New medical distribution centre to create up to 300 jobs
Construction has started on a medical distribution centre in Wakefield, which will create between 150 and 300 jobs and serve the NHS and pharmacies across northern England.
The 260,000 sq ft facility is being built by GMI Construction Group on behalf of developer HBD and Yorkcourt for PHOENIX Group – a large group of companies providing healthcare services and products across the UK and Europe.
The completed facility at Wakefield Hub will provide PHOENIX Group’s Phoenix Medical Supplies business with an extensive distribution base for its operations covering North East England and Yorkshire.
Wakefield Hub is being delivered in joint venture by HBD and Yorkcourt and, spanning 200-acres, is one of the largest regeneration projects of its kind in the north of England.
Among its business activities, PHOENIX Group provides the NHS with a supply chain to ensure patients receive the medicines they need in hospitals, community pharmacies and GP surgeries.
Also within the group, PHOENIX Group operates a number of pharmacy brands including Rowlands, Numark and NuCare and supports more than 4,000 community pharmacies.
The Wakefield facility will be PHOENIX Group’s 14th UK depot, which already deliver more than 250 million packs of medicines each year. It is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Andrew Hurcomb, managing director – Yorkshire at GMI Construction Group, said: “We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with HBD to deliver this significant project, which will enhance the economy of the local area and generate employment.
“The investment being made in Wakefield is indicative of the levelling up that’s taking place in the North of England that GMI is contributing to through the construction of facilities such as this.”
Steve Anderson, PHOENIX Group managing director, said: “Over the last few years, we’ve seen an outstanding growth in customer demand for our core services outpacing the market.
“Wakefield is a prime example of how we are committed to investing in the future by expanding our UK-wide operational capabilities to offer all our customers across the country the best possible service they need, want and deserve.”
Tom Wheldon, director and head of region at HBD, said: “It’s fantastic to see the new unit for PHOENIX starting on site – its move to Wakefield is a huge vote of confidence in Wakefield as a place to invest and in the strength of Yorkshire’s regional economy.”
Scott Mackie, director at Yorkcourt, said: “We’re excited to see work beginning on the new unit for PHOENIX; the latest addition to Wakefield Hub. It’s an important scheme for Wakefield, regenerating a 200-acre site and creating significant new job opportunities.”
Councillor Denise Jeffery, leader of Wakefield Council, said: “With a £6bn economy and world-famous businesses already established in the area the district is a great place to be located.
“We want more businesses to choose Wakefield as a base for their operations, and the council works with companies to encourage this and make it happen.”
