Stoke-on-Trent has seen one of the biggest increases in warehouse-type businesses in the country in recent years, according to a major new report. The Office for National Statistics report says the number of commercial premises used for transport, logistics and warehousing in the UK has nearly doubled over the past decade, partly due to rising online shopping.

In Stoke-on-Trent, the increase has been even more dramatic, with 10% of commercial units in the city now occupied by transport and storage companies, up from 4.1% in 2014. While pottery was only not even in the top 100 surfaces for transport and storage companies in 2011, it is now 19th in the country.

Workforce statistics show that 11,000 people in the city now work in transportation and storage, up from 7,000 in 2015. Only retail, manufacturing, and health and social care employ more than people in Stoke-on-Trent.

READ: The first of 500 new home office jobs in Stoke-on-Trent up for grabs

The growth of logistics businesses in Stoke-on-Trent is reflected in the number of warehouses built in areas such as the Etruria Valley and the Lakes of Trentham in recent years. And the number is set to grow further – the £43m Etruria Valley Link Road, due to be completed before the end of the year, will serve 85,000 square feet of new industrial and logistics space on St Modern Park Stoke Central.

According to the report, growth in demand for warehouses accelerated during the pandemic as more people shopped online. Online purchases as a percentage of all retail sales peaked at nearly 38% in January 2021, after standing at 8% in early 2011 and 19% in February 2020. It has since declined but remains at about 28%. .

But the ONS report also highlights that transport and storage workers are paid less than average and work longer hours, and local politicians have sometimes expressed concern that Stoke-on-Trent has more than its fair share of this type of employment. But Dan Jellyman, cabinet member responsible for regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, believes the area can be much more attractive to workers than it was before.

Mr Jellyman said: “I think the criticism is based on an old-fashioned view of the industry. It has changed a lot in recent years with new technology and automation. It will often be machines that do things like wrap now, rather than people, but these machines will need to be maintained and programmed, these are skilled jobs.

“Stoke-on-Trent is an attractive location for logistics companies due to its location. But I think it’s also down to the adaptability of our workforce – our workers in Stoke-on-Trent are very good at picking up new skills. the Golden Triangle in the East Midlands sometimes struggles to recruit workers.

“Just a few years ago you were driving down Stanley Matthews Way in Trentham Lakes and one side of the road was completely empty – now it’s full of warehouses. The thing that will stop the rise of these businesses in Stoke-on- Trent is the fact that we will soon run out of land for them, which is why we are looking to offer a pipeline of new office space in our city centers as the next step.

The ONS report says hourly earnings in transport and storage were below the national average in 2021 – £14.76 compared to £15.65. But only 7% of workers in the sector were considered low-paid, compared to 14% across all industries.

Full-time personnel in the transportation and warehousing industry, such as couriers, truck drivers and warehouse workers, worked almost 42 hours in a typical week, compared to 39 hours in average, and was more likely than anyone else to work overtime.

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