Wales’ homegrown oil supplier hires 27 in expansion drive
INDEPENDENT oil distributor Oil4Wales has recruited 27 new members of staff as it continues its growth strategy across Wales.
Drivers, boiler engineers, sales representatives and apprentices have joined the family-run business, which employs 80 staff.
The investment in new staff comes on the back of a record year which saw the company’s turnover soar to £120m.
Established in 2010, Oil4Wales has grown considerably over the past seven years and now supplies 65,000 domestic and commercial customers across Wales.
Its seven depots in Cardiff, Carmarthen, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Newtown, Lampeter, Brecon and Pembroke Dock handle a total volume in excess of 160 million litres of fuel per year.
More than 16 million litres are supplied to some of Wales’ leading businesses, including Mansel Davies & Son, Edwards Coaches, Walters Group and Persimmon Homes.
Oil4Wales managing director Colin Owens said: “Over the next five years we are aiming to continue achieving growth of 20% to 30% year on year whilst building up our reserves to ensure the company’s long-term future.
“As we look to continue to strengthen our brand and grow the business, the recruitment of new staff, particularly drivers, is ongoing.
“Our staff work extremely hard to ensure our customers never go without their oil, so if it wasn’t for them to company wouldn’t be where it is today.”
In addition to seven depots, Oil4Wales owns and operates three petrol filling stations and supplies a further 27 across Wales through franchising agreements.
One of the petrol stations it owns through Maesteg 24/7 Express has recently undergone a major £200,000 investment and refurbishment, including a total redesign of the shop and the development of a new cafe.
Mr Owens added: “Our aim as a business is to support the communities in which we operate. We are constantly inundated with requests to support the community and many times we are thrilled to be able to do so.
“However, we are a relatively young business and our balance sheet remains fragile, so we must focus on ensuring the long-term future of the business, while offering help wherever possible.”
Oil4Wales is one of 18 Welsh companies included in the London Stock Exchange’s 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain, and is the only Welsh oil distributor to have its fuel accredited by the FPS (Federation of Petroleum Suppliers).