Transport company’s founder and boss gets a MBE
THE founder and managaing director of a Llanelli transport and logistics firm has been awarded a MBE.
Huw Owen has been given the Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to employment and to the community in Llanelli and south Wales.
After starting the business in 1970 as an owner driver, Mr Owen has led the company though positive changes while driving it forward. The company has continued to grow and evolve within an extremely challenging economic time.
This past year saw the firm involved in the mammoth effort to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to NHS stores across the UK.
Drivers and other logistics staff worked long hours to ensure frontline NHS staff had adequate PPE stocks available and are fully protected at all times.
Huw Owen, Owens Group managing director, said back in May: “This has been one of the most important challenges in the history of our company and we are all honoured to be playing such an important role in supporting NHS Wales and other NHS departments across the UK.”
The company’s HQ is in Dafen, Llanelli, but depots are also situated at the Riverside Industrial Park in Llangennech, Port Talbot, Bridgend, Waterton, Newport, Avonmouth, Hemel Hempstead, Droitwich, Craven Arms, Derby, Wrexham and Manchester.
The family business was been tasked with distributing multiple truckloads of essential pieces of PPE to NHS Wales and also to NHS departments in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Owens Group trucks met flights, specially chartered by the Welsh Government, carrying PPE from Asia to Cardiff.
The freight was unloaded with staff from Owens collaborating on the ground with NHS Wales, Cardiff Wales Airport, South Wales Police, Swissport handling and Military Aid.