DHL to deliver 1,100 new jobs
HUNDREDS of jobs are to be created by distribution firm DHL which is opening its second huge warehouse at a distribution park near East Midlands Airport.
The parcel company has taken a 10-year lease on a distribution centre which covers the area of two football pitches at the SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, just north of the Castle Donington airport.
It will be the second DHL warehouse at the distribution park where the company expects to employ more than a thousand people across the two sites, once both are operational.
The move to take a second big unit takes the total space pre-let to the global logistics operator there to close to 900,000 sq ft.
In August, planning permission was granted for a 670,000 sq ft building for DHL on the warehouse park. Currently under construction, it covers an area the size of about eight football pitches.
DHL has confirmed it plans to employ around 1,100 people from the local area across the two new warehouses when they are fully operational in three to four years’ time.
A spokeswoman for DHL Supply Chain said: “We are very excited about this latest development which, along with our previously announced facility currently in build at the East Midlands Gateway, will provide one of the most advanced and environmentally friendly facilities in the region, featuring large open plan work spaces, an excellent canteen and comprehensive leisure facilities.
“When fully operational in 2023/24 we are hopeful of employ
ing around 1,100 colleagues from the North Derby and West Notts area and we will shortly be reaching out to local schools and colleges, as well as via more traditional channels to showcase the roles we have on offer.”
DHL already has a significant base at the nearby airport.
East Midlands Gateway – which is served by its own rail freight interchange – is already home to a number of big warehouse buildings occupied by Amazon, Very, XPO
Logistics and Kuehne and Nagel.
Once complete, it will provide six million sq ft of space and create an estimated 7,000 jobs.
East Midlands Airport airport has seen a 20 percent growth in the amount of freight going through it, after increasing demand for dedicated express freight operators such as DHL, UPS and Fedex and an increase in people shopping more online.
Andrew Pilsworth, SEGRO’S business unit director for national logis
tics, said: “The latest addition with DHL at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway continues to highlight the demand for modern, sustainable space that is supremely well located.
“We have now contracted over half the available space, securing inward investment and creating jobs across the region.
“There’s a vibrant atmosphere on site and it’s good to see the high levels of activity of our customers during these uncertain times.”