OREANDA-NEWS.   UPS today announced the opening of a new 8,400 square meter package sorting and delivery facility in Southampton. The new facility will employ 180 staff, accommodate up to 150 delivery trucks and has the capacity to sort 7,500 packages per hour, nearly doubling the capacity of the two facilities in Southampton and Eastleigh that it replaces. The new building features the latest in sustainable and environmentally-friendly design, highlighting UPS’s commitment to making its network as efficient and environmentally sound as possible.
Sustainability is at the forefront of the new facility as it conforms to the BREEAM standard of excellence, the world's leading assessment method for sustainable buildings. The new Southampton facility includes designs for maximising natural lighting and features energy efficiency measures, such as smart lighting control and solar panels providing electricity to the hot water systems.
The opening of the facility, attended by local MP Alan Whitehead and managing director of UPS UK, Ireland and Nordics George Willis, marks the start of a partnership between UPS, Southampton City Council and Brockenhurst College to provide a bespoke vocational course for people in the local community. This course is aimed at assisting those currently out of work into gaining employment in UPS's operations.
George Willis, managing director for UK, Ireland & Nordics said: “UPS's investment in the Southampton facility is reflective of the strength of our growing logistics network in the UK. It also demonstrates our long-term commitment to helping customers of all sizes connect to markets all over the world, while boosting local jobs and the local economy."
Alan Whitehead MP for Southampton Test said: "It's great that companies like UPS continue to invest in Southampton, providing training and creating new opportunities for local people. I really enjoyed seeing the impressive facility and meeting some of the great staff who keep operations going. This is good news for Southampton."