The Logistics and Transport Action Group.

Business Champion:
New Champion: Iain Liddell, Managing Director Uniserve Group, details to follow.

Key areas of interest:
training, security, Academy of Logistics & Transport.

Contact:
Business Forum Secretariat: 01375 652227, economic.regeneration@thurrock.gov.uk

The Transport & Distribution Action Group is poised at an exciting stage. Under the leadership of Perry Glading (Managing Director of the Port of Tilbury) the T&D Group was probably the most successful of all the Business Forum Action Groups, with the highest attendance of all the groups and a record of actions to match. Unfortunately in mid-2003 work commitments impelled Perry to resign the Chair, but in so doing he left a strong Action Group ready to address a range of future opportunities.

The T&D Group reflects one of the most important business sectors in Thurrock with a wide Membership drawing upon road haulage, sea/river transportation and rail freight. Meeting regularly at the Port of Tilbury the Group have discussed and shared best practice on a range of issues highlighted by Members, including congestion charges and transport security. In addition the Group have worked closely with Thurrock Council to ensure the local business community is aware of important transport developments such as the Local Transport Plan and the West Thurrock Relief Road. Working in partnership with the Council has also enabled the T&D Action Group to lobby central government for an additional £1m for essential road maintenance.

Throughout it’s whole lifespan the main focus of the T&D Action Group has been addressing crucial labour shortages in the logistics sector. By bringing operators together the Group was able to show the magnitude of the problem across the whole of Thurrock with profound shortages of HGV drivers, forklift drivers etc causing bottlenecks in the industry and forcing up prices. To help solve this problem the T&D Group devised the concept of an Academy of Logistics & Transport to provide skilled recruits for all occupations in the industry and to raise the profile of the sector locally and nationally. The Group then secured external funding and conducted a detailed survey of the sub-regional logistics sector and worked hard in partnership with Thurrock & Basildon College and Anglia Polytechnic University to bring the Academy itself into existence. The Academy was formally launched in March 2003 and is now fully operative and actively addressing skills shortages. With exciting developments planned for the future the Academy is sure to attain it’s goal of becoming a prestigious national resource. For more information please visit www.academy-logistics-transport.co.uk or call 0845 6001835.

The Transport & Distribution Action Group has therefore had a very fruitful three years. The challenge for 2004 is to identify a new Chair with the enthusiasm to carry the Group forward. The transport and logistics sector in Thurrock continues to thrive and challenges continue to present themselves, consequently there are many opportunities for the new Chair and any interested business should contact the Forum Secretariat.