The Logistics Hub UK, supported by Verdion, will showcase the Sheffield City region’s assets nationally at the prestigious Multi-Modal Exhibition in April with plans to develop the logistics sector and attract new investors to the area.

Logistics Hub UK is the sector group established to promote the region’s logistics offering to a national audience and with 12 million acres available for development across the Sheffield City Region there is a strong message to share at the UK and Ireland’s leading freight transport and logistics exhibition.

The exhibition, which takes place at the NEC Birmingham from April 28 – April 30, will see thousands of business leaders from across the country attending to discuss future supply chain and transportation partnerships.

Steve Gill, chair of the Logistics Hub UK and managing director of Yorkshire’s, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “Through good partnership working our message is a strong one. The Sheffield City Region is well connected by air, sea, land and rail; it is well established as a central UK location for major logistics and distribution operations including Amazon, B&Q. M&S, Next, Ikea and DHL.

“Through on-going multi-million pound investments in road infrastructure, rail-freight terminals and the UK’s newest airport (Doncaster Sheffield Airport), the City Region is now emerging as the UK’s central, multimodal hub location for logistics and distribution companies.

“The expansion of the Enterprise Zone status and the major infrastructure projects all further endorse the Sheffield City Region as the North’s leading location for logistics,” said Steve.

With the anticipated opening of the FARRRS M18-Doncaster Sheffield Airport link road nearing in January 2016, the £58m infrastructure investment scheme will provide fast connection between the UK motorway network and the city regions airport alongside delivering vastly increased accessibility for business.

Gareth Morgan, business development manager for the Sheffield City Region LEP, said: “Logistics Hub UK builds on these foundations and has created a platform for investors to access development opportunities, available property, training as well as all the benefits of locating in the region.

“The City Region includes the towns and districts of Doncaster, Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Bolsover and Rotherham.”

Logistics Hub UK is an innovative partnership of private-sector companies leading the public sector to promote the region’s capabilities. The partners are committed to the growth and development of the logistics, distribution and warehousing across the Sheffield City Region.

The partnership works together to showcase the availability of sites, workforce demographics in the Sheffield City Region, while promoting the area’s connectivity and multimodal capabilities.

Recent planning granted on Verdion’s iPort development, the £400m Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) in Doncaster, is another clear indication that the region is moving in the right direction.

“Multimodal is a great opportunity for us to showcase the competitive advantages of the region as a place to invest and highlight property and infrastructure developments, as well as key successes, to promote the city region’s capabilities nationally.

Verdion received Reserved Matters Approval for Phase One of iPort in February this year, paving the way for the first 3 million sq ft (278,700 sq m) of logistics development, which includes an integrated 35-acre rail freight terminal.

John Clements, European Development Director at Verdion, comments: “We are moving ever closer towards delivering one of the largest logistics schemes in the UK. Together with our funding partners HOOPP and with continued support from Doncaster MBC and other stakeholders, we are pushing forward with this strategic site, located in the UK’s logistics hub.”

Located on a 337-acre site, linked by the news FARRRS road to Junction 3 of the M18 and, in 2016, to the Doncaster Sheffield International Airport, iPort will provide 6 million sq ft of high-quality logistics accommodation with units ranging from 100,000 to 1.2 million sq ft.

Selected by leading companies including, M&S, Amazon, Tesco, Walmart, IKEA, Next and B&Q for national and regional distribution centres, the Sheffield City Region provides the ideal combination of fast access to UK and international markets, available sites, a low cost base, close port proximity and a work-ready, highly motivated logistics workforce.

Sheffield City Region’s Logistics Hub will be located in The Air Cargo Pavillion, stand  223 at Multi-Modal Exhibition within the NEC. For more information visit www.logisticshubuk.com.