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Day: 17 July 2025

e-commerce Firm Hiring New Talent

Posted on by David Priestman

PostNL’s international subsidiary Spring GDS is on a mission to hire British talent as it continues to invest in its UK operations. It comes after the opening of Spring GDS’ new UK hub at London Heathrow and the expansion of its operation at Haydock earlier this year.

With many school leavers fresh on the jobs market, the cross-border e-commerce and logistics company has announced that it will increase its number of apprentices to ten in the UK by 2030.

Despite investing in comprehensive AI and technical upskilling for existing talent, the recruitment drive for those starting out demonstrates the company’s commitment to the creative problem solving that it is famed for across the world.

Hiring New Talent

With recent Manpower figures showing that 76% of UK employers seeking talent in transport, logistics and automotive are facing skills shortages, Spring GDS, which has high employee satisfaction ratings across Europe is seeking to train and develop its own.


Kelly van der Weg, Managing Director of Spring Global Delivery Solutions UK said: “In these unusual times, the UK has the potential to become a still more important hub for international e-commerce providers seeking routes into Europe and the USA. Yet, behind every delivery there needs to be a team empowered by a culture of innovation, agility, and customer obsession.

“Rather than being held back by skills shortages, our ambition remains to attract, train and retain the best talent in logistics in the UK across the world. That means we need to engage talent at an early stage in their career, investing in international talent programmes, sharing knowledge and creating interconnectivity across markets. Empowering staff with technology but also listening to their new perspectives and creative solutions to help us make a difference on a global scale.”

The company has already reinforced its sales, marketing and business development with three new hires in recent months and three additional vacancies across its operations to fill.

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Yusen Logistics to Acquire Walden Health

Posted on by David Priestman

Walden Group, a European logistics provider active in temperature-controlled logistics and last-mile delivery solutions for the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors as well as express delivery, today announced it has entered into exclusive negotiations in relation to the potential sale of its healthcare activities to Yusen Logistics Group, a Japan-based global logistics company fully owned by NYK Line, the largest Japanese shipping company.

Building on a leading position in Europe, the potential transaction would enable Walden Health to accelerate its growth, expand its international reach, and enhance its service by benefitting from Yusen Logistics Group’s global network and integrated logistics capabilities.

Shared Vision for Healthcare Logistics

Founded in 1951, Walden has since been at focused on pharmaceutical and healthcare market trends, with an offering of a wide range of value-added services tailored to clients’ needs. Walden has grown from a French to a pan-European operator through a successful combination of organic growth and acquisitions, having notably acquired Movianto from Owens and Minor in 2020. As the healthcare logistics market becomes increasingly global, the proposed transaction would ensure that Walden Health is best positioned as it enters its next phase of growth, involving:

• Expansion of its footprint beyond Europe
• Building on Yusen Logistics Group’s global infrastructure and digital capabilities to enhance service quality and resilience
• Continued investment in sustainable, compliant, and temperature-controlled logistics solutions

“Today’s announcement is a significant step in our journey to become a leading healthcare logistics player and we look forward to welcoming Walden Health into our group. We have been expanding healthcare logistics for the past years by enhancing our capability worldwide to provide customers with various logistics services. We believe combination between Walden Health’s high professionalism with longstanding reputation and our global network can make our healthcare logistics service truly unique” said Hiroki Harada, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Yusen Logistics Group.

“We are proud of the journey Walden has taken to become a trusted partner in healthcare logistics across Europe,” said Stephane Baudry, Chairman of Walden Group and grandson of Marcel Baudry, the founder of Walden, formerly known as CSP. “Thanks to Yusen Logistics Group, Walden Health will develop into a truly global player, capable of offering end-to-end services to clients, building on a strong innovative DNA focused on improving patient care with an unwavering commitment to quality. I am delighted to see the strong cultural and strategic fit of the two organizations and truly believe that Walden Health is set for continued success”

Continuity and Growth

While the healthcare division plans to embark on this new journey, Walden Group will continue to invest in its mobility division, including Ciblex and Relais Colis, where exciting opportunities lie ahead in express transport and last-mile delivery.

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Transport Managers Want One System or Platform

Posted on by David Priestman

Research conducted by transport technology solutions provider, Microlise, has revealed that transport and fleet managers face major challenges in improving operational efficiency when using multiple, disparate systems.

76% of respondents to a recent survey said that they either use, or had used, several different programmes to manage their logistics or supply chain fleets. The same respondents were also unequivocal in their opinion: they would prefer to use just one, unified system. The same research found that almost 70% of those questioned agreed with the statement: “Relying on several different systems makes my job more complex than it needs to be”.

One such logistics firm that was using several different platforms to manage their fleet’s complex operations was Europa Worldwide Group. The company has 1,300 employees working from 26+ locations around the globe, with its European operation of 30 HGVs and 500 trailers visits 10,000 delivery locations, resulting in up to 2,400 deliveries per day. In 2024 alone, their drivers travelled almost 1.8m miles.

Each element of Europa’s tracking was hosted on a different platform, some of which were manual and needed to be brought together. Unsafe driving cost the company £238,000 in at-fault accident pay outs in 2023, and idling was revealed to have cost £900 per month in January 2024 with fuel efficiency at 10.77mpg. Around 90% of their drivers were in the ‘High’ or ‘Very High risk’ category of driver performance.

Implementation of a unified system has allowed Europa to analyse route performance and full shipment tracking – including proof of delivery – all within the same interface.

Using their fully integrated telematics platform, Europa have significantly improved driver safety with 99% of their drivers now in the ‘Low’ or ‘Very Low risk’ category. The cost of at-fault accident pay-outs has decreased by more than 65%, as per-truck accident costs went down from £375 to £225 post implementation. Idling now costs £650 per month less than before and fuel consumption is up to 12.05mpg.

“We have faith in a system that is multi-faceted. Our drivers are doing their jobs to far higher standards and the margin for error from manually plotting MOTs and services is eliminated. We can make the daily walkaround checks focus on the elements we choose and filter those that need rectifying. We would highly recommend a unified platform,” said Europa’s General Manager for Transport, Malcolm Castle.

Nadeem Raza, Microlise’s CEO, commented: “Europa’s success shows just how powerful a unified fleet management platform can be. As the logistics industry grows and pressures mount, businesses need smarter tools that can keep up. A single, integrated system doesn’t just streamline operations, it lifts a huge weight off transport managers, helping to improve job satisfaction and reduce burnout. The companies that thrive will be the ones acting now to support their teams and stay ahead of rising demands.”

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Logistics Labour Crunch

Posted on by David Priestman

With the logistics sector bracing for continued labour shortages in 2025, businesses are rethinking how they attract and retain warehouse staff. Pallet Trucks UK, suppliers of manual handling equipment, argues that better tools – not just better pay – may be the overlooked factor in creating safer, more appealing workplaces.

As the industry battles with high turnover and an ageing workforce, the physical demands placed on employees are drawing increased scrutiny. The latest government data shows nearly 40% of UK logistics businesses are struggling to fill vacancies. While automation garners attention, many warehouses still rely heavily on manual processes – and it’s here that equipment upgrades can have the most immediate impact.

“Better conditions start with better equipment,” says Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at Pallet Trucks UK. “If you’re asking someone to lift, push, and transport heavy loads all day, you have a duty to ensure they’re using tools that minimise strain and reduce injury risk. It’s a matter respect, efficiency, and staff wellbeing.”

The company has seen growing demand for ergonomically designed pallet trucks and scissor lift tables that reduce physical stress on workers. These pallets not only help to avoid workplace injuries – a leading cause of absence in logistics – but can also serve as a valuable retention tool.

According to the British Safety Council, musculoskeletal injuries remain one of the most common reasons for long-term sickness among warehouse staff. Providing safer, easier-to-use handling solutions shows a tangible investment in the workforce – which can make all the difference in an industry where margins are tight, and staff loyalty is often hard-won.

“As competition for labour intensifies, we’re finding that companies who invest in the wellbeing of their warehouse teams see better morale, fewer injuries, and greater staff retention,” adds Chesworth. “It’s becoming a competitive necessity, particularly for businesses that cannot afford to compete with industry giants when it comes to pay.”

For businesses looking to future-proof their workforce, investing in the right manual handling equipment could just be the smartest move they make in 2025.

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