Welcome to the Warehouse & Logistics News Annual 2025, an in-depth look at some of the leading companies and trade associations in the warehousing and logistics sector, all of whom have operated with excellence. This title will help you make purchasing decisions and act as a resource for anyone looking for warehouse equipment and logistics solutions. We extend our thanks to all the supporters of this publication.
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The warehousing and storage market is demonstrating dynamic growth, up from £283.10 billion in 2023 to £305.23 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%, according to The Business Research Company. This growth can be attributed to industrialisation and urbanisation, expansion of global trade, e-commerce and supply chain evolution, regulatory compliance and safety standards, economic growth and consumerism.
In the next few years, the market is expected to experience strong growth. Growth is likely to come from supply chain resilience, adoption of robotics and automation, sustainability and green warehousing practices and last-mile delivery solutions. Trends forecast for the next few years include integration with advanced technologies, multi-channel distribution centres, flexible and scalable warehouse designs and collaborative warehousing models.
UKWA held a year-long programme to recognise the warehouse industry’s importance to the UK economy, supply chains, and achievement of net zero goals. Warehousing and logistics massively contribute to the UK economy, and the sector is both a major employer and a force for social mobility. Therefore, the Year of Warehousing aimed to turn the spotlight onto the million plus people who work in warehousing and celebrate the role of the sector in national life.
Warehouses are now a staple of the British economy as huge firms like Amazon, Tesco and IKEA build distribution centres across the UK. The volume of warehouse employees has more than tripled since 2010, with ONS data revealing the number of workers rose from 81,000 to 284,000 in 2023.
Not only are there more warehouse workers, but the sector is also becoming more diverse. The latest statistics from Gartner show that around 41% of the supply chain workforce is female, up from 35% in 2016. And women are not simply participating in the industry, they are leading it: around a third of all supervisor and line manager roles are held by women. This gender diversity has, to some degree, been helped by the introduction of automation technologies, which have made warehouse work safer and less physically stressful, as well as creating many new roles. Women have in many cases bypassed warehouse floor roles and entered the industry in strategic or technical roles. Education has also helped create a more diverse workforce, as a number of universities around the UK now offer supply chain management degrees.
Warehouse & Logistics News, the industry’s only fortnightly title, will continue to keep you informed to help you rise to the challenges and opportunities of 2025.
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