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Industry representatives join West Midlands Logistics and Distribution Cluster Advisory Board
A new Advisory Board has been convened to focus on how to drive growth in the region’s logistics and distribution sector.
Connected Places Catapult has been selected by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to establish the West Midlands Logistics and Distribution Cluster.
The aims of the Logistics and Distribution Cluster align with the vision set out in the West Midlands’ economic strategy - through the existing Plan for Growth and emerging Local Growth Plan. The cluster is aiming to leverage investment, create more high paying jobs, upskill the existing workforce, reduce unemployment and foster an innovate approach to tackling issues faced across the wider industry and ecosystem development.
The cluster will address key economic priorities in the West Midlands:
- Transport modes: From HGVs and vans to rail freight, aircraft, and ships
- Transport infrastructure: The backbone enabling logistics and distribution
- Warehousing & Freight management: Efficient storage and delivery processes
Cross-cutting themes include:
- Skills provision
- Talent attraction and retention
- Innovation and R&D, including decarbonisation.
- International trade and foreign direct investment (FDI).
- Digitalisation and operational optimisation.
The Cluster Advisory Board will play a pivotal role in shaping the cluster’s strategic direction, fostering collaboration, and championing innovation across the sector. Acting as an intermediary between cluster members, policymakers, and key stakeholders, the Advisory Board will ensure alignment with regional and national priorities while addressing the needs of the logistics and distribution sector.
The Catapult invited applications to join the Advisory Board in December, with applications closing early in the new year. Work has already begun, with the Advisory Board meeting for the first time last week.
The members of the West Midlands Logistics and Distribution Cluster Advisory Board are:
Michael Boxwell - Voltempo Group Limited
David K. Browne - Maersk Logistics and Services
Stephen Cross - Cen Group Ltd
Jacob Dutton - Victoria Square Labs
Ben Garratt - Logistics UK
Joshua Gold - TMV
Chris Hopkirk - SpaceMaker Inc Ltd
Daljit Kalirai - Women in Transport
Dominic Murphy - GTG Training Ltd
Steve Nesbitt - MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre
Lewis Payne - IM Properties
Greg Peacock - Poundland and Dealz Ltd
Andrew Robert Steadman - Road Haulage Association
James Stephens - DHL
Evanthia Thanou - Aston University
Claire Umney - Alwayse Engineering Limited
“The Logistics and Distribution Cluster in the West Midlands is ideally positioned to lead in the rapidly growing online retail and e-commerce market, with 90% of the UK population reachable within four hours. It’s also a key driver of jobs in the region, with more than 70,000 direct logistics & distribution jobs across the seven metropolitan councils that make up the Combined Authority.
“Here at Connected Places Catapult, we’re ready to support this cross-industry group as they collaborate to supercharge the sector’s growth the region. Our experience in managing other industry collaborations nationally – for example the DfT’s Freight Innovation Fund Cluster – puts us in a unique position to support this Cluster.”Iain Mansell, Head of West Midlands Regional Engagement, Connected Places Catapult
The West Midlands Logistics and Distribution Cluster is open to professionals active in the distribution or logistics sectors, based or operating in the West Midlands.
