DHL confirm sale of Wilko distribution centre – which it bought for £48m two months ago – for reported £88m
DHL has confirmed the sale of the main Wilko distribution centre in Nottinghamshire, just two months after it bought it. The logistics giant bought the 1.1m sq ft Worksop site for £48 million in November and was leasing it back to the high street retailer. Wilko initially struck the arrangement in order to free up cash for investment across its 400-plus stores and digital channel. The GMB union says DHL has now sold on the site on the Manton Wood Enterprise Park to Canadian asset manager Brookfield for £88 million. In a statement a spokeswoman for DHL Supply Chain said: “While we do not discuss the commercial aspects of our business dealings, we can confirm that we have successfully concluded the sale of our East Midlands campus to Brookfield, which we have now leased back on a long term basis. “This relates solely to Wilko’s Worksop distribution centre.” The spokeswoman has been asked to explain how both DHL and Wilko are both leasing the site. Brookfield has also been approached for comment by BusinessLive. At the start of the month Wilko announced it had secured £40 million from restructuring specialist Hilco and shaken up its leadership team following losses. Last week it announced 95 customer service jobs were at risks under plans to outsource the work to a third party provider. The GMB union said it felt the sale of the Worksop site reflected what it called the “ever-growing influence of private equity investors in the UK high street”. It wants the Competition and Markets Authority to have greater regulatory oversight in relation to private equity buyouts to ensure “greater protection of both consumers and workers”. GMB National Officer Nadine Houghton said: “The sale of Wilko distribution centre to Canadian investment and private equity giant Brookfield and the recent Hilco revolving credit facility raises further concerns about the ever-growing influence of private equity investors in the UK high street. “Highly debt leveraged models are being used to buy up the UK high street with little or no oversight from regulators.” According to its website Brookfield owns and operates “high-quality assets and businesses around the world”.
Stonehenge: Major expansion at site as 'Neolithic classroom' and learning centre approved
Major development plans have been greenlit at the Stonehenge visitor centre, with Wiltshire Council approving a planning application for new educational facilities. The application was submitted to the council by English Heritage in November 2023, seeking permission to erect two new buildings roughly 2.5 miles west of the Stonehenge Circle. As per the proposal, these plans form part of a broader investment strategy aimed at enhancing the visitor experience at Stonehenge. The first building is set to be a new learning centre located east of the Ancillary Building, next to the shuttle bus turnaround north of the visitor centre. The second building, as per the plans, will be a 'Neolithic structure' housing a 'Neolithic classroom', situated east of the visitor centre, close to the existing 'Neolithic village'. The learning centre, with a total floor area of 397 square metres, will feature a STEM lab and a learning studio linked to outdoor spaces. Meanwhile, the "Neolithic classroom" will draw inspiration from evidence of Neolithic communal buildings discovered at Durrington Walls, located in the north-eastern part of the World Heritage Site. The proposed area is set to offer an "immersive and authentic" experience, combining "costumed storytelling, object handling and hands-on activities" to give students a more profound appreciation of Neolithic life. The application from English Heritage stated: "Given its international status and cultural significance, English Heritage believes that Stonehenge should have a sector-leading education offer as befits this unique and special place – one that ensures that all education groups, both free and paying visits, have a world-class experience." Additionally, English Heritage emphasised the commitment to sustainability by ensuring the new construction aims for net zero carbon in its operation. Wiltshire Council's case officer report acknowledged the potential increase in traffic due to the new facilities but noted that it would likely be bus traffic, aligning with the council's policy to reduce private car travel. The report concluded: "It is concluded that the public benefits of the proposal would outweigh the limited harm to heritage assets in the planning balance and refusal on heritage and landscape grounds would not be justified." The council therefore approved the proposals.
East Midlands Railway recruiting apprentice train drivers
East Midlands Railway has launched its latest recruitment drive for apprentice train drivers. The regional rail operator – which recently achieved a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating for its apprenticeship scheme – said it was keen to encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for the roles based at its Nottingham and Derby depots. The appeal comes amid reports of further strike action expected within the industry after crisis talks between ministers and unions failed to resolve industrial disputes. Sustained action has crippled services, with only one in five trains running between Tuesday and Saturday. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch and Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, have been among those meeting with the Department for Transport for talks. The East Midlands Railway (EMR) apprenticeship scheme is open to people aged 21 and above and involves a 12-18-month programme blending theory and practical work in the classroom with practical skills development such as cab rides and signal box visits. Successful applicants will have access to EMR’s training academy where classroom learning is underpinned by VR technology replicating real life railway situations. The railway company also has a cab simulator so apprentices can learn about train driving in a variety of different circumstances and conditions within a safe environment. A spokeswoman said: “EMR values diversity and is committed to ensuring equality across its organisation. “In particular, EMR encourage women, younger people and ethnic minority groups to apply for the roles.” HR director Kate Holden said: “At EMR, we currently employ just over 600 drivers and to fulfil our fleet rollout, we need drivers to operate the trains across the network. “One of our major challenges is encouraging a more diverse driving workforce. We’ve been working to increase the number of females applying for our driver roles, with open evenings aimed specifically at women, as well as tackling the unconscious bias through blind screening. “We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and ages and we’d urge anybody interested in a career in any of these driver roles to check out our website.”
Ardent relocates Birmingham team to new base
A development consultancy has relocated its Birmingham team to a new home in the city. Ardent, which specialises in land, consent management and stakeholder engagement, has moved to Northspring in Temple Street from The Colmore Building. The firm works on consenting and delivering projects across the transport, renewables, utilities and regeneration sectors. It employs around 50 staff in Birmingham and 200 across its portfolio of offices in London, Leeds, Warrington, Dublin and Glasgow. Email newsletters BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire. Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates. We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away. LinkedIn For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here. Group managing director Jonathan Stott said the move was part of the company's wider growth strategy and to offer the best possible working environment to colleagues. He said: "We support the delivery of some of the most important developments across the UK through the expertise of our people across all of our teams. "It has led to very strong growth over the past couple of years and we are planning to grow the team even further in Birmingham and across our other locations too. "Northspring offers us a fantastic space for the team to be able to come together in one place, to collaborate and to offer the very best service to clients.
Devon recycling firm moves to new Exeter head office
A Devon waste and recycling firm has moved its head office to Exeter's Greendale Business Park as it looks to expand its operations. DCW said the move would reduce its environmental footprint and position the firm closer to parent company SUEZ, which is also based on site. The company was previously located at the Enviro Hub in Marsh Barton. There will be 15 staff and a fleet of 34 trucks based within the business park, with DCW and SUEZ sharing office and disposal facilities for waste segregation and processing. Grant Scott, general manager at DCW, said: “Our move to Greendale marks a significant step in our continued growth. It allows us to strengthen our operations while maintaining the local, reliable service we’ve built our reputation on. We’re also proud to contribute to reducing our environmental footprint through more efficient logistics and transport routes.” DCW said the business park's proximity to the M5 would also allow for quicker access and more streamlined operations. While DCW will operate primarily from Greendale, the company will retain a presence at Lee Mill Industrial Estate in Plymouth and Thorveton Road MRF at Marsh Barton, Exeter, it added. The move comes a year after DCW was acquired by Berkshire-headquartered SUEZ, which employs over 6,000 people, operating across over 300 sites.
Bristol Clean Air Zone 'final blow' for historic family-run store
One of Bristol's longest-running shops will be shutting down in the next few months. Army surplus store Marcruss has blamed the introduction of the Clean Air Zone as the 'final blow' to its fortunes. The shop on Hotwell Road has been a staple for outdoor enthusiasts for decades, but is set to close its doors this summer. The family-run retailer has been under the stewardship of the Pinson family for more than 60 years, and even longer as an army surplus and camping equipment store. In a message shared on its Facebook page, Marcus Pinson and his family expressed their gratitude to customers throughout the years and made a final appeal for support to clear out the remaining stock. "It is with a heavy heart that we write to inform you of the difficult decision to close Marcruss Outdoors for the last time this summer," read the statement. "Unfortunately, the harsh economic climate has made it impossible for us to continue. Despite having weathered countless recessions and even the challenging lockdowns, the final blow has come in the form of the Clean Air Zone." The family conveyed their deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve their community, saying the shop was more than just a business but a place where they could offer "expert advice, exceptional customer service, and foster a sense of community". They added: "We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have worked here over the years. Their loyalty, commitment, and hard work have been the foundation of our success. We couldn't have reached the milestones we did without their dedication, and we consider both our customers and staff to be part of the Marcruss family. "As we prepare to close our doors, we kindly ask for your support in helping us clear our remaining stock. We have some fantastic bargains available, and we would love for our loyal customers to benefit from these final sales. "The closing of our doors will certainly be a loss, and we believe that the vibrant city of Bristol will feel a little less bright without us. Thank you for your support throughout the years. We will cherish the memories and are forever grateful for the opportunity to have served you." Marcruss was a traditional family store selling a wide range of outdoor clothes and equipment. Marcruss was born when Frank Pinson and his son Trevor took over an existing army surplus store in the mid 1960s. Set across three floors, it has four departments selling camping and ski wear, workwear and wet weather clothing and boots. On the ground floor, the most popular items were the ranges of army surplus and Airsoft guns and accessories. Trevor's sons Marcus, Russ and Adam took over from him. In the 1980s and 1990s, the family-owned nine shops across the West Country, stretching from Gloucester to Torquay, but consolidated to a single shop on Hotwell Road during the last recession. In 2022, with the impending Clean Air Zone in Bristol, which would impose a £9 charge on approximately 20% of vehicles entering the city, Marcus expressed grave concerns for his business. Speaking in May 2022, he said: "I think it could essentially kill us off because it starts from Ashton and unless people are allowed to come into this area, nobody's going to shop in here."