Chris Grayling, the UK Secretary of State for Transport, has officially opened DHL Express’s Southern Hub on the edge of Heathrow Airport.
The site forms part of the investment plan announced in 2014 and is home to over 750 employees. It plays an important role in DHL’s UK operation, managing DHL shipments for the southeast of England.
Grayling toured the 150,000ft2 site with Ian Wilson, the new DHL Express UK and Ireland CEO.
The new 65m (US$68.7m) hub brings together DHL’s head office and its southeast operation under one roof. It will operate 24/7 and ensure DHL meets the growing international delivery needs of its customers with the capability to process 28,000 items per hour, four times the capability of the previous site.
Ian Wilson commented, “Our new Southern Hub ensures that we are able to meet the needs of our customers long into the future.
“It also offers people an excellent working environment and bring together multiple areas of our business, creating a truly ‘as one’ working environment something that is really important to us here at DHL.”
The new facility features a staff gym and offers flexible working, as well as being environmentally friendly with photo-voltaic panels, water-saving measures and air source heat pumps. Carbon dioxide emissions will also be reduced by 40% in line with building regulation requirements.
Grayling said, “I am delighted to officially open DHL Express’s Southern Hub, a new state-of-the-art facility that will help boost trade links between the UK and markets worldwide.
“Heathrow carries more freight by value than all of the UK’s other airports combined and this new center will allow DHL Express to carry even more air cargo over the coming years.
“The hub opens at an exciting time as the government is consulting on proposals for a new northwest runway at Heathrow, which will help connect more British global customers than ever before.”
DHL Express Europe CEO, John Pearson added, “The UK operation is a key component of the global DHL business. The new Southern Hub will play a crucial role in enabling DHL Express UK to continue to support the thriving British export and import market.
“This new facility forms part of our wider investment program, which will ensure DHL’s network remains industry-leading and develops in line with growing customer demand.”
March 7, 2017