Still Time for Logistics and Supply Chain Groups to Apply for UK Warehousing Awards

UK – One of the year’s highlights for those in the warehousing business, and indeed many whose interests generally lie elsewhere in other areas of the logistics supply chain, are the annual United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) Awards, once again to be held this year alongside the Annual Luncheon, taking place in the Ballroom Suite of the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London. The event, which is sponsored by fork lift truck and materials handling group Jungheinrich UK, will be held on Wednesday 1 July 2015, and the guest speaker will be none other than former Director General of the CBI and trade minister, Lord Digby Jones.

Digby Jones was born into business with some of his earliest memories being of life in a busy corner shop where he lived with his family. The shop was, he says, ‘within a spanner throw of the Austin factory’, just outside Birmingham and he remembers fondly watching the new Minis leave the factory destined for showrooms across the UK and the world. It was here that he learnt the first rudiments of business, important values that were never to leave him.

During his six and a half years as Director General of the CBI, Jones became renowned for his candid and forthright attitude in his many media appearances. In 2005 he was knighted for his services to business then, two years later, he was appointed Minister of State for UK Trade & Investment and became a life peer taking the title, Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham Kt. Forthright and, as ever, loyal to British business he spent the next 15 months ‘doing it in a different way’. Concentrating on promoting Britain across the world, he travelled to 31 countries in 45 overseas visits. Now, in addition to being an active crossbencher in the House of Lords, Lord Jones has a variety of roles with a plethora of leading organisations.

For this year’s celebrations Peter Ward, formerly in management at deep water container port London Gateway and now CEO of UKWA, will oversee his first Awards ceremony having taken over the reins from former longstanding and ever popular boss Roger Williams. There is still time to register for one of the ten awards on offer with nominations closing on April 10. Peter Ward commented:

“We are thrilled that Lord Digby Jones will be our guest speaker at the Awards. We can expect an inspiring contribution to what is always a memorable day for our Association and the Logistics Sector. With nearly five hundred professionals from retailers, manufacturers, supply chain and logistics practitioners, 3PLs and UKWA members in attendance, this 16th Annual Awards will be an unmissable networking opportunity. I would encourage anybody wishing to attend to book early as there will be a huge demand for places at this special occasion.”

This year’s nine award categories which are open for applications are, as last year, that is: Customer Service Award; Best New UKWA Member Award; Environment Award; Technology and Innovation Award; Warehouse Manager of the Year Award; Team of the Year Award; Young Employee of the Year Award; Training Award and Customer Service Award.

There is also the Chairman's own Award given to the individual the UKWA hierarchy decide has contributed most to the British warehousing scene. Applicants or nominators or those wishing to book a table for the 16th Annual Awards for Warehousing should email info@ukwa.org.uk

Photo: Lord Digby Jones is no stranger to a warehouse environment.