Edwin Morgan has made it his mission to give voice to one of the UK’s most vital but often overlooked industries. At the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA)—the Voice of Warehousing—he champions a diverse network of businesses, from bustling family-run depots to major logistics operators, making sure their challenges and ambitions are heard in the corridors of power. 

For Morgan, advocacy isn’t just about policy—it’s about shaping an industry that keeps the country moving.

Morgan joined UKWA as Policy & Public Affairs Director at the start of 2025, bringing with him 15 years of experience in policy, communications and advocacy. His career began with a brief spell in the civil service, before a defining move to the Institute of Directors in 2010. “I was thrown into the deep end, which is always the best way to learn,” he recalls.

At the Institute of Directors, including as Director of Policy, he worked with businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to major corporations, representing their views to Ministers and senior civil servants. Reflecting on that period, he notes the organisation evolved to meet “the needs today’s business leaders, who are more diverse—both in terms of who they are, and their views—than people often think.”

At UKWA, Morgan now operates at the centre of a vast, often overlooked industry. The association represents a broad membership of warehousing businesses that underpin national supply chains. For Morgan, the appeal of in-house advocacy is clear: “I like in-house because you get the chance to build something for the long term. It’s a satisfying challenge to have to work out what’s the right thing for the industry as a whole.”

The sector faces a convergence of pressures, from rising employment costs and regulatory burdens to energy prices and business rates. “We said before the 2025 Autumn Budget that our members were ‘all taxed out,’ and that’s still true,” Morgan explains. His work ensures policymakers understand the combined impact of these challenges on a critical industry.

Under his leadership, UKWA has delivered tangible wins. A campaign to expand solar panel use on warehouse rooftops, led by Ed Dolley, gained support from Energy Minister Michael Shanks. “It’s a real win-win: lower bills for companies, and progress towards the Government’s renewables goals,” Morgan says. Meanwhile, Karan Chhabra’s work on skills reform highlights the association’s push for a more effective talent pipeline.

Morgan emphasizes that advocacy is fundamentally about people. “Public Affairs is very much about people… governments don’t do things just because there’s a well-written case for it,” he notes. His leadership philosophy mirrors this perspective: “I’ve always tried to start by assuming that people are trying to do the right thing… It’s certainly less tiring than assuming everyone has bad intentions!”

Early advice from mentor Mark Wallace also shaped his approach: “Don’t do the bad thing in the first place.” Morgan applies that principle to communications, strategy and corporate conduct alike.

At UKWA, Morgan continues to position warehousing as a strategic pillar of the UK economy, ensuring the industry’s voice is credible, respected and impossible to ignore.

Quickfire Q&A

How did you start in public affairs? 

I worked briefly in the civil service, but my big break was when I got a job in the policy team at the Institute of Directors back in 2010. 

What regulatory or policy issue keeps you up at night?

Business costs—the problem is not just one thing; it’s that warehousing businesses have been hammered by higher employment costs (and regulation), business rates, and energy, all at the same time.

Proudest career achievement to date?

I was at the Institute of Directors for 10 years, and in that time, I think we did a lot to bring it up to date with the needs of today’s business leaders.

How has AI changed public affairs engagement? Are you worried about the “human factor”?

Aside from some marginal help with drafting/analysis, AI hasn’t changed my job much yet. 

Outside the Westminster village, how do you unwind?

I’ve got two young kids, so they take up most of my free time, but I enjoy cooking and going to the cinema (when I get the chance).

What song, or piece of music, sums up your approach to life?

“Days Like This” by Van Morrison. He’s a deeply odd man, but I grew up listening to him because of my dad, who’s also from Northern Ireland. The song is about how, even when things seem hard, a day will come along when everything goes your way.