Seminars

Simon Duddy - Editor, Logistics Matters

09:30 - 09:50

Session title: How to tackle rising operational costs

Speaker: Clare Bottle, CEO, UK Warehousing Association

Session synopsis: Rising costs are affecting all operations, meaning firms need to be smart and innovative. Here, UK Warehousing Association chief executive Clare Bottle outlines how best to stay ahead of the game.

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09:50 - 10:10

Session title: Managing the growth curve

Speaker: Jeff Turner, Head of Strategic Projects, ArrowXL

Session synopsis: Two-man delivery specialist ArrowXL has faced the dual challenges of a warehouse fire and rapid growth in recent years. Here, Head of Strategic Projects Jeff Turner outlines lessons learned as the company rebuilt and improved its operation.

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10:10 - 10:30

Session title: The impact of tech on staff

Speaker: Gary Twynholm, Co-founder & Director, Link Logistics Services

Session synopsis: Gary Twynholm will explore how modular automation can ease the labour crisis, how it can be used to attract talent into the industry and how roles will evolve alongside innovation. Gary is an experienced logistics professional who has held key roles at Mountain Warehouse and Clipper Logistics, among others.

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10:30 - 11:00

Session title: Discussion Panel Q & A

11:30 - 11:50

Session title: The rise of accessible automation in the supply chain

Speaker: John Wilson, Technology & Innovation Director, Europe, GXO

Session synopsis: In recent years, the logistics industry has uncovered growing opportunities for automation, yet investment is often cited as a barrier to further adoption. In this session, John will delve into the rise of accessible automation and its potential to transform the supply chain. He will explore how technological advancements have given rise to increased flexibility, and highlight investment models that enable businesses to leverage automation without breaking the bank.

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11:50 - 12:10

Session title: Large-scale automation - lessons to learn

Speaker: Dionne Redpath, Group Chief Operating Officer, Europa Worldwide Group

Session synopsis: Specialist logistics provider, Europa Warehouse, developed its 715,000 sq ft Corby facility at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, investing a further £11m in state-of-the-art automation. Group Chief Operating Officer Dionne Redpath highlights lessons learned from this major operational expansion, which started in 2021. She will talk about the challenges of managing such late infrastructure investments in new technology while operating and meeting client expectations.

Having worked in transport and logistics since the age of 18, Dionne started her career in the steel industry as a transport buyer. She joined the Europa Worldwide Group Board in 2013 and became Chief Operating Officer in September 2021, then taking responsibility for the Europa Warehouse Division in February 2022. Under her leadership Europa Warehouse has undergone a dramatic transformation.

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12:10 - 12:30

Session title: Optimising your warehouse by introducing OneTouch Despatch

Speaker: Gavin Harrison, UK Sales Director, Element Logic

Session synopsis: While process tweaks can lead to incremental gains while deploying automation, here, Element Logic explains how to solve underlying problems in the modern warehouse.

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12:30 - 13:00

Session title: Discussion Panel Q&A

14:00 - 14:20

Session title: Using software and AI to boost picking

Speaker: Simon Dixon, CEO and Founder, Hatmill

Session synopsis: Simon Dixon, CEO and Founder of consultancy Hatmill examines the role of AI and software in warehouse automation and the picking process in particular, and crucially how to ensure you get the best out of new technology.

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14:20 - 14:40

Session title: How AI has helped M&S to reduce incidents by 80% in less than 10 weeks

Speaker: James Carter, Network H&S Manager - Marks & Spencer

Session synopsis: Following the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, M&S's largest Ecommerce Distribution Centre at Castle Donington, saw a heavy increase in customer orders to two million single orders per week.

This increase in demand meant more workers were required on-site. As a result, it was a requirement from senior management to ensure the safety of their colleagues was of the utmost importance and that incidents were kept to a minimum.

James Carter, Network Health and Safety Manager at M&S says ‘our colleagues are our most important asset and keeping them safe is the most important thing we do’. It was then a priority for the HSE team to investigate best-fit tools and technology in order to ensure they were equipped to easily identify areas of risk in their business and promote proactive decision-making that results in a safer workplace for staff.

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14:40 - 15:00

Session title: Discussion Panel Q & A

15:15 - 15:35

Session title: Tomorrow’s Cold Store

Speaker: Shane Brennan, Chief Executive, Cold Chain Federation 

Session synopsis: Cold stores are typically seen as simply high energy demand sites, but the cold store of the future can play a key role in moving towards a Net Zero Economy by 2050. How? This presentation will outline how their size, design and typical location can make cold stores well suited for renewable energy generation, battery storage and mechanisms such as grid balancing through demand management.

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15:35 - 15:55

Session title: What now for warehouse property?

Speaker: Will Laing, Logistics Analyst, Savills

Session synopsis: For the last five years, demand has far exceeded supply and rents have risen sharply. Now, for the first time in a long time, occupiers have more choice in the market as speculative supply has increased. What does this mean for rental levels, lease lengths and ensuring that new facilities are ESG compliant? Will Laing supplies this crucial insight.

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15:55 - 16:15

Session title: Discussion Panel Q & A