Panther stalks City Link as it looks to feed its own growth
THE growth of a Midlands-based package delivery company is offering a potential lifeline to former employees of defunct parcel delivery group, City Link.
Two-man delivery specialist Panther Warehousing is looking for up to 100 self-employed and employed drivers (50 two-man teams) across the UK together with up to 40 general customer service and warehouse staff.
The Northampton-based company is also looking to further expand its existing footprint within the UK with additional hubs within the M25 area. It hopes the additional capacity will enable it to take advantage of the expected boom in internet shopping for larger items, which is set to grow exponentially over the next five years.
Colin McCarthy, managing director, Panther Warehousing said: “Whilst the parcels industry struggles with ever-increasing operating costs and tightening profit margins, the two-man market continues to thrive as consumers become more and more comfortable with purchasing both larger and big ticket items online such as garden furniture, beds and white and brown goods.
“If we are to continue to develop and take advantage of the growth it is essential we have the necessary resource in place. It is therefore essential that we have a good pool of drivers and a network of strategic sites and we are pleased to be in a position to further increase our workforce at this difficult time.”
Panther Warehousing has increased its workforce to 900 in recent years, comprising a mix of employed and sub-contractors. The expansion followed a move to a new-cross dock facility last year, bringing its total number of depots to six. Turnover levels have also increased from £11m in 2013 to £20m last year.
It said with a predicted rise of 40% in deliveries of larger items, from 360m a year in 2013 to 507m in 2018, there was an increasing need for two-man and assisted deliveries.
The company has stopped short of saying it will prioritise applications from City Link workers made redundant on New Year’s Eve but the overlap in the business suggests they would have the necessary experience.
Panther is not the first company to come forward and offer a lifeline. Cannock-based logistics group APC Overnight has already said it is looking to recruit an additional 100 people and it has said it will prioritise applications from former City Link employees.
City Link entered administration on Christmas Eve after a last ditch attempt to save the business – owned by venture capitalist Jon Moulton’s Better Capital – failed. Administrators announced almost 2,400 redundancies at the firm on New Year’s Eve.
