I was appointed Honorary President of the UK Warehousing Association in 2018, the beginning of a period of significant change in the supply chain sector. Having now had an opportunity to learn more about the challenges faced by warehousing, I am very pleased to support the manifesto through this foreword.

Warehousing is integral to every aspect of the UK economy, including defence, construction, pharmaceuticals, energy and retail. We have seen dramatic cycles in economic activity, with demand spiking in our industry right across the UK, caused by the pandemic, storage requirements and changes in consumer behaviour. Post-pandemic instability, manifested by high energy prices and geopolitical unrest, is now impacting consumer demand and our new trading relationships with the rest of the world, and supply chains being once again disrupted.

Logistics is often described as the fuel that generates commerce and the industry that feeds the nation. Our manufacturing, retailing, health, education and defence sectors simply cannot function without vital supply chains, within which warehousing provides the key link.

It is therefore essential that warehousing is no longer overlooked by our government and that we change direction to facilitate a more favourable policy environment for the sector.

Working with the new Government, this manifesto represents a key opportunity to understand the challenges facing our sector and to hear about the potential solutions from those working within it.