Tomorrows Warehouse Manchester
Seminar Programme
Headline Sponsor
The 2024 agenda
If you'd like to speak at Tomorrow's Warehouse 2024 please contact our conference chair Simon Duddy at sduddy@westernbusiness.media
Times & sessions are preliminary and subject to change.
Seminar Programme :
Theatre 1
08:30 - 09:20
Registration, teas & coffees, table-top exhibition opens
09:20 - 09:30
Introduction
Simon Duddy (Editor, Logistics Matters)
Session 1 : ECOMMERCE AND WAREHOUSE TRANSFORMATION
09:30 - 09:50
Managing a relentless pace of innovation
Amy McNamara (Head of Operations, Boohoo)
Amy McNamara, Head of Operations, Boohoo outlines what it takes to manage warehouse transformation in the extremely pacy world of fast fashion.
09:50 - 10:10
Automation: a market overview
Rueben Scriven (Analyst, Interact Analysis)
One of the warehouse automation industry’s leading analysts discusses high level trends in this rapidly evolving sector.
10:10 - 11:00
Discussion Panel Q&A
Amy McNamara (Head of Operations, Boohoo)
Rueben Scriven (Analyst, Interact Analysis)
Jonathon Buckby (Head of Sales UK, SSI Schaefer)
Simon Jones (Senior Sales Executive, Exotec)
John Houldcroft (Technical Executive, Fortna)
Craig Jones (Channel Account Manager for Machine Vision and Imaging UK&I, Zebra Technologies)
11:00 - 11:30
Break
Session 2 : SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION AND WAREHOUSE AUTOMATION
11:30 - 11:50
Automation strategies at a time of great change
John Munnelly (Distribution Director, John Lewis)
John Lewis was one of the first major retailers to innovate in the omnichannel retail revolution with huge investments in automated warehousing, most notably at the Magna Park Campus in Milton Keynes. John Munnelly reflects on this innovation and leadership and asks what the future holds in an ever more unpredictable world
11:50 - 12:10
Humans v Machines - The Eight Myths of Warehouse Automation
Gavin Harrison (Sales Director, Element Logic UK)
Gavin will talk about how to tackle the industry’s preconceptions of automated warehousing and how to make the most of your operation.
12:10 - 13:00
Discussion Panel Q&A
John Munnelly (Distribution Director, John Lewis)
Gavin Harrison (Sales Director, Element Logic UK)
Sarah Payne (Head of Central Logistics, Jaguar Land Rover)
Kane Edwards (Business Development Manager UK, Locus Robotics)
Kenny Watson (Senior Manager Intralogistic Sales, KION ITS)
Dave Berridge (Secretary, Automated Material Handling Systems Association (AMHSA))
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch
Session 3 : FORKLIFT SAFETY
14:00 - 14:20
The importance of thinking it through - forklift acoustic detection when managing decarbonisation
Karl Wilshaw (Fleet Director, Travis Perkins)
As part of its decarbonation plans, Travis Perkins is switching out diesel forklift trucks for electric models. So far around 700 of these have been fitted with a unique sound alert named SIVAS to address concerns about the electric forklifts' operational quietness compared to their diesel engine counterparts, and the potential safety risk this could pose.
Karl Wilshaw, Fleet Director, Travis Perkins tells the story of the sound study commissioned by Travis Perkins plc from the University of Salford Manchester’s specialist acoustics testing team that led to this groundbreaking innovation.
14:20 - 14:40
Safety first
Rob Fisher (Chief Executive, UKMHA)
"Safety is paramount. We all expect to work in a safe environment," so says UKMHA Chief Executive Rob Fisher. The UKMHA has rolled out a number of initiatives to help reduce incidents and is calling on warehouse occupiers to get actively involved and ensure they are up to date when it comes to warehouse and site safety.
The association runs the National Forklift Safety Day, which this year was a multi-month campaign to help highlight the seven stages of a forklift safety incident. Rob will highlight the campaign in his presentation and how you can take an active role to boost forklift safety.
14:40 - 15:00
Discussion Panel Q & A
Karl Wilshaw (Fleet Director, Travis Perkins)
Rob Fisher (Chief Executive, UKMHA)
15:00 - 15:15
Break
Session 4 : FREEPORT OPPORTUNITIES
15:15 - 15:35
Opportunity for Sustainable Development
Jonathan Coleman (Freeport Project Manager, Liverpool City Region Freeport)
The new Liverpool City Region Freeport offers impetus for new warehouse development, job opportunities, and much more. Jonathan Coleman, Freeport Project Manager, Liverpool City Region Freeport outlines the opportunity and how the freeport will contribute towards the UK's sustainability goals.
15:35 - 15:55
Equality drives better outcomes for all
Jennifer Swain (Director of Talent, Development and HR, Road to Logistics)
Many groups within society are neglected as potential employees in warehousing, even as labour shortages grow. Jennifer Swain, Director of Talent, Development and HR, Road to Logistics outlines how to open up your talent pool, referencing ongoing work at the Liverpool City Region Freeport.
15:55 - 16:15
Discussion Panel Q & A
Jonathan Coleman (Freeport Project Manager, Liverpool City Region Freeport)
Jennifer Swain (Director of Talent, Development and HR, Road to Logistics)
16:15 - 16:20
Closing comments
Simon Duddy (Editor, Logistics Matters)
16:20
Close
Seminar Programme :
Theatre 2
08:30 - 09:20
Registration, teas & coffees, table-top exhibition opens
09:20 - 09:30
Introduction
Liza Helps (Property Editor, Logistics Matters)
Session 1 : WAREHOUSE PROPERTY: THE ENERGY ISSUE
09:30 - 09:50
Supply demand and outages
Jamie Baxter (Associate Partner, Carter Jonas)
Discussing the issues of power supply in the UK, including the technical context of grid constraints and how the matter is likely to evolve. In addition, the session will look at the potential mitigations for power constraints including energy efficiency, re-newable energy generation, and issues with securing and sustaining two way power to buildings and sites. The presentation will examine the practicalities of installing renewables from both technical and commercial perspectives – including how landlords can receive payments for investment in solar, and how responsibilities can be split between landlord & occupier.
09:50 - 10:10
The roof is not the limit
Clare Bottle (Chief Executive Officer, UK Warehousing Association)
Clare Bottle makes the case for greater utilisation of solar panels on UK warehouse property and highlights how obstacles can be overcome.
10:10 - 11:00
Power Play Discussion Panel Q&A
Steven Jeffers (Director of Business Development, Base Power)
Clare Bottle (Chief Executive Officer, UK Warehousing Association)
Jamie Baxter (Associate Partner, Carter Jonas)
11:00 - 11:30
Break
Session 2 : ASSESSING THE MARKET - NATIONAL AND REGIONAL
11:30 - 11:50
The UK Warehouse Property Market Assessed
Kevin Mofid (Head of EMEA Industrial and Logistics Research, Savills)
Following a challenging 2023 in the UK logistics market, where take-up dropped by 43% year on year, a better 2024 was hoped for by many. Kevin takes a look ahead to next year and asks what factors will impact the national logistics property picture.
11:50 - 12:10
Regional Warehouse Property - Opportunities Highlighted
Liza Helps (Property Editor, Logistics Matters)
The North West has long been an important centre for industrial activity. Here, Liza Helps outlines the regional opportunities at present, and highlights the key is-sues from the use of greenbelt land to demand for high ESG ratings and much more.
12:10 - 13:00
Discussion Panel Q&A
Dave Travis (Head of Manchester Office, Tritax Big Box Developments)
Kevin Mofid (Head of EMEA Industrial and Logistics Research, Savills)
Clare Bottle (Chief Executive Officer, UK Warehousing Association)
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch
Session 3 : FIRE SAFETY AND RESILIENCE
Hosted by Iain Cox, Chair, Business Sprinkler Alliance
14:00 - 14:20
Managing risks from warehouse fires
Iain Cox (Chair, Business Sprinkler Alliance)
Warehouse fires rarely cause deaths but they can cause huge damage, and as warehousing and logistics becomes an ever more important part of the UK econ-omy, fires have great potential to cause disruption and threaten business continuity. The Business Sprinkler Alliance discusses the many ways occupiers can mitigate risks.
14:20 - 15:00
Discussion Panel Q&A
Alison Phillips (Head of Fire Safety Risk Management, Ocado)
Clare Bottle (Chief Executive Officer, UK Warehousing Association)
Iain Cox (Chair, Business Sprinkler Alliance)
15:00