Portsmouth: Ferryspeed strengthens UK position

Hampshire-based freight company Ferryspeed is going from strength to strength in a relatively static Islands shipping market.
As the largest provider of shipping, storage and distribution services to and from the Channel Islands, privately-owned Ferryspeed could easily be forgiven for relying solely on its core business traffic to Guernsey and Jersey. Instead, Ferryspeed has been picking up the pace.

Over the past 12 months Ferryspeed has introduced an enhanced service to the Isle of Wight; has developed its commercial team; increased its freight forwarding business overseas; is about to ‘go live’ with a new IT system that will revolutionise all working practices to provide enhanced customer service levels; opened a brand new distribution centre in the Midlands and strengthened its management team with the recruitment of six new employees.

Nigel Klimesch, business development manager, with over 30 years experience in the logistics and shipping industry, particularly European Logistics, joins the commercial team alongside Dean Sotnick, Alan Johnson and Fred Rowland. He has been brought in to focus on sales and expansion across the UK, paying particular attention to the Midlands region and developing a new facility in Rugby.

Also supporting the commercial team while focusing on expanding and driving forward the UK pallet division, Craig Stevens joins the company as business development manager.

Lee Hollands, development manager and Anna Pether, customs controller, have both recently been recruited to focus on customs support and steer and manage the implementation of a new, state of the art IT system update.

Meanwhile, Louise Pattenden, assistant business manager, has only been with the company a few months and is already relishing in her new role looking after Ferryspeed’s key account customers.

Stan Markland, managing director, said: “As a company we are excited about the future and are continually looking ahead– long-term growth is our aim, not short-term gain. Expanding upon our principle service sector areas allows a certain level of freedom and flexibility – we are able to look at international trade relations, invest in new technology and increase our number of UK depots without compromising on core business foundations and strengths. We are proud of our achievements to date.

“We are also continually looking to invest in our workforce – up-skilling our existing team members and driving recruitment in areas that will benefit our end customers.”

Resources: Ferryspeed website