Member Article

Keighley hauliers expand with 17 new jobs

A West Yorkshire haulage and distribution business has created 17 new jobs, following expansion across the business.

R M McDowell Haulage and Distribution Ltd have acquired a £750,000 warehouse at Aireside Business Park in Keighley, after receiving support from Yorkshire Bank’s Investing for Growth initiative.

In the last 12 months, the company has increased turnover by £3m to £12.5m, and has launched a five-year rolling contract to provide collection, sorting and selection of products for Swiss hair and beauty manufacturer, Mibelle Ltd, which has a UK base in Bradford.

McDowell’s “pick-and-pack” service offers collection, sorting and selection of products from manufacturers, before repacking and delivering to individual customers.

The service has also won a further long-term contract for hair care company Lee Stafford, which has a global product range across more than 30 countries.

Managing director, Roger McDowell, who founded the business with a single vehicle in 1976, said: “Until our new warehouse, which previously belonged to Ponden Mill, became available, we intended to build a warehouse on our site following planning permission being granted by Bradford Council.

“However, Yorkshire Bank has once again demonstrated its faith in us, in spite of the tough economic outlook. Acquiring this warehouse means we can hold a further 4,000 pallets, it has helped us to launch the ‘pick-and-pack’ service, and has created new jobs and get up to speed quickly for Mibelle – with whom we are currently exploring international service options.

“We still plan to develop our site with a 20,000 sq. ft, 4,000-pallet warehouse in due course, as continuing investment in new facilities allows us to provide our customers with the added value services they require.

“This, coupled with our total commitment to meeting customers’ needs, is the key to our current growth. We’re pleased to be expanding and creating jobs at this difficult time. Yorkshire Bank is a long-term partner of our business and has always been supportive of our development plans.”

McDowells are also launching a home delivery service which will see it make collections and deliveries anywhere in the UK for online retailers, using the firm’s national depot network.

A depot was opened in Bellshill, Glasgow in 2011, and a Bristol facility was opened earlier this year.

Jason Middleton, business partner at Yorkshire Bank’s West Yorkshire Business Banking Centre said: “Increases in oil prices during the last few years have not made life easy for haulage and distribution businesses. However, McDowells is an experienced and creative company which has continuously invested and developed its services and Yorkshire Bank is pleased to be supporting its further expansion.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .