May saw the first in this year’s follow-up events to the launch of the Northamptonshire Logistics Awards as the organisers prepare for the tenth anniversary ceremony later this year.
Northampton College played host to the panel session and networking event, where logistics consultant (and awards judge), Andy Fitt led a discussion on a range of topics that affect the logistics sector, from geopolitical challenges to attracting and supporting those entering the business.
Andy was joined by Wayne Ramswell, General Manager at headline sponsor DSV; Joanne Philpott, Deputy Principal at Northampton College; and previous award winner Alex Castle, who is a Degree Management Apprentice with GXO Logistics.
Fittingly, for an education venue, the subjects included skills development and the impact that is going to have on the future of the industry. While meeting skills and talent requirements is crucial, the panel agreed that the need for training and knowledge in areas such as AI and automation was just as important the traditional fork lift and manual handling specialisms.
Joanna Philpott spoke about how young people often find it hard to gain the roles and relevant work experience, but the introduction of T Levels and V Levels were going a long way to address the issues and provide the crucial work experience openings that were powerful in helping students make career decisions.
During a discussion on decarbonisation and the move to net zero, it was clear that one of the key issues was the cost of sustainability measures for businesses in logistics, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, who are the majority across the sector.
Similarly, a different approach to consumer behaviour – and the need to educate retail customers on the damaging effects of buying and returning online to the extent some do – came up for discussion along with calls for government support and intervention and increased confidence and infrastructure around, for instance, electric vehicles.
It was agreed that with the average age of drivers standing at around 55, it was vital to attract more young people into the industry.
Northamptonshire Logistics Awards organiser Charlotte Patrick said: “Having launched the awards in April and with a whole range of categories to enter, it is important to us to keep the spotlight on the industry and show all those individuals, teams and companies how important it is to recognise the challenges and achievements of this sector.
“This will be the tenth Northamptonshire Logistics Awards, and we’re very proud of that, but throughout the years it has been clear that it is an industry that is affected by so many issues out of its control, from fuel prices to Brexit and global conflicts, yet it still seems to keep doing what it does best. And we want to make sure that continues.
“I want to thank the panel for their time and their insights, I’m sure everyone who attended found it informative and fascinating, and we’re looking forward to more similar events between now and October.”
The Northamptonshire Logistics Awards 2026 will be held at the Mercure Hotel Northampton on October 9. Full details, including the categories and how to enter and details of sponsorship opportunities, can be found on the website.
For more information, visit the Northamptonshire Logistics Awards website.
