UK Warehousing Boss Makes Himself Busy on Sprinklers, Logistics and Entertaining

UK – It’s a busy time of year for the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) and its newly installed CEO Peter Ward. The Midlands seems to currently be the magnet for the former Commercial Director and Head of Cargo Supply Chain at the new deep water port of London Gateway, with an appearance on March 24 at the Health & Safety Event (March 24 – 26) at the NEC Birmingham where he speak in the Safer Logistics Seminars, rapidly followed by another engagement at the IntraLogisteX exhibition on March 25 in the Ricoh Stadium Coventry.

All this of course will be topped off by the ever popular sponsorship of the UKWA Pavilion at this year’s Multimodal exhibition in April, again at the NEC. During the panel session at 11:45am at the Health & Safety Event, now in its second year at the Birmingham venue, the UKWA boss will be drawing attention to the issue of sprinklers. There will be a debate on the proposed regulations that will require sprinkler installation for warehouses below 20,000 square feet, which will be a matter of particular concern to smaller warehouse operators across the UK.

Having commissioned research to gain a clearer understanding of the implications for warehouse operators, UKWA believes that by working together with the British Sprinkler Alliance as well as national and local government, workable solutions can be found to ensure that warehouses are not imposed with requirements that are too onerous. Peter Ward said:

“Safety is always at the top of the agenda for UKWA members. So I am particularly pleased to have the opportunity in the Safer Logistics Seminars to discuss the important issues surrounding the installation of sprinklers in warehouses.”

Just a day after his appearance at the NEC, Ward will be highlighting how major changes in demographics, society and policy are creating opportunity for 3PLs during his appearance, scheduled for 15:30 on Wednesday March 25, the first day of the schedule two day IntraLogisteX event, a new date on the logistics calendar. Peter Ward added:

“I am looking forward to addressing these key themes for UKWA and the Logistics Sector at IntraLogisteX. They are generating a growing requirement for urban distribution with ‘little and often’ delivery. These are vital challenges but they are areas where UKWA members are ideally positioned to offer logistics solutions that will give organisations a competitive edge.”

These appointments of course precede the annual appearance at the Multimodal show, which has rapidly become an essential networking date in the diaries of many industry professionals. The UKWA Pavilion gives many the opportunity to catch up with contacts they otherwise rarely meet whilst consolidation numerous warehouse specific suppliers in one location. The event this year runs from April 28 to 30 and is fully expected to be as busy as ever.