The sad passing of light entertainment legend Des O’Connor put me in mind of the old joke about a lost traveller asking directions. Question: “How do I get to my destination?” Answer: “Well I wouldn’t start from here”. There are echoes in this of the UK’s preparations for the end of the EU transition period. […]

The UK Major Ports Group (“UKMPG”), the voice for the UK’s largest port operators including all deep sea container ports, has surveyed its members to find out how they are currently coping with the world-wide surge in shipping container movements. In short – ports are very busy but coping as they adapt to conditions. Surveying […]

The Government is currently consulting on fundamental changes to the planning system in England known as “Planning for the Future”. We’ve done a briefing paper with our friends at the planning consultancy Adams Hendry (which you can see here https://tinyurl.com/y2mzqcqu). Whilst the scope of the changes is disappointing and some of the proposals are worrying, […]

The UK Major Ports Group reports that the UK’s port sector has significant capacity to handle more EU-UK trade, an additional 60% of 2018 traffic Risks of delays and congestion can be reduced after the EU transition period if freight volumes use more of the available capacity at other UK ports outside of the France-Kent […]

Commenting on the Government’s launch of the Port Investment Fund, Tim Morris of the UK Major Ports Group, the trade association for the UK’s largest port operators, said:   “There is significant port capacity around the coast of the UK for handling freight flows to and from the EU. Today’s announcement is a welcome step in […]

Commenting on Michael Gove’s letter to border industries and others on the Government’s Reasonable Worst Case Scenario of significant disruption in Kent Tim Morris, CEO of the UK Major Ports Group, said “The Government is right to launch a plea for UK businesses to prepare for new border arrangements from the 1st January. Regardless of […]

It seemed like a simple enough question. What are the future skills needs of the port sector? But – when asked to a round table of HR Directors from port operators – it became clear that the question is anything but simple. The ports sector is committed to skills development. Major port operators operate high […]

Tim Morris, Chief Executive of the UKMPG said “The UK Major Ports Group strongly supports encouragement for further investment and development of ports in the UK. Handling 95% of the UK’s exports and imports today, development of our sea ports is key for boosting the UK’s global trading capability and at the same time supports […]

The UK Major Ports Group (“UKMPG”), the voice for the UK’s largest port operators, has today launched an open data project to gather, organise and present data on the UK’s coastal communities. The goal of the project is to provide a large-scale resource of data, interactive and open to all, to inform and improve policy […]