New hub almost ready for UK Mail

UK Mail has said plans to relocate to its new Coventry hub are progressing to schedule and the process should begin on May 1.

The company has built the new facility in Ryton using the proceeds of a compensation payout from the Department for Transport which was awarded after the ministry compulsorily purchased its current hub in Bromford because it lies in the path of the proposed HS2 high speed rail line.

The arrival of the logistics business in Coventry is somewhat ironic as it comes just months after the collapse of the City Link parcel delivery business, which was also based in the city.

Furthermore, in a pre-close trading update UK Mail revealed its Parcels business had actually benefited from the demise of City Link with volumes for the last quarter increasing by around 12% compared to the same period last year.

The firm is well into the testing phase of the new hub’s automation equipment and once the relocation is fully completed in July, it is aiming to ramp up its parcels sortation operation from the current level of 20% of volume to some 80% of volume by September this year.

Guy Buswell, Chief Executive of UK Mail, said: “UK Mail is undergoing a period of significant investment and transition to make us one of the leading players in our markets, with continued product and service innovation and a new fully automated hub, which will create extra capacity and reduce operating costs across our network.
 
“To date this transition is proceeding according to plan, although we have much to do in the first half of the new financial year to complete this key process.
 
“We continue to see new opportunities to increase our share of the UK parcels market as a result of the improved competitive environment.
 
“The medium and long term outlook for the Group therefore remains very positive.”
 
The group will report its final results for the year ended March 31, 2015 on May 20.
 

Victoria extends retailer incentive scheme

WORCESTERSHIRE carpet manufacturer and distributor, Victoria, has issued 899 new ordinary shares of 25p each as part of a new retailer incentive scheme.

This is the third share issue under the plan, which was established in July 2014 to recognise and reward retailers’ support of Victoria’s products.

Shares will be issued to qualifying retailers on a quarterly basis.  The new shares were issued at the closing market price on April 2 of 730p. The shares are expected to be admitted to trading on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on April 14.
 

LightwaveRF benefits from a slice of Apple

BIRMINGHAM-based home technology specialist, LightwaveRF has enlisted the help of tech giant Apple to assist in its latest marketing strategy.

LightwaveRF, whose technology is used to enable households and businesses to remotely operate household applications including lighting, power, heating and security using smartphones, tablets, PC and MAC applications, signed an original agreement with Apple last June.

Following an approach by Apple, the company was accepted as an Apple MFi developer allowing it to use the Apple MFi logo to promote its products as made for iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Apple has now agreed to assist LightwaveRF in implementing the correct protocol in its weblink to enable customers to benefit from Apple HomeKit. HomeKit is a framework in the Apple operating system iOS 8 for communicating with and controlling connected accessories in a user’s home.

Balfour Beatty turns to former Tarmac man as new NED

CONSTRUCTION giant Balfour Beatty has announced the appointment of Stuart Doughty as a new Non-Executive Director.
 
Doughty brings a wealth of civil engineering, construction and infrastructure industry experience to Balfour Beatty’s board having served as the chief executive of engineering company Costain plc, an executive director of Welsh multi-utility company Hyder plc as well as senior roles at John Laing Construction, Alfred McAlpine plc and Tarmac Construction. Previously he was chairman of Silverdell plc, Somero plc and was the senior NED at Scott Wilson plc.
 
Philip Aiken, Chairman of Balfour Beatty, said: “The board is delighted to welcome Stuart Doughty.  He brings highly relevant, in-depth experience, having spent 45 years in the construction and infrastructure industry.  His strong track record and experience at Laing, Tarmac, McAlpine and Costain will be particularly valuable to Balfour Beatty as we move to restore the business to profitable performance.”