Ben Garratt

Public affairs @ Logistics UK; occasional politics blogger; wrote a dystopian novel, The Youth Movement

[Logistics UK @LogisticsUKNews]

The UK’s creative and events industries rely on highly specialised, time-critical logistics. From single-hall exhibitions at the NEC and major shows at ExCeL London to large German Messe venues and global sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games, Olympics and Football World Cups, none of it happens without the precise movement of equipment, displays and staging. Every event has a fixed opening date, and build-up and breakdown windows must run exactly to schedule.

Kuehne+Nagel is one of the official logistics partners supporting these events. As Andy Blundell puts it: “Events need to happen, logistics need to happen to make those events.”

Event logistics is inherently multimodal. Goods move by air when deadlines are tight, by road for most European movements, and by sea when timelines allow. Kuehne+Nagel supports exhibitors, sponsors, stand builders and organisers, moving everything from tanks, military aircraft and satellites to refrigerators and microwaves for consumer events.

A major differentiator in this sector is the on-site component. During the narrow bump-in period, goods must reach the exact stand location at a precise time. At a recent ExCeL London event, Kuehne+Nagel handled 200–300 vehicles per day, using digital booking systems, traffic management and temporary advance warehouses that receive, store, track and release goods. These facilities also manage empty case storage, collecting and holding empty crates until breakdown.

“There's a there's a buzz within event logistics,” explained Blundell, “You've got that day, it's fast paced, it's slick. There's lots of things going on, there's lots of complexity to deal with.”

International movements add further pressure. Road freight into Europe is critical for UK exhibitors, and border delays can disrupt entire schedules. “Any impacts at the crossing severely impact our industry,” Blundell says.

Event logistics requires resilience, technical capability and project-management skills, yet recruitment remains challenging even for high-profile events. Innovation is essential, including integrated digital ecosystems, digital traffic-management tools, EV trucks, HVO-powered forklifts and emerging digital ATA carnets.

In short: nothing moves without logistics, including the creative industries.

Policy priorities to enable the logistics sector to boost the creative industries:

Early consultation with the event logistics industry on any policy, customs, import/export or regulatory changes that affect crossings or timeframes.

Predictable UK–EU border operations for road freight, to prevent delays that disrupt time-critical event schedules.

Recognition of the specialist skills required in event logistics, and support for training and development for new entrants to the sector.

Support for traffic management and on-site operational needs at major venues, where high volumes of vehicles require coordinated scheduling and safe, regulated handling.

https://t.co/DS7Uzs82wE

[The i Paper @theipaper]

Opinion | We used to speak about antisemitism as a threat, something we would never let rear its ugly head again. But the banning of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans is not an isolated incident

🖋 @KarenPollock100

Read more: https://t.co/x9WR6q19nw

[Tom Holland @holland_tom]

I’m not sure that the police designating Villa Park a no go area for the fans of a visiting team is a cause for celebration - particularly for a Birmingham MP.

[Karen Pollock 🎗️ @KarenPollock100]

“Every Jew knows it could have been anywhere, to any of us”

My piece ⁦@JewishChron⁩ ⁦@HolocaustUK⁩ https://t.co/IOmLWASsHK

[Ian Austin @LordIanAustin]

The public must stand up for Britain’s Jewish community, the authorities must stand up to extremism and Parliament and the BBC must curb the anti-Israel obsession that fuels antisemitism: my column for @TheSun, Britain’s best-read Sunday paper. https://t.co/IQf00UN9Ux

[Shabana Mahmood MP @ShabanaMahmood]

I am horrified by the antisemitic terrorist attack at a synagogue on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The government has stepped up security at synagogues across the whole of the country, and we will do whatever is required to keep our Jewish community safe.

To those who seek to divide us: they will fail.

[Ian Austin @LordIanAustin]

My column for @TheSun explains why the BBC’s biased, inaccurate and disproportionate coverage of Israel fuels racism here in the UK.

https://t.co/wHUnS6BcoM

[Ben Garratt @ben_garratt]

Great to be at the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards in Parliament, addressed by Small Businesses and Exports Minister @gareththomasMP . The @LogisticsUKNews sector is a key partner to exporters, helping to navigate the border & strengthen the resilience of supply chains

[Ben Garratt @ben_garratt]

On Weds @LogisticsUKNews held the 2025 Sir James Whitehead Address, delivered by Prof @leejones who shared analysis of our global disorder & was joined by policy expert @pollymackenzie, logistician James Wroath & Logistics UK’s @RoePhil and Kevin Green to delve into the challenge

[Ben Garratt @ben_garratt]

Delighted to be at DHL’s Parliamentary reception, hosted by @Hack4Labour who described her constituency at the heart of the UK’s logistics sector, home to @SEGROplc East Midlands Gateway and East Midlands Airport. @LogisticsUKNews

[Ben Garratt @ben_garratt]

@LeighInghamMP @LogisticsUKNews @CanalRiverTrust @LondonPortAuth Nobody could be in any doubt about the passion & ingenuity Robert Wynn and Sons brings to the delivery of the massive cargoes the country needs for clean energy after listening to Peter Wynn, MD and Tim West, Company Secretary. Joined up govt is needed to capitalise on this

[Ben Garratt @ben_garratt]

Great to be at the Robert Wynn & Sons Ltd. #Parliament reception, celebrating the work of this @LogisticsUKNews member that expertly transports giant equipment for the @GOVUK #cleanenergy mission across the country, by water

[Ben Garratt @ben_garratt]

@LeighInghamMP @LogisticsUKNews @CanalRiverTrust James Trimmer, Director of Planning and Development at the @LondonPortAuth setting out the innovation that has seen the Thames used more and more for delivering London’s key infrastructure projects, and the exciting future the river has in urban logistics

[Logistics UK @LogisticsUKNews]

Thank you to @Phil_Brickell MP for hosting @LogisticsUKNews in Parliament.

The #logistics sector:
✅ Keeps the #economy moving
✅ Can drive #decarbonisation — with a gov-backed net zero roadmap
✅ Could unlock £8bn/year in growth if backed in the #IndustrialStrategy

With @dhlexpressuk @DHLsupplychain & @SEGROplc

🔗 https://t.co/3K6hmg8Jz7

[Ben Garratt @ben_garratt]

Great to chat with Homelessness Minister @rushanaraali at this evening’s @BARremovers 125th anniversary Parliamentary reception, and to be there representing @LogisticsUKNews

[Ben Garratt @ben_garratt]

Minister for Homelessness @rushanaraali setting out the reforms the government is making to improve home buying and selling, and the positive impact that this will be have for the @BARremovers , at the organisation’s 125th anniversary Parliamentary reception. @LogisticsUKNews

[Ben Garratt @ben_garratt]

Great to be representing @LogisticsUKNews at the @BARremovers Parliament reception, listening to Watford MP Matt @Turmaine on the importance of the sector for communities and the economy