A recent national
television report from the BBC has focused on the phenomenal growth of
warehousing space. Using data from property research firm CBRE, the BBC
reported an incredible 235 million sq ft of warehouse space leased or purchased
since 2007.
The demand for
warehousing is mainly due to the astonishing growth in online sales, with 1 in
5 retail purchases now coming from a computer or phone.
A key area for
warehouse growth is the East Midlands, from where most parts of the UK can be
reached by rail or road in four hours. Rapidly becoming known as ‘The Golden
Triangle’ of logistics, giants of retail like Aldi, Lidl, Marks and Spencer,
Amazon and Tesco all have, or plan to have, huge distribution depots in the
area.
Safety experts McCue
already have a long history of working with the world’s biggest retailers,
using an armoury of products to bring safety, protection and optimisation to
facilities across the globe. The growth in warehousing is good news for the
company, although MD Emma Panter is keen to stress the importance of safety to
the whole logistics chain.
She said: “Most
multinationals appreciate the importance of safety, not just in protecting
their employees and equipment, but for the smooth running of the whole
logistics chain. An accident can cause a vast amount of disruption and
downtime. Prevention of accidents is absolutely critical to productivity and
efficiency. In the online retail environment, this equals customer satisfaction
and returning trade.”
McCue utilise an
impressive range of equipment, from column protectors, door guards, safety
barriers and more, to build safety in to facilities – something that brand-new
distribution centres are doing more and more.
Emma commented:
“Safety as an afterthought is becoming less prevalent. More and more companies
and architects are building safety into their facilities from the ground up.
It’s the sensible approach – and something that we’re doing much more with our
clients.”
While traditional
high street shopping struggles, the growth in online sales does not look to be
slowing down any time soon. With McCue helping the giants of retail stay safe
and productive, modern warehousing will continue to help customers with their hearts’
desires – all at the click of a button.
