception in the Spring, which will be focused on rooftop solar and future opportunities for the sector.

UKWA: What we do

UKWA’s mission is fourfold. We talk to power about warehousing, ensuring that the voice of our industry is heard at all levels. We drive up industry standards and look to improve training and personal development opportunities for those working in warehousing. We build community by providing valuable networking events and pooling knowledge on key issues. Finally, we help our members operate sustainably, ethically and profitably, with expert business advice and a range of exclusive benefits, including the ‘gold standard’ UKWA Conditions of Contract and our newly launched Modern Slavery programme.

We are firmly focused on the future and look forward to an exciting year in 2025.