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Transport and Logistics

The sector in a snapshot

Transport and logistics is all about the management, movement and storage of products, post and people. It is about getting the right thing to the right place, at the right time by road, rail, sea or air. Large companies such as supermarkets run their own logistics while other companies outsource all their logistics to specialist companies.

Sheffield and South Yorkshire are very well connected. Situated in the middle of the country, the region is heart of the nation's transport and logistics network. It is crisscrossed with motorways and rail lines that see huge quantities of freight passing through which is then transported to every corner of the United Kingdom. We also have a healthy transport sector with bus, rail and tram taking the forefront.

Logistics remains one of the UK’s most significant employers: in March 2023, there were 214,160 logistics businesses operating in the UK, employing around 8% of the nation’s workforce. However, according to the Logistics Report the types of jobs are changing as automation and technology continue to improve, and the statistics show there has been a sectoral shift, with managerial and directorial roles in purchasing, transport and distribution seeing notable increases. 35% of these are under 35. According to payscale.com the average hourly rate in the logistics sector is £11.47/per hour.

What could the sector offer you?

A career in this sector may allow you to:

Work independently- once you have your list of collections and pickups or you are in your role for the day, you are able to work without a manager observing you at every stage.
Have lots of time on the road- you will see lots of places on your travels, especially if you are in a role where you might travel abroad for a delivery.
Have some flexible working time- for example, some of the deliveries or collections are timed to within an hour. As long as you get to the timed drops, you can start or finish when you want.
Stay local but only where the role doesn't need you to drive- if you are based in a warehouse you could work more locally if the sector interests you.
Meet new people- especially if you work on public transport
The chance to be your own boss- you will decide how to manage your time best for the day.

Reality Check

The traffic and the road conditions can slow down work and make it hard to do your job. You are at the whims of the weather and the roads, and being late to deliveries or drop offs can impact negatively on you. Holidays can also be an issue as deliveries never stop, so it's unlikely that too many drivers can have the same time off. In recent years there has also been cutbacks on expenditure. For example, the drivers are not encouraged to stay overnight in motorway services because it can cost over £20 per night. In this case they may need to live out of their truck.

You will likely need to have skills in...

Planning, logical thinking, time management, driving, organisation, patience, communication, self-motivation, budgeting, health and safety

Some roles in the sector

LOGISTICS SUPERVISOR (up to approx £44,720 per annum)

Plans how staff and operating equipment will be utilised every day and tries to create the least service disruption. This might include looking at traffic reports and deliveries to ensure things are kept to plan, budget and within staff limitations. Everything needs to be kept to compliance so this role will ensure that this happens. Depending on the setting (airport, harbour, railway) this will include different regulations and vehicles.

STATION STAFF (could be up to £33,000 per annum)

Station staff vary, but could include tasks such as examining tickets and helping with passenger enquiries. In some stations they may make announcements over a public address system at stations. Largely they are involved with supporting with the loading and unloading of goods, products and people from trains, and assisting passengers to get to where they need to be efficiently. This might involve dealing with difficult or angry people. For some older trains they will also support with the control panel operation.

WAREHOUSE OPERATIVE (£16-24,000 per annum)

Working in warehouses (like Amazon above) will allow you to take in deliveries of goods and materials. You will move stock as needed, potentially using forklift equipment. You will need to make sure stock is stored safely, without damage, pack and wrap goods for delivery and load them. You will need to be organised; taking stock of items and keeping the warehouse clean.

HGV DRIVER (£19-36,000 per annum)

As a HGV driver you will represent your company wherever you drive. You will transport products to individuals in a timely manner on routes you have scheduled with transport managers. You will be responsible for your loads and vehicle, keeping it to code as well as tidy. You will supervise deliveries and complete log work.