Type=image;ImageID=6500;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Sarah Middleton, Peter Bilson, Roger Lawrence, Stefan Barden;TitleClass=strong;
Type=image;ImageID=6501;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Citadel warehouse;TitleClass=strong;
The move, 2 years in the making, has been set up to support scalability in line with Wiggle's successive years of record breaking sales and revenue growth. The new site adds 323,000 sq ft of distribution space, 3 times the size of current warehouse space.
Wolverhampton City Council and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership has been working closely with the company to support it throughout the move.
Wiggle is known for its excellent customer service and carefully planned work is already underway to convert the idle space into an efficient packing and distribution centre. Situated 2 miles from the M6 and 6 miles from the M5, the Citadel warehouse boasts 95 lorry parking spaces and 32 loading bays - excellent dual carriageway access enabling Wiggle to compete in the national and international markets through road, rail and air links. The move is set to be completed by October, ready for the busy festive sales period.
A big boost for the West Midlands, the move will bring prosperity to the Wolverhampton area through the creation of up to 150 jobs and the Wolverhampton City Council will continue to work closely with Wiggle via a tailored recruitment package to ensure a smooth transition. West Midlands native and Wiggle general manager Andy Urwin, who hails from Walsall, will lead operations at the new site.
Wiggle will have a significant presence at the Wolverhampton Jobs Fair at Molineux Stadium on Friday 27 March. A number of Wiggle staff members, including Andy Urwin and Wiggle operations director Nick Pink, will be present at the Wiggle events trailer located just outside the main entrance to talk about the company and new distribution centre. With a number of opportunities available for warehouse operatives and team leaders at the new site, the team will be taking initial applications from potential applicants.
A century after opening as a small independent bike shop in Portsmouth, Wiggle will remain a big presence in the city they are accustomed to calling home with both Wiggle's Head Quarters and bike business remaining to serve more than 1 million customers across 70 countries.
Nick Pink, operations director at Wiggle, said: "Over the last 3 to 4 years we have seen 15 to 20% growth, and we are investing in this site to support that level of growth in the future. We are here for the long term."
Wolverhampton City Council economy leader Peter Bilson said: ""We have been working closely with Wiggle to make its relocation as smooth as possible, ensuring the conditions are right and offering any support we can in terms of recruitment. This is great news for the city - having a leading national brand like Wiggle making Wolverhampton its home, bringing in further investment and creating many jobs. We hope having a company with sport as its driver will inspire people here to become more active and lead healthy lifestyles. Wiggle's location to this area will also add to Bilston's multi million pound regeneration which will see new homes, leisure and business development."
- released: Wednesday 25 March, 2015