Open Call
West Midlands Logistics & Distribution Cluster
Overview
The West Midlands Logistics & Distribution Cluster is a collaborative initiative led by Connected Places Catapult, aimed at fostering growth and innovation within the logistics and distribution sector in the West Midlands. It focuses on enhancing transport modes, infrastructure, warehousing, and freight management, while addressing skills, talent, innovation, sustainability, and digitalisation.
In partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), this cluster is one of ten targeted sectors for strategic development, bringing together businesses, academia, and the public sector to boost regional economic strength.
Key priorities include:
- Transport modes: HGVs, vans, rail freight, aircraft, and ships
- Transport infrastructure: Essential support for logistics and distribution
- Warehousing & Freight management: Streamlined storage and delivery
The West Midlands Logistics and Distribution Cluster empowers businesses, institutions, and innovators to drive sustainable growth, productivity, and resilience across the region’s logistics ecosystem. By convening public, private, and academic partners, the cluster delivers targeted support in innovation, skills, infrastructure, and policy—enabling members to thrive in a rapidly evolving global supply chain landscape.
Our mission is to build an inclusive and resilient logistics and distribution cluster that drives innovation, economic growth, and sustainability across the West Midlands. We are committed to expanding workforce skills, promoting low-carbon solutions, and supporting a vibrant innovation ecosystem. Through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and active engagement in regional and national policy, we aim to ensure the logistics sector remains a key contributor to the region’s long-term development and prosperity.
Our aims for 2025-2026
- Supporting a vibrant innovation ecosystem
- Increase growth of the cluster
- Expand workforce skills and talent pipelines
- Promote and facilitate sustainability and decarbonisation
- Build an inclusive, resilient cluster with a stake in future regional developments
- Advocate for changes to L&D related policies and regulations for the benefit of our members
- Data & Digital strategy and optimisation
- Ensure our outcomes and activities are recorded and evaluated
Who should apply?
Organisations must be active in, or express an interest in, the logistics and distribution sector
Operations must be based in the West Midlands
The organisation must be registered in the UK
Application process
Logistics companies operating within the West Midlands are invited to join the West Midlands Logistics & Distribution Cluster. As a publicly funded initiative, membership is complimentary, with the programme serving as a strategic hub to support the logistics, distribution, and freight sectors across the region.
Supporting documents
Cluster advisory board
To support this significant initiative, an advisory board has been established in partnership with the WMCA.
The Cluster Advisory Board will play a central role in determining the strategic direction of the cluster, facilitating collaboration, and promoting innovation within the sector. Serving as a conduit between cluster members, policymakers, and key stakeholders, the Advisory Board will ensure that activities are aligned with both regional and national objectives, while appropriately addressing the evolving needs of the logistics and distribution sector.
The composition of the board is reviewed regularly. Individuals interested in future opportunities are invited to submit an expression of interest below for consideration.
Events and masterclasses
A primary objective of the cluster is to foster a collaborative and dynamic logistics ecosystem through strategic stakeholder engagement and the promotion of knowledge sharing.
Over the coming year, we will be scheduling a series of events and masterclasses for our members, designed to deliver insights from subject-matter experts and accelerate business growth.
Workshop with the West Midlands Innovation Alliance – Data and digital challenges and opportunities of the sector
22 October 2025, 10am-12pm (arrive from 9:45, stay for networking until 1pm), Birmingham
The next IZCWG meeting will take place as a Birmingham Tech Week Fringe Event at the soon-to-be-launched WM Cyber Hub!
This meeting will be held jointly with the Innovative Transport Working Group and will introduce the newly launched WM Logistics and Distribution Cluster to members of both working groups.
Come along to hear about the cluster’s mission and progress to date from the Cluster Lead Alok Pandya at the Connected Places Catapult, and engage with a panel of experts who will zoom in on the data and digital challenges and opportunities of the sector and the role these could play in working towards a zero-carbon, highly skilled and thriving logistics and distribution sector.
As is usual for all Innovative Working Group meetings, there will be opportunities to connect with others to explore how you can collaborate to innovate to address these challenges and take advantage of these opportunities.
Panellists to be announced shortly – watch this space!
Workshop with National Grid – Logistics Participants Wanted
28 October, 2pm–5pm, Birmingham
We are seeking nominations for a closed-door event with National Grid Energy Distribution (NGED), specifically for manufacturing and supply chain representatives with direct experience in energy management. The session will explore barriers and opportunities for the clean energy transition and cost reduction, encouraging open discussion of all potential solutions.
This is a valuable opportunity for regional energy-intensive businesses to help shape a practical and forward-looking clean energy strategy. The event will conclude with a catered drinks reception for participants.
Please note, this is not a sales event. We are looking for cluster members with hands-on energy management experience. If you or a colleague would like to attend, please contact: alok.pandya@cp.catapult.org.uk.
