Need for resilience

We live in times of challenge and change. Some of this change is a huge accelerated evolution of trends we probably already knew but hadn’t lived. Whilst in January 2020 you appreciated that flexibility and digitisation were becoming increasingly important. But if someone asked you to ‘jump on a Zoom’, you’re unlikely to have known what that was and possibly called HR.

Some change is new and transforming. The retail sector, for example, has seen dramatic changes in its business model almost overnight. Changes that mean its ways of working have altered decisively and for the long term.

Ports see and experience this too. As the vital gateways for the UK’s global supply chains (95% of everything that arrives or leaves the UK does so via our seaports), we are part of the change ourselves and key providers of the solutions for others.

Existing occupiers are already experiencing the benefits, economic, operational, environmental, of ‘port-centric’ operations. But current experience and future trends reinforce the importance of these advantages.

The word ‘resilience’ has gained greater importance for all supply chain professionals through the Covid-19 pandemic. Port locations are ideally suited for nearshoring facilities, given their proximity to points of entry, inventory management systems and transport links. Brexit and the inevitable additional frictions for EU trade flows also boost the need for resilience, with many ports already experienced in border processes.

The environmental imperative is, rightly, ever-increasing. With sea miles much more carbon-efficient than other freight modes and the reduced handling requirements of immediate proximity, ports have a compelling green proposition.

But what doesn’t change is the need for solutions to deliver cost efficiency. With one of the most competitive ports sectors in the world, ensuring propositions for occupiers and customers deliver value is built-in in the UK.

As an island nation, ports have been key to the UK for millennia. At this historic and challenging time for the UK, their importance has never been higher. The operators of the UK’s ports have the ambition and capability to step up to the challenges and deliver solutions for customers, occupiers and the UK.

Tim Morris,
Chief Executive, UK Major Ports Group

_{Read the articles within Spotlight: Port-centric Logistics below.}