25.6.2025 | Haulage

The UK Government’s new Modern Industrial Strategy 2025, published earlier this week, has been broadly welcomed by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) — but with a firm call to go further in recognising the freight sector’s critical role in delivering growth.

Unveiled on 23 June, the long-term strategy includes a £600 million investment to unlock strategic logistics and industrial sites, the creation of a national Supply Chain Centre, and expanded support for supply chain innovation. These initiatives aim to address barriers to infrastructure development and enhance coordination of investment across freight corridors, intermodal hubs, and warehousing clusters.

The strategy also launches a Supply Chain Observatory to monitor vulnerabilities and build post-Brexit and post-pandemic resilience — a timely move given recent global disruption to goods movement.

The RHA welcomed the inclusion of logistics within the plan’s broader objectives to drive investment in growth sectors such as clean energy, construction, and advanced manufacturing. However, it expressed disappointment that the freight sector was not given “foundational sector” status despite its systemic importance.

“We’re pleased to see the strategy acknowledge the key role freight and logistics will play in maintaining the competitiveness of key growth-driving sectors,” said the RHA in a statement.

“Support for small businesses, including action on late payments and the new Business Growth Service, is also a welcome step.”

RHA Managing Director Richard Smith reinforced the call for further commitment:

“The Government rightly identified manufacturing, energy and construction as key growth areas. But logistics will be fundamental to delivering growth across all sectors. With 85% of UK goods moved by road freight, we’re the backbone of the economy.

“Every solar panel, every manufacturing component, every construction material — it all depends on our industry to get from A to B.”

Looking ahead, the RHA called on the government to invest in skills and infrastructure to meet growing freight demands:

“If we’re to get the 200,000 HGV drivers we need over the next five years, new technical excellence colleges must include provision for heavy vehicle driver and technician bootcamps,” continued Richard.

“And as we said in our infrastructure strategy reaction, a safe and fit-for-purpose road network must be a top priority if the UK is to hit growth targets.”

While the logistics sector was not designated as a standalone investment priority in the Industrial Strategy, it is expected to benefit from linked funding streams for SME support, advanced manufacturing zones, and clean energy industrial clusters, with the British Business Bank’s £4bn Growth Capital initiative set to unlock up to £16bn in public and private investment.

The strategy marks the first UK-wide industrial policy since 2017. It will be overseen by a new Industrial Strategy Council, tasked with driving long-term delivery across key sectors — and the freight infrastructure that underpins them.

Image: RHA