Hermes starts work on new £31m UK Midlands “Super Hub”
Hermes has confirmed it is to build an automated parcel distribution hub located in Rugby, Warwickshire. The £31m development will be the largest single investment ever made by Hermes.
The 270,000 square foot Midlands Super Hub will have the capacity to process up to 1.1m parcels every day and will increase the company’s overall parcel processing capacity by 45%, as well as creating more than 200 new permanent jobs.
Work on the facility started earlier this week under the supervision of Hermes CEO Carole Woodhead and Chief Operating Officer Martijn de Lange.
Hermes will work with site developer Roxhill and contractor Winvic with a view to preparing the hub for an official opening in August 2017.
“As work begins at our new facility in Rugby, we are embarking on an exciting new chapter in the history of Hermes that will ensure we can continue to provide retailers with world class services and solutions,” said Woodhead. “The hub’s enormous throughput capability and built-in flexibility will help to future proof our business whilst also ensuring we are in the very best position to grow alongside our clients.”
As previously reported, news of the investment comes after Hermes enjoyed its busiest and most efficient peak season to date. Throughout December the delivery firm processed 30.3m parcels, which was 24% up on the previous year. The record-breaking peak season followed a successful Black Friday period, with Hermes processing 8.2m parcels in the week following the global retail event.
In addition to the new Midlands Super Hub, Hermes recently added a secondary sortation tier at its northern automated distribution hub in Warrington, which can now process up to one million parcels a day.
Woodhead added: “The substantial investment at both Rugby and Warrington shows how we continue to strengthen our network and infrastructure across the UK. This will ensure we have the capacity to cope with prolonged periods of intense activity as well as spikes such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We are laying the foundations for future growth, creating more employment opportunities and confirming our position as an industry leader.”
