Industry Project Puts Leicester at the Heart of the UK’s Logistics Future

A pioneering pilot project in Leicester has significantly increased young people’s understanding of the logistics industry, one of the region’s fastest-growing and most strategically important sectors. 

Before the pilot, only around 2% of GCSE students in Leicestershire expressed an interest in logistics-related careers. Following the pilot, 97% of students report understanding careers in logistics, and 63% are now interested in working in the logistics sector. 

The Pilot Logistics Beacon, delivered through a partnership between The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), Generation Logistics, and the Leicester & Leicestershire Careers Hub aimed to tackle low awareness and outdated perceptions that have long held back recruitment into logistics roles. 

One student said: “Before this experience, I didn’t know anything about the logistics industry, but now I know a lot more, which will really help me in the future.” 

The pilot brought together 541 workplace experiences, 54 teacher experiences in the workplace, and 16 major employers, including ASDA, Maersk, DHL, and Wincanton. Activities ranged from immersive work experience programmes to employer-led classroom projects and teacher development sessions. 

Teachers reported a marked increase in confidence and knowledge, with 100% feeling able to deliver logistics-related learning in the classroom and 91% being confident in discussing career routes with students. 

A teacher said: “Visiting the site helped challenge some of their preconceptions – particularly around warehouse work. Seeing the advanced technology and integration of AI really impressed my students.” 

The pilot also deepened collaboration between employers and education. 100% of employers reported that the experience improved their ability to work with schools and colleges, creating a stronger bridge between classroom learning and future talent needs. 

John Yarham, Chief Executive Officer at The Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “This pilot shows what can be achieved when industry and education share an ambition. By giving young people direct access to the people, technology and real-world environments that power modern logistics, we’re helping them see possibilities they might never have considered. It’s a powerful reminder that when we connect learning to the world of work, we open doors to futures that feel both tangible and exciting.” 

Bethany Windsor, Programme Director for Generation Logistics, said: “I’m incredibly proud of how this pilot has opened young people’s eyes to the scale, innovation, and opportunity within our sector. Logistics is the backbone of the UK economy – yet too often it’s invisible to those considering their future careers. This project has shown what’s possible when employers, educators, and industry come together with a shared purpose: to inspire the next generation of talent and ensure our workforce reflects the energy and diversity of the communities we serve.” 

Gerarde Manley, Strategic Careers Hub Lead said:  "As the first Pilot Logistics Beacon Hub, we used our convening power to bring education and industry together around the key challenges identified for young people entering the sector. Drawing on our careers education expertise and working with Generation Logistics, we have shown that bringing industry into the classroom and education into the workplace has collectively made a significant change in young people’s attitudes, perceptions, and understanding of pathways and careers in logistics."

We now have more confident teachers and educators with more industry insight, young people who have had meaningful workplace experiences, and industry who are creating a talent pipeline. I am excited to see how we grow the depth of engagement and see the longer-term impact of the Beacon. 

Melanie Richmond, Training Manager at Asda Logistics Services said: “One of our highlights was the Teacher Encounter Day we hosted. We invited 50 educators to get behind-the-scenes insights into logistics operations through workshops, talks, and live depot tours. Teachers told us they felt equipped to cascade what they learned in the classroom. For us, this is a wise investment in building our early talent pipelines to reach hundreds of students.” 

Looking ahead, the Leicester & Leicestershire Careers Hub and Generation Logistics, will continue to work in partnership to facilitate employer engagement in schools and colleges, including work experience placements and employer encounters.  

With such significant promise of impact generated through the Pilot Logistics Beacon, The Careers & Enterprise Company will look to expand to like minded partners in other sectors with the aim of addressing similar skills and industry perception barriers within local areas with pressing skills needs.