Haulier hopes training will drive profits up

Jan 13 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A HAULAGE company hopes to overtake the competition after investing in training to help it grow its turnover by almost £1m by next year.

Nicholson’s Transport, based in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, has recently invested in a major training programme to ensure that it can increase its market share as its competitors struggle under the weight of the economic downturn.

The training, which was partly funded by Business Link, saw staff put through leadership and management courses provided by the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), with senior managers currently undertaking degree courses in business.

The investment, which also saw truckers study for Safe and Fuel Efficient (SAFE) driving qualifications, is part of an effort by the company to improve the quality of its service in order to help grow its turnover by 25% from £3.2m to £4m by next year.

The firm, which specialises in pallet delivery, said that it had gone through a difficult trading period between 2006 and 2007 as the early stages of the credit crunch began to affect its supply chain but had got back on track as a result of the training. It has also introduced late-night deliveries to Glasgow in order to service its Scottish clients in addition to its main deliveries to a central distribution hub in Birmingham, which has opened it up to new markets.

Managing director David Nicholson said: “Much of the competition in the haulage industry has fallen away since the beginning of the credit crunch and we had to make sure that we were in a position to take advantage.

“Training and education is essential for a business to go forward and I have to set an example. The days of people walking into a job with very little education and expecting to do well are long gone.”

The firm is now looking to expand beyond its 15-acre site in Billingham and smaller depot in Doncaster and is considering acquiring a number of businesses over the next two years.

The firm, which has its 20th anniversary next year, is also planning to add 10 staff to its 50-strong workforce during the same period in order to deal with the extra work.

“We are now able to offer an even better service to our customers and aim to grow over the coming years as a result,” Mr Nicholson said.