The Greater Manchester Freight Forum returned for a January full house, standing room only of logistics professionals and public sector to connect and collaborate delegates to an exceptional logistics heartland Manchester freight forum that wrapped up with autograph celebration of delegates. Hands in the air for photo.

Hosted by Vernon Everitt, Greater Manchester’s Transport Commissioner, who passionately spoke Manchester logistics heartland, multimodal from road, rail, air and sea, via the ship canal.

Olympian, Dame Sarah Storey, GM Active Travel Commissioner, delivered a keynote that explored the important links between logistics, active travel, health and road safety. With freight vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians all navigating the same network, this was a timely discussion as TfGM continue to progress the Bee Network and embed safer, more accessible movement of people and goods across Greater Manchester.

Express logistics expert Carl Lomas flooded energy across the delegate tables – 500 years clean air ceremony – 50 years of express logistics.

Lomas explained the exploding evolution of express final mile delivery. Opening with change in retail from High Street to door final mile to change the direction of transport. Lomas showcased delivery excellence in the form of a client chain from Costa Rica to a shopper in Manchester - the charge? a single pound for the product of a pineapple delivered around the world. He went on to decarbonisation with EV clean air vehicles featured the window on Carmen trade guild of livery cart-marking ceremony, clean air transportation taxation 500 years of history for clean streets.

Lomas used the IOC heartbeat graph to illustrate transport peaks - from the forthcoming Valentine's Day in Q1 to Q4's Black Friday. Density, conurbation and congestion detailed from Piccadilly to Deansgate. Safety, sustainability and decarbonisation mentioned. Closing the presentation, Lomas delivered the example of the DOT cargo cycle - with its volume-rich four-box van exchange system to support the clean air cargo delivery in Manchester.

Education in transport for Next-generation lens – Dr Tracey Worth, Visiting Professor and course lead for the Express Delivery Management apprenticeship course at UWL introduced student Holly Peart who delivered a polished and confident presentation of the benefits of decarbonisation for transport in Manchester holding the audience captivated and inspired.

Holly Peart from DB couriers, delivered her honour degree route in Express Logistics learning, in the workplace of final mile and pallet network on a levy-paid apprenticeship management level degree course at UWL. She presented her distinction project on Decarbonising and Dealing with traffic in Manchester.

Holly went on to make a compelling delivery of why apprenticeship training was an excellent conduit for a young person in transport to participate in, noting that her presentation delivered ‘one part -environmental issues’ of the TfGM policy strategy for transport planning. Holly’s illustration of why an apprenticeship is important and the benefits for both student and business was a lively, engaging presentation; it included details from the module Transport legislation, policy and environment showcasing the importance of understanding the effects of transport, adherence to legislation and how this effects the environment. Holly, taking control of the room, projected confidently, engaging with the full house audience in all aspects of management legislation. Vernon Elliot CBE gave a warm response and delighted that a young apprentice gave such a compelling argument for both apprentice training and the knowledgeable delivery of transport legislation. ‘The future is safer and looking more successful with young persons like Holly taking the opportunities that the Express delivery management course provides’.

Detective Inspector Stephen Atkinson from Counter Terrorism Policing talked vehicle as a weapon, security issues and how road transport can benefit efforts to tackle terrorism.

Workshop engaged the delegates and drew from their knowledge and skills in transport. The workshop room, adorned with the Manchester maps, engaged attendees, drawing knowledge of operators to Manchester solutions for road, rail, air and sea. Heart of discussion was the draft Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2050 and Delivery Plan (2027–2037). Delegates got a chance to shape future policy and contribute directly to the region’s long-term approach to freight and urban logistics.

Audience outside the room...

Those not attending the Forum can still share their views on future transport plans - whether that's for freight purposes, or more generally.

Give your views on future transport plans for Greater Manchester.

Find out more at gmconsult.org and fill out the short survey before the consultation ends on Monday 9 March.

Vernon Everritt CBE Commissioner, Transport for Greater Manchester, ‘TfGM confirm they now have an agreement with government to have an investment led clean air plan which means no clean air charges in Greater Manchester. Vernon continued with the need for air quality and road safety and congestion as ‘every successful city struggles with congestion’ suitable loading bays and understanding last mile deliveries. Growth is driven by government target of 75% increase of freight to rail use and all these areas are needed to be in our plan. Vernon chaired the open discussion groups between speakers to integrate and explore each speaker’s delivery, his passion clearly shown as he engaged with the comments and suggests made by the many participates, from infrastructure technology, regulations and increasing freight flow through the city to the illustration of the Pineapple delivery.

Dame Sarah Storey DBE keynote for TfGM Manchester - Dame Sarah Storey Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester opened with her vision, her passionate support to bring zero accidents by 2040 on all TfGM transport. Safe system approach is the view of attitudes to the practise of road vision. Using the pillars of ‘Safe streets – Safe speed – Safe vehicles and Safe post collision response’. Options for vehicles technology and safety of drivers is a success for TfL which TfGM should draw on and apply in Manchester. Not just the biggest but small parcels delivery whether by manual or electric propulsion which are so vital in urban centres must be safe. Cycles for delivery was a funded project for Manchester and has been very successful in this pilot scheme. April 2025 launched a food charter to ensure those delivery food by cycle must meet the legal requirements monitored by TfGM. It is a must that TfGM must continue to regulate and apply all safe practises whether you live or work or passing through Manchester.

Richard Banks TfGM, ‘Thanked Manchester transport delegates. This was an interesting day in Manchester as TfGM were proud to bring together the freight, logistics, public sector and environmental community for the revitalised Greater Manchester Freight Forum. For TfGM the forum was a key opportunity to strengthen collaboration, share insights and discuss how we can collectively shape a cleaner, safer and more efficient freight network for our city region. This is the first forum we have held since the pandemic and since the agreement of an investment led Clean Air Plan. 'This event will return!’ If you would like to join a future logistics event please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Some gallery photos

TfGM Commissioner keynote for Manchester

Lomas energy for express

DB Couriers degree apprentice Holly Peart and TfGM Megan Black