Contents
- 1 We are an Industry that Feeds the World
- 2 Let’s Ask the Real Questions… As an Industry
- 3 Sam and Jude: The Recruitment Future, In Motion
- 4 Young Talent Isn’t Just Plugging Gaps. It’s Fuel for What’s Next
- 5 But Here’s the Crucial Bit: Culture Still Makes or Breaks It
- 6 What We’re Doing at Premier Logistics
- 7 A Straightforward Challenge to the Industry
We are an Industry that Feeds the World
From the back roads of Britain to the loading bays of major retailers, logistics keeps everything moving. But with over 50% of UK HGV drivers now aged 50 or older, and fewer than 2% under 25, we’re approaching a moment in recruitment that deserves serious attention.
This isn’t just one company’s problem. It’s a shared turning point for the whole sector.
Let’s Ask the Real Questions… As an Industry
This isn’t about finger-pointing or rewriting what’s worked for decades. It’s about asking when recruiting:
- What kind of environment are we offering the next generation?
- Are we open to new ways of thinking, or are we still doing things “because that’s how it’s always been done”?
- Are we showing that logistics is a serious career choice not just a stopgap?
Sam and Jude: The Recruitment Future, In Motion
At Premier Logistics, we’ve seen what happens when potential is matched with belief.
Sam Bromley (pictured) joined us in February 2024 as a warehouse worker. He soon passed his Class 1 HGV test in just six days through our training partner, Data Academy. From stacking pallets to steering 44-tonne units, Sam’s story is proof that career growth doesn’t have to take years.
In fact, a few weeks later 16-year-old Jude Sykes became the youngest team member in Premier history to pass his forklift certification. He’s qualified, capable, and already thinking about where he can go next in the industry.
These aren’t outliers. They’re signals. When we give young people the tools and the trust, they rise to the occasion.
Young Talent Isn’t Just Plugging Gaps. It’s Fuel for What’s Next
Today’s generation brings more than energy they bring:
- Digital instinct: they’re fluent in systems and tech by default
- Agility: shaped by constant change, they adapt fast
- Sustainability mindset: they want cleaner, leaner ways of working
They don’t just join the operation – they challenge it to be better.
But Here’s the Crucial Bit: Culture Still Makes or Breaks It
Recruiting young people is one thing. Keeping them is another.
We can’t expect new talent to stick around if they’re walking into a world that’s:
- Stuck in the past
- Short on development routes
- Disconnected from purpose
That’s not a recruitment issue. That’s a culture issue.
What We’re Doing at Premier Logistics
We’re not pretending to have all the answers but, here’s what we’re trialling:
- Fast-track licensing: warehouse to HGV in weeks
- Certifications for school-leavers: real qualifications early on
- People-first culture: support, mentorship, and real progression
We’re not waiting for the talent to arrive. We’re building a system that develops it.
A Straightforward Challenge to the Industry
If every firm backed just one Sam or one Jude, what would our workforce look like five years from now?
It’s time to stop asking, “Why don’t young people want to work in logistics?”
And start asking, “What are we doing to make it worth their time?”
The next generation is ready. The only question now is – are we?
