Member Article

Teesside transport strikes Brexit warning despite continued growth

Trading at The Nicholson Group, a Billingham-based transport group that operates three regional firms, is back at ‘pre-recession levels’ after years of continued growth.

The group, which operates crane operator Nicholson Hiab, storage business Box Clever and furniture retailer J N Rusticus, has enjoyed sustained growth across all three of its businesses while staffing levels have continued to go from strength to strength.

However, despite the heartening figures, the group’s Managing Director has struck a note of caution with warnings that the next 12 to 18 months are going to be challenging for the region’s businesses.

Head honcho David Nicholson, said: “We are back to pre-recession trading levels and that has given us the confidence to look longer term, to re-structure, to recruit more staff and develop new roles.

“But it’s all with a note of caution as over the next 12 to 18 months, we can’t take anything for granted.”

He added that there was ‘so much uncertainty’ regarding the government’s Brexit plans which are unlikely to get clearer any time soon.

Despite the note of caution, Nicholson said that trading volumes continued to be buoyant across all three of the Teesside group’s businesses, with Box Clever up to capacity for its storage and caravan containers while Nicholson’s newest business, J N Rusticus, had attracted orders from all over the UK.

He commented: “The economy is on the up and that is clearly evident from the volumes we are carrying. Business are producing more and that means our customers are using our services more and transporting more when they do so.

“That has an impact on our warehousing services and as businesses seek the flexibility of externally sourced warehousing, we are particularly seeing exceptional growth in our pick and pack service

“But so much is dependent on Brexit and what the outcome will be for the UK – jobs and prosperity need to be a priority. We are on the right track but need to keep our focus not to become derailed.”

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