On Monday 7th October, Kevin Richardson, Chief Executive, CILT(UK) and Sue Terpilowski and Jolyon Drury, representing CILT’s Public Policy Committee, met with Andrew Griffith, Chief Business Adviser to the Prime Minister, at 10 Downing Street. 

 

As the membership body for those individuals and organisations involved in and leading supply chain operations for the movement of goods and people, CILT is committed to continue working with government to provide impartial evidence based advice and guidance.

During the meeting, a number of issues were discussed, including: 

• The importance of frictionless borders
• The profession’s reliance on non-UK EU labour
• The implications of cabotage
• How to better support automation and technology adoption

As well as the implications of Brexit to our profession, CILT encouraged Mr Griffith to ensure the government better understands the importance of our sectors to UK economy; in addition to realising the impact of current skills and labour shortages and also encouraged the need for government to consider a Supply Chain minister.

Mr Griffith was reminded that CILT is apolitical and modally agnostic and does not undertake lobbying of any kind. CILT uses its broad and expert membership to form balanced viewpoints and policy recommendations.

CILT believes that joined up thinking between government and the profession is essential for moving the supply chain, logistics and transport professions forward, as the sector faces an increasing number of challenges as the demands of consumers rise, political uncertainty continues and the pace of change gets quicker.

Kevin Richardson said: “Having effective supply chains is vital in delivering against many of the pledges made by Mr Johnson during his election campaign. However, one of our main concerns is that across the government offices there is little real understanding of supply chains and of the true value of freight and its contribution to the growth of the UK.”