A FAST-GROWING transport and logistics company is eyeing further expansion after moving into bigger Tyneside premises and opening a depot in Belgium.

From a low-key start as a courier scooter service mainly working with business in Newcastle, OSE is now making a name for itself in UK and European transport and logistics, including hazardous and refrigerated transport. The business, which was started by managing director Peter Hunt, rebranded from One Stop Express to OSE around a year and a half ago, the same time that the business opened its Belgian base at Veurne in Flanders.

And now its expansion has forced the company to shift into a bigger operations base at Wallsend’s Morston Quays from its original warehouses in Byker.

The company, which has its headquarters in Newcastle, now uses warehousing at its 10,000 sq ft centre in North Tyneside, and employs around 50 people split between operations and administration. OSE’s marketing co-ordinator, Laura Brown, said: “We’ve grown out of courier services and we are predominantly UK and European express services – urgent deliveries across the UK and Europe.

“We have been able to expand and build up relationships with other companies and existing clients.

“We deal with a lot of industry areas and we are now very well known with other transport companies through our range of services.”

She said the rebrand was to reflect OSE’s larger remit and its shift away from local courier services.

“It was to move forwards to where we are going, more of an international presence,” said Brown.

“We were 10 years in Byker but we needed to relocate due to the expansion. We’ve just had to get larger space for our customer needs. A lot of clients have special needs such as high fashion garments that need racks.

“Belgium is another depot. It’s a hub for transport across northern Europe. It helps to lower costs, so we can be more competitive.

“We want to expand further – we will look to progress with that but it could be a year so in the future. We’re not sure where yet.”

The company is also aiming to grow its staff numbers over the next 12 months. It has employed a number of graduates from Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland Universities and also takes on apprentices.