Using over 2.5 million individuals throughout the UK, the logistics sector continues to face acute abilities shortages, alongside fast change pushed by automation, digitalisation and the drive to internet zero. Synthetic Intelligence (AI) could have a major position to play within the logistics careers of the longer term and isn’t a menace to jobs, however cultural change is simply as vital as technological change if logistics companies are to maximise the alternatives. So stated specialists throughout a spherical desk dialogue on Upskilling and Reskilling in Logistics organised by Technology Logistics, an trade consciousness programme managed by enterprise group Logistics UK, and the Studying and Work Institute.
Collaborating throughout Get the Nation Studying Week (3–7 November 2025), the dialogue introduced collectively trade leaders, coaching suppliers and policymakers to discover the indiustry’s present and future abilities wants, in addition to debating boundaries to workforce growth, revolutionary coaching fashions for contemporary operations and coverage suggestions to allow scalable, sustainable studying throughout the sector.
“The logistics sector places loads of concentrate on attracting individuals into the trade, however not almost sufficient on how we retain and assist them progress by ongoing upskilling and reskilling,” stated Bethany Windsor, Programme Director for Technology Logistics and Head of Abilities Coverage at Logistics UK, who was chairing the dialogue. “That’s the place employers could make the most important and most lasting distinction, actually within the quick time period.”
Using AI within the sector was mentioned, and the individuals outlined how the know-how is already broadly used and helps enhance effectivity by automating many duties.
“Throughout discussions, it grew to become clear that whereas AI will change the roles individuals are doing, it won’t essentially change them,” continued Windsor. “A lot of immediately’s jobs merely didn’t exist a couple of years in the past and AI presents an amazing alternative for upskilling because the know-how turns into extra essential for logistics operators.
“Boundaries to upskilling are well-known: the associated fee and time pressures of releasing workers for coaching, fragmented provision for SMEs, and a funding system that’s not all the time straightforward to entry and that doesn’t flex for brief or modular upskilling.
“We all know from worldwide proof, together with the latest Studying and Work Institute report funded by the Nuffield Basis, that success comes when coaching is employer-led, co-designed and simple to entry.
“For logistics, which means constructing sector partnerships, increasing modular and on-the-job studying, and making funding less complicated and extra versatile, so companies can reply rapidly to vary.
“If the sector can get that proper, we’ll not solely clear up immediately’s shortages, but in addition construct a workforce prepared for the digital, data-driven and low-carbon logistics of, guaranteeing the UK stays a worldwide chief in environment friendly, revolutionary provide chains.”
Logistics UK is without doubt one of the UK’s largest enterprise teams, representing logistics companies that are important to protecting the UK buying and selling, and greater than seven million individuals immediately employed within the making, promoting and shifting of products. With decarbonisation, new know-how and different disruptive forces driving change in the way in which items transfer throughout borders and thru the provision chain, logistics has by no means been extra vital to UK plc. Logistics UK helps, shapes and stands up for secure and environment friendly logistics, and is the one enterprise group which represents the entire trade, with members from the street, rail, water and air industries, in addition to the patrons of freight companies resembling retailers and producers whose companies rely upon the environment friendly motion of products. For extra details about the organisation and its work, please go to logistics.org.uk
