Tag Archives: Logistics

Finance and Banking, News

Boost for UK SMEs as WeDo secures £50m in funding

WeDo Business Services has secured £50m in funding which will enable it to significantly expand its support of small and medium-sized companies across the UK.

The funding is provided by alternative investment manager Waterfall Asset Management and will be used to help WeDo bolster the growth of its SME customer base through a range of finance facilities.

The WeDo group has its headquarters in Greater Manchester and additional offices nationwide. It provides invoice and trade finance, asset finance, loans and start-up funding to a growing client base, as well as accountancy, HR, back-office and IT services.

WeDo was founded by Mark Lindsay and Chris Robinson in 2019 with just four staff and has grown rapidly through organic expansion and acquisition. It currently has over 70 staff across its Oldham headquarters and its network of offices.

Its overall lending now exceeds £50m, and chief executive Mark said Waterfall’s funding would enable it to achieve significant growth as it aims to reach £100m within the next three years.

WeDo’s nationwide client base spans a range of sectors, including recruitment, engineering, manufacturing, logistics and wholesale distribution.

Mark said: “This significant investment is a vote of confidence in our business and will help us to exponentially grow our ability to provide support to SMEs from across our finance divisions.

“We share a desire to establish a long-term relationship with the goal of helping more SMEs to succeed in building sustainable businesses for the future, by alleviating their cashflow constraints and enabling them to invest for future growth.

“WeDo has a strong track record of supporting the northern economy by offering finance to companies across the region and this will continue, as well as enabling us to significantly expand our geographical reach.

“There is increasing demand for the type of lending and support services we provide, reflected in a record month for new client wins in the first quarter of this year.

“We understand the challenges of growing a business from a new start, and we want to help others to do the same. It can be lonely as a business owner, and we provide a support network to ensure the wellbeing of themselves and their companies.”

James Cuby, managing director at Waterfall, said: “WeDo provides a comprehensive funding solution and support services to SMEs across the UK and has an experienced management team who are committed to supporting the growth of the businesses they fund.

“We are pleased to support WeDo’s expansion plans and look forward to a successful relationship.”

News

Management training continues to drive success at Europa

At a dynamic time of change within the industry, Europa Worldwide Group is arming its managers with the skills necessary to drive success.

Now employing over 1,400 staff globally, over the past 10-years Europa has trebled its workforce and increased its international footprint, bringing with it a greater need for training and development.

Robust management training can equip managers to provide better customer communication, an enhanced service and a more effective operation.

But, a Chartered Management Institute survey of 4,500 UK workers, reported that 82 per cent of those in management positions were described as ‘accidental managers’, with little training or qualifications. In addition, according to data from YouGov most logistics managers do not hold a university degree or equivalent qualifications (63 per cent).

Europa, recognising that business success is not simply based on technology and infrastructure, is challenging these statistics head on.  In 2023 the company launched its own formal 12-month Management Training Programme, upskilling leaders across the business. This is the latest innovation from Europa to ensure quality and consistency throughout the operation.

Already 70 senior managers from its 18 UK sites have successfully achieved the bespoke Europa Management Training certification and a new cohort of 60 is currently taking part in the 11-module programme.

The Europa Management Training Programme introduces managers to new concepts and practices, offering new tactics to allow them to keep pace with the dynamic environment.

Tom Jenkins, Central Services Director, Europa Worldwide Group comments “Europa has recently experienced rapid growth; so, enabling our team with effective management skills is vital. This is a significant investment in our people, it’s important we give our managers all the tools they need to grow, support their own teams and ultimately provide the best service available to our customers.”

Recognising the vast and diverse training needs across the business, Europa’s Learning & Development team has increased threefold over the past two years, as well as using the latest platforms and technologies to support innovative learning pathways.

Europa believes that the development of its people is a fundamental part of sustaining success. The first cohort on the Management Training Programme includes several Sales and Customer Service Branch Managers from its road freight operation Europa Road.

Hayley Callachan, was promoted to the role of Customer Service Branch Manager in Glasgow, a year and a half ago and comments; “The training programme has made me confident in dealing with difficult conversations and has equipped me with the tools I need to resolve any conflicts within the team.”

Ben Geddis, Sales Branch Manager at one of Europa’s most established branches in Bristol adds; “The training has been invaluable to me and my team. I would say it is a massive factor in the success of what we are achieving. Not only do I understand my team more, but they also feel more valued which in turn increases their performance.”

It is widely recognised that good, formally trained managers can support higher levels of innovation and better workplace cultures, driving standards of excellence. Europa’s Learning & Development Manager Alison Flannery concludes “Our Management Training is delivered through a creative mix of classroom, remote and eLearning packages and this dynamic, bespoke approach is already delivering success across the business, helping grow and nurture our talented team to become even stronger.”

Appointments, Logistics, News

Kinaxia Logistics strengthens senior team with key appointments

Kinaxia Logistics has strengthened its senior team as part of a management restructure which will see it focus on further developing its customer proposition, driving operational efficiencies and unlocking the potential within the business.

Simon Nelson has been appointed to the new position of chief operating officer and Mark Tabor has joined Kinaxia as commercial director.

Chief executive Michael Conroy said the duo have vast experience at board level and possess great commercial acumen.

He said the appointments form part of Kinaxia’s strategy to work more closely with its customers and deliver high-quality services which are more tailored to their needs.

Simon joined Kinaxia and became managing director of its contract distribution operations after the company acquired Nelson Distribution from KNP Logistics Group last September.

Mark has over 35 years’ experience in UK and European logistics, working with a number of leading businesses including FedEx, Palletforce and Online MBT.

As Palletforce’s European development director, he oversaw the expansion of its cross-border pallet network from 11 to 30 countries and quadrupled turnover.

Michael said: “The new position of COO has been created to ensure our services more closely match our customers’ requirements. This will enable us to get closer to them, better understand their needs and deliver a service which reflects this.

“In addition, Simon will also drive efficiency across the business using technology-enabled solutions that will boost productivity while further enhancing sustainability, allowing us to generate additional value for our customers.

“Mark will play a major role as we continue to align our commercial proposition to best serve the needs of our customers with the agility to flex to quickly meet the demands of a changing marketplace.

“His appointment further reinforces our strategy to be completely aligned with our customers to deliver a stand-out experience to them and ensure we operate in a manner which drives long-term success for the business.

“With some of the highest-quality warehousing facilities in the UK, a depth of regional transport expertise and heritage that is unmatched, skilled and motivated people and a powerful palletised freight offering, we have a full end-to-end solution that can quickly adapt to our customers’ needs.”

Kinaxia, which has its headquarters in Macclesfield, Cheshire, employs more than 1,700 staff nationwide with a fleet of 800 vehicles transporting goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.

It has 2.7 million sq ft of strategic national warehousing facilities offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management, storage services and a complete distribution service.

Apprenticeships, Awards, News, North of England

Mechanic Lewis crowned apprentice of the year by Kinaxia Logistics

A young mechanic who helps to service and maintain Kinaxia Logistics’ fleet of lorries has won the company’s apprentice of the year award.

Lewis Brockbank, 20, joined Kinaxia in September 2021 on a three-year apprenticeship leading to a qualification in heavy vehicle maintenance.

He is based at Kinaxia group company Bay Freight in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester.

Lewis was nominated for the accolade by his line manager Dave Turnbull, who presented him with a trophy, framed certificate and Amazon voucher.

Dave said: “Lewis is always willing to learn and is a key team player. He works hard in all weathers and never complains. He’s willing to do any job at any time of the day and always keeps himself busy.

“He’s very competent at his job and has had glowing reports from college. He’s a very worthy winner of the apprentice of the year award.”

The training provider for Lewis’s apprenticeship is Mantra Learning. He is one of eight apprentices currently employed by Kinaxia. The group is recruiting for up to 10 apprentices this year.

Kinaxia, which has its headquarters in Macclesfield, Cheshire, employs more than 2,000 staff nationwide with a fleet of over 1,000 vehicles transporting goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.

The group has 2.7 million sq ft of warehouse facilities nationwide, offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management, storage services and a complete distribution service.

Lewis, who lives in Mottram, Tameside, Greater Manchester, said: “I wasn’t expecting to win the award but I’m very happy to have done so and very grateful. It really means a lot.”

He added: “Initially, I wanted to be a light vehicle mechanic, and I completed a Level Two qualification at Tameside College. Then the opportunity came up to join Kinaxia, and I was thrilled to join the company.

“I’ve found myself really enjoying learning the job and helping to keep our vehicles roadworthy and maintained to a high standard.

“I think apprenticeships are the best option for people fresh out of school or college to get into an industry. I find that hands-on learning is more effective than just classroom learning. I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship to anyone who may be considering one.”

Kinaxia is a gold sponsor of Generation Logistics, a government and industry-backed campaign highlighting the opportunities and career prospects available in a major national drive to attract young people to the sector.

Debbie Blackwell, people services director at Kinaxia, said: “Apprenticeships are key to the future of our industry. We need to invest in our colleagues and create new opportunities for diversified talent to support the growth and productivity of our business and create a skilled and qualified workforce.”

Logistics, News

Almost half of UK transport and distribution staff still can’t afford basic living expenses, despite many working more hours than ever in 2023

With planned industrial action already hitting headlines in the first weeks of 2024, a new study has found that around half of UK frontline or deskless staff working in transport and distribution are still struggling to cover their basic living costs – despite many working longer hours than ever in 2023, to keep up with rising expenses.

The pan-European poll by workforce management experts Quinyx looked at the working patterns of frontline staff across several industries, including transport, warehousing and distribution. It found that 40% of UK employees in these sectors clocked up more hours in 2023 than in previous years, saying they needed the extra income to support their families.

Despite more than a third (35%) of staff receiving a pay rise in 2023, they didn’t feel better off as a result. Nearly half (48%) said their wages barely cover living costs – more than workers in similar roles in the Nordic countries (31%), The Netherlands (37%) and Germany (39%).

One in eight (13%) frontline staff said they’d had to use food banks, while around a fifth (22%) had to accept financial support from friends and family to help with basic expenses.

Toma Pagojute, chief HR officer at Quinyx, says: “As recent news of planned industrial action demonstrates, workers within logistics-based sectors such as transportation and distribution really struggled last year, and want a brighter, less stressful 2024. While many employees received pay rises, it seems they didn’t always have much of an impact, and workers had to put in more hours than ever. When the resulting pay still doesn’t cover basic living costs, it can be demoralising to say the least.

“Many organisations are facing their own challenges, of course, but we would love to see more of them placing renewed focus on their workforce’s engagement and overall wellbeing in 2024 – not just by looking at pay but on the overall experience of their staff.

“While there are signs of an improved economic outlook for 2024, changes won’t be felt overnight and there is more that bosses can do to prevent employees from feeling stressed, overworked and overwhelmed – this might be by offering flexible work schedules, improving communications, utilising more tech solutions, and ensuring working conditions are the best they can be.”

Appointments, Logistics, News

New CEO for Kinaxia Logistics

Michael Conroy, a former chief executive of Palletforce, has been appointed as the new CEO of Kinaxia Logistics, succeeding Simon Hobbs who has left after four years to pursue new opportunities.

Simon said of his time at Kinaxia: “We achieved a great deal despite the challenges we faced, and have brought a great business closer together. Kinaxia is now recognised in the UK market as a fresh and capable logistics provider and is well-positioned for its next phase of growth.”

Michael has been recruited to spearhead the next phase of development for Kinaxia, a top 15 UK logistics business with annual turnover of more than £220m.

He led Palletforce through its most significant period of expansion, taking the express freight distribution network’s turnover from £20m to £200m during a 13-year tenure as CEO.

Michael oversaw a £100m strategic investment across the Palletforce business, including the creation of its SuperHub, pioneered award-winning technology and innovation, led the collaboration of over 100 top UK regional hauliers, and was integral in the creation of EV Cargo UK in 2018.

That was followed by a period as CEO of Networks for Culina Group, where he led its digital transformation and achieved significant value creation and financial improvement by focusing on cost reduction, enhanced productivity, and successfully capturing commercial opportunities.

Kinaxia Chairman Graham Norfolk said: “We are delighted to have Michael on board. He is a respected industry figure, with vast experience in senior positions in the UK logistics industry. The board looks forward to working with him as Kinaxia moves into its next stage of development.”

Michael’s remit at Kinaxia will be to lead the group through this next stage of development, with a focus on unlocking further growth potential through scale and technology while simplifying and harmonising company processes, inspiring an inclusive workforce, driving sustainable initiatives and continuing to deliver customer excellence.

He said: “I’m extremely motivated to take up this new position and, despite the expectation of challenging market conditions continuing in 2024, I believe Kinaxia is in a strong position to capitalise on opportunities that exist.

“The business has a unique customer proposition, offering the benefits of a fully-owned and controlled national logistics network, with services delivered directly to customers by our local experts.

“This enables us to develop deep relationships with our existing customers, focus on providing sector-leading service excellence, and win market share from our competitors.”

He added: “Current market dynamics, together with the fragmented nature of the industry, offer a significant opportunity to unlock growth potential.

“We will have an increased focus on leveraging data and technology to reduce waste and improve productivity and efficiency, while also creating value for our customers by developing digital and data-focused solutions that enhance service, provide a competitive advantage and deliver sustainable growth.

“One of our greatest strengths is the talent, expertise and skills which flow throughout Kinaxia. Great people make great businesses, and empowering our workforce by nurturing talent and developing skills will see our people invested in the ethos of ‘one Kinaxia’ and the quality values the brand stands for.”

Kinaxia, which has its headquarters in Macclesfield, Cheshire, employs more than 2,000 staff nationwide with a fleet of over 1,000 vehicles transporting goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.

The group has 2.7 million sq ft of warehouse facilities nationwide, offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management, storage services and a complete distribution service.

Logistics, Logistics Tech, News

All systems glow for Kinaxia Logistics with Ansell Lighting deal

Kinaxia Logistics has agreed a three-year contract to provide UK distribution, warehousing and other services for a global lighting company.

Ansell Lighting designs and manufactures interior and exterior lighting for the commercial, domestic, industrial, retail and architectural markets.

The company has its headquarters in Warrington and operates in more than 20 countries, with showrooms in Belfast, Dublin and Madrid as well as at its HQ.

It offers over 3,300 product lines and has won multiple awards for its energy-efficient luminaires and industry-leading lighting control system, Octo.

Last year, Ansell won a King’s Awards for Enterprise for Innovation for its Panel Pod product.

Its multi-million-pound stockholding is housed at distribution centres in Warrington and Belfast, from where it dispatches more than 400,000 items a month.

Ansell has appointed Kinaxia to distribute products to customers across the UK, and to provide warehousing, contract packing and overseas shipment.

The distribution operation is being led from Kinaxia’s hub in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester.

Kinaxia is a top 15 UK logistics group which has its headquarters in Macclesfield, Cheshire. It employs more than 1,700 staff nationwide with a fleet of over 850 vehicles transporting goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.

The group also has 2.7 million sq ft of warehouse facilities nationwide, offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management, storage services and a complete distribution service. Group turnover was more than £200m in 2022, the 10th anniversary of the business.

Kinaxia sales director Nicky Woodman said: “Ansell Lighting is a tremendous addition to our growing client base. Our agreement brings a significant volume of new business to our distribution operation as well as to other parts of the group.

“Working with the Ansell team to integrate our IT systems has ensured a seamless transition and the highest possible standard of service.

“Our partnership has extended beyond the contract awarded for the distribution element to providing warehousing, contract packing and European shipments, and we look forward to further developing our relationship with the Ansell team into other areas of its business.”

Ansell’s distribution director Mark Stanley said: “Customer service levels are very important to us, and we wanted to work with a partner who shared our values and would be able to deliver the fast, efficient next-day service that our customers have come to expect, in order to continue to grow our business.

“We have been impressed with Kinaxia’s strong transport network and distribution capabilities, and we are looking forward to working with them as we move towards achieving even higher delivery standards than before.”

News

ArrowXL Appoints New Chief Operating Officer

ArrowXL, the UK’s largest and longest established 2-person home delivery specialist, has appointed Luke Barton as its new Chief Operating Officer. Luke will begin his new role and join the Exec Board effective from 1st Jan 2023.

Luke has worked for ArrowXL since 2015 in a number of management roles including Operations Support, Warehousing and HR. Most recently he has been the General Manager for Worcester and then Regional Operations Manager for the South, where he was responsible for both Worcester and Enfield Operations. In his new role he will be responsible for ensuring that the company’s operations are fully able to support the company’s continuing growth and support its strong customer base.

Charlie Shiels CEO at ArrowXL added: “Our decision to promote from within is testament to the strength of our team and our commitment to developing our people. Over the past few years Luke has proven to have an innate ability to make significant improvements at pace and drives high standards, all whilst demonstrating strong and supportive leadership and core ethical values. On behalf of the Executive Board and the Shareholders, we would like to congratulate him on this appointment – are very much looking forward to working with him on the future strategic plans for ArrowXL.”

Commenting on his appointment, Luke said: “Our industry is facing extremely challenging times and it is vital that we as a business are able to adapt and develop to ensure that we can continue to expand our portfolio and deliver a best-in-class customer experience for our clients. In my new role I am committed to delivering this and continuing to develop our exceptional colleagues to ensure we have the best people in the market.”

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Logistics, Logistics Tech, News

ShipStation partners with The Delivery Group for last-mile deliveries

ShipStation, the world’s leading cloud-based ecommerce shipping solution, today announces that it has partnered with The Delivery Group (TDG), a leading tech enabled ecommerce delivery specialist. This partnership will see TDG added to ShipStation’s carrier services in the UK, allowing ShipStation merchants to select TDG as their carrier of choice for deliveries.

TDG specialises in technology-driven ecommerce that enables a full end-to-end delivery service across the UK and 220 countries worldwide. By joining ShipStation’s carrier services platform, TDG can provide more merchants with quick and easy access to its UTrak and ETrak services that offer a range of tracked and untracked delivery services. These are supported by best-in-class customer services and a fully automated operational network, supplying customers with more cost-effective shipping options.

David Randall, VP of Carriers at ShipStation said:

“At ShipStation we’re always looking to add innovative and best-in-class carriers to our platform, as we look to offer our merchants the right delivery options for every single shipment. TDG has a proven track-record in providing excellent value for growing merchants who are looking for an easy-to-use service for their distribution and delivery needs. We look forward to working with them to provide our customers with even more choice when it comes to domestic and international shipping.”

Mark Calladine, Group ecommerce and International Director at TDG, said:

“We see our new partnership with ShipStation as a major opportunity for growth, especially as more retailers turn towards an omnichannel model to scale – blending the physical high street with the online shopping ecosystem. Working with ShipStation, we can offer their customers quick and easy access via a carrier integration to our shipping and distribution services for more last mile deliveries. By working together, TDG and ShipStation offer businesses the right delivery product at the right time and for the right price.”

To find out more about how the ShipStation and TDG partnership, please visit: https://info.shipstation.com/the-delivery-group

About ShipStation
Every day, tens of thousands of e-commerce retailers rely on ShipStation to solve the day-to-day challenges of importing orders and processing shipments. The trusted leader in shipping software since its founding in 2011, ShipStation helps online sellers scale their businesses and deliver exceptional customer experiences, with an intuitive online solution that allows them to efficiently ship orders – wherever they sell and however they ship. The multi-channel and multi-carrier platform offers the most integrations of any e-commerce solution, with more than 300 partnerships with leading shopping carts, marketplaces, carriers and fulfilment services, including UPS, Royal Mail, Parcelforce, Amazon, Shopify, and BigCommerce. ShipStation is headquartered in Austin, TX, with offices in France, Sydney and London.

About The Delivery Group
The Delivery Group is a leading national and international e-commerce and specialist mail services provider with the capacity to handle over 1 billion items per annum via its multi-carrier platform.
With a turnover in excess of £250m and employing 500 staff, The Delivery Group operates from four highly automated facilities at Warrington, Luton, Bristol and Maidstone with an additional Central London satellite in Bermondsey.

News

Global economy set to enter recession in 2023

According to organisations such as the World Bank, Bank of America and Citi, as well as various economists, it is expected that the global economy will enter into a recession in 2023. A combination of factors has led to this global economic downturn, ranging from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and constriction of macroeconomic policies, to the current European energy crisis and the prolonged periods of supply disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US and European economies are expected to be the most heavily impacted by a recession this year. The USA’s real GDP growth is expected to be 0.0 per cent Year-over-Year (Y-o-Y) in 2023, while the real GDP of Europe – including the UK – is predicted to come in at 0.1 per cent this year. Nevertheless, it must be noted that the degree of recession is still being debated, and the actual economic impact remains under close observation as market conditions continue to change.

Rashi Singh, AVP, Procurement and Supply Chain at The Smart Cube comments on what impact a potential recession in 2023 could have across different sectors:

“A possible recession in 2023 is likely to significantly impact the CPG sector. In the upcoming months, high levels of volatility are expected when it comes to the prices of dairy and agricultural commodities as a result of recessionary pressures. It is also likely that food service firms will record a fall in sales figures. The expectation is for consumer preferences to transition from away-from-home to at-home food due to the expected decline in real personal income, resulting in decreased demand for food services in 2023.

“Meanwhile in the industrial sector, there is a high likelihood of semiconductor and electronic shortages easing as end-user businesses that stockpiled chips during the COVID-19 pandemic are cancelling or delaying orders to reduce inventory in case a recession takes place in the coming months. Additionally, while it’s expected that the demand for automobiles will fall during the recession – amid the potential decline in personal income – this won’t necessarily be the case. Industry growth is expected to be sustained this year due to the backlog of demand for automotives since the start of the pandemic.

“Finally, the logistics industry is not immune from being impacted by a recession. Expected fall in average annual price of oil and decline in manufacturing activities in 2023 because of the potential decline in consumer spending, is likely to lower down demand for logistics.”