DHL eCommerce, the e-commerce logistics specialist of DHL Group, is celebrating the opening of its newest parcel hub in the UK. The 25,000 m² facility, located south of Coventry Airport, will support the growth of domestic and international e-commerce for UK businesses, creating up to 600 local jobs and enabling the company to significantly expand its market share.
Having visited this morning, I have to say that it’s impressive at about a quarter of a mile long and being new it’s not only pristine, it smells new as well!
Perhaps more importantly, it’s been custom designed with employees in mind so there’s a pool table, table football, a canteen and even at the southern end a garden! And for resilience, all of the back end office, control and security suites are duplicated at the far end of the cavernous space so if a disaster occurs they can be back up and running in the time it takes to walk a quarter mile!
The hub forms part of DHL eCommerce’s £482m investment in the UK announced in 2022, aimed at increasing capacity and setting a new benchmark in parcel automation. The site also features a 48-door cross-dock facility and secure bonded storage as well as customs capabilities to support the expansion of international trade.
What was interesting was asking the UK CEO Stuart Hill who they are targeting growth at for the answer to be SMEs. Truthfully, large retailers are struggling in the current economy, but Stuart is keen to engage with SMEs and win their business with a premier next day carrier proposition… and they can handle your international traffic too.
DHL eCommerce also welcomed Business Minister Justin Madders to the site opening.
The West Midlands is a powerhouse for investment, and this state-of-the-art hub in Coventry will not only create hundreds of local jobs but give a major boost to our logistics sector and speed up delivery times for consumers. The UK is open for business, and DHL’s investment is the latest vote of confidence in the country which will deliver economic growth and raise living standards, showing our Plan for Change is working.
– Business Minister, Justin Madders
More than any other European market, e-commerce in the UK is booming and is expected to reach a £176 billion turnover by 2029. With our latest addition to our network, we are significantly expanding our processing and sorting capacity, ensuring we are perfectly equipped to address our customers’ needs and support their business growth. This is another important step in optimising our UK network to provide our customers with reliable, affordable, and more sustainable parcel services.
– Pablo Ciano, CEO, DHL eCommerce
Developed with sustainability at the fore, the site has achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’ status, thanks to features that minimise its environmental impact including 7,000m² of solar panels, LED lighting and landscaping to protect the area’s natural biodiversity. DHL has also equipped the site with 120 EV charging points for both cars and LGVs.
As e-commerce continues to shape the way we live and work, this expansion will enable us to meet growing demand. The investment reflects our confidence in British business and our dedication to helping our customers thrive in the digital marketplace through innovation and best-in-class service delivery. By increasing our capacity with a state-of-the-art operation, we’re creating long-term jobs, growth opportunities for our customers and a blueprint for more sustainable logistics.
– Stuart Hill, CEO, DHL eCommerce UK
