Growing UK mail company looks to create 850 jobs
A rapidly expanding mail distribution company is aiming to create 850 jobs and move into new premises four times the size of its present base.
Gateshead-based Amaro Professional Distribution took on its 100th employee just two months ago, but already has 150 staff on board and is aiming for further rapid growth.
The company was formed six years ago by managing director Robert Greener in the Blaydon Business Centre.
It has just received a £140,000 Regional Selective Assistance grant from One NorthEast as it revises its growth forecasts ever upwards.
Amaro moved into its new 10,500 sq ft premises on the Metro Riverside Park last December but such has been its rate of growth that managers are already seeking a 40,000 sq ft base to consolidate their North-East operations.
The company specialises in door to door mail delivery to customers from the Scottish Borders to North Yorkshire and for clients including local authorities, health authorities and retailers.
Most of its business comes from former Royal Mail clients.
Mr Greener approached One NorthEast for financial help to establish a new logistics and distribution headquarters at the Metro Riverside Park as part of the company’s business plan to secure national distribution contracts.
He said: “This month we hit the 150th full time employee mark and just nine months after moving into our new home we are looking for a 40,000 sq ft premises.
“The RSA grant enabled us to move to Amaro House at the Metro Riverside Park. We have now revised our expansion plans and we hope to employ up to 1,000 people locally in the North-East and replicate this across other regions of the UK.”
Terry Skee, general manager, said: “The grant played a crucial part in us being able to establish the company in our new headquarters. Most of our staff are recruited locally and we have a policy of bringing the right calibre of staff into the business and speeding their progress through the company by providing them with the necessary support and training.
“These are jobs generated in the North-East, and unlike in some other industries, are jobs that will remain in the North-East and won’t be going abroad.”
The company presently delivers to a million addresses per month but is looking to achieve that figure every week as it expands.
Alan Clarke, chief executive of One NorthEast, said: “I’m delighted to see such a regional success story continue to go from strength to strength and that One NorthEast has been able to play a part in that success.”
