Olympic Gold medal winning Boxer Nicola Adams has officially opened the new 60,000 sq ft Northern Hub for Palletways, Europe's largest and fastest growing express palletised freight network. Based in Morley, Leeds, the hub operation is designed to further enhance the company's overnight delivery services to the region for the benefit of businesses across the UK.
The new operation will also have a significant positive environmental impact as it will enable Palletways to reduce the overall mileage its vehicles travel each year by circa 800,000 miles, thereby saving an estimated 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide in its first 12 months alone. Prior to the establishment of the new hub, Palletways would deliver customer goods in the North via its hub facilities in Lichfield, West Midlands or Livingston, Scotland.
Martyn Young, Managing Director of Palletways UK Member Network, said: "We're delighted to be opening the new hub in Leeds and it's an important part of our strategy for continuously improving our customer experience through shorter order lead times, as well as our environmental performance.
"The city is the UK's largest centre for business outside London and its excellent transport links make it an ideal location for our Northern Hub. We expect to be processing 375,000 pallets of goods by the end of year one through the new hub."
"It's great to see this new operation being opened in Leeds," said Nicola. "The city is such an industrial heartland and now local businesses will benefit from this enhanced distribution service on their doorsteps. I'm delighted to open the hub and hope it will bring success to Palletways and the businesses it serves," she continued.
The Leeds hub is the fourth operated by Palletways in the UK and it will be used mainly by the company's 18 depots in the Northern region for making final deliveries on behalf of the national network. In addition to Lichfield and Edinburgh, Palletways also has a hub operation in London serving the capital and the South. There are some 100 plus depots in the Palletways UK network, providing a national express palletised delivery service for small consignments of freight - from garden hardware to building products - to anywhere in the UK.
Delivery costs via the Northern network are highly competitive as goods from a range of local customers are consolidated on the same delivery vehicles. In addition, customers do not have to enter into long term contracts with Palletways and can order as and when they require goods to be delivered. The Palletways' Northern region service also means that local businesses do not have to invest in their own vehicles and the associated costs of maintenance and hiring drivers.
In addition, the company operates distribution networks in mainland Europe so that local businesses can place orders for deliveries across the Channel at the same time as their UK-bound goods. All fulfilment will take place at the Morley-based hub.
The Leeds hub will be managed by George Walker Transport Ltd, the licensee of the Palletways UK network responsible for serving the city and neighbouring areas. Palletways has invested more than half a million pounds in the current premises to create a hub operation. The hub, which has capacity for 4,000 pallets, is situated on a six acre site with parking for 150 trailers. There is also an on-site vehicle workshop. Six new jobs will be created as part of the new development.