Earth Day 22 April 2022

It seems only fitting to let you know that Simarco has become a member of Ecologi a climate positive environmental organisation who fund climate projects and tree planting around the world.  Their mission is to reduce 50% of global CO2 emissions by 2040 and responsibly plant billions of trees every year.  We are proud to say we will be part of their journey to help reverse climate change.  We have started planting our own forest and already have over 5,000 trees.   Click here to see where our forest is making a difference  https://ecologi.com/simarcointernational655

You can also be a part of this collective action by clicking the link below and follow the instructions….

https://ecologi.com/simarcointernational655?r=623c43481644e1fb9a934c6e

Felixstowe Introduces New Energy Levy

The Port of Felixstowe will be introducing a new import fee related to its increased cost of energy. Effective 1st May 2022, an Energy Adjustment Levy (EAL) – will be charged on all import containers travelling through the port.

The port attributes a 100% increase in energy costs year-on-year as the reason for introducing this charge, after accounting for its use of gas, electricity and diesel.

The conflict in Ukraine has undoubtedly inflated energy prices and we have seen many fuel surcharges applied to transport prices over recent times, with this now adding to the costs of imports.

The fee, which will be reviewed quarterly, has been set at:

EAL (Energy Adjustment Levy) : £11.25 per import container.

The port took the decision to only apply this to imports as with the huge number of containers leaving the UK empty, it became difficult to determine export container prices.

The fee will be billed to the customs declarant for all import containers out-gating the port after midnight on 30th April. Therefore, where Simarco handle the customs clearance through Felixstowe, we will be responsible for billing the £11.25 charge per container to the customer.

Express Distribution Continuing To Deliver

While global supply chain disruption continues to impact businesses, Simarco’s express distribution services, throughout the UK, are continuing to deliver.

Our experienced team focus on delivering 24/7 professional logistics solutions and are resourced to meet the ever changing needs of UK supply chain customers.

Our express distribution services are available 24 hours – 7 days per week, for time critical movements, with the additional option of loading or unloading, including handball, as a cross-dock solution. While guaranteeing friendly and professional drivers, we provide dedicated vehicles, which can be double manned for high value and sensitive loads.

Regardless of your collection and delivery requirements, you can be assured an in-house ‘Simarco’ vehicle will be on hand. This ensures there will be no transhipment of your goods, no cross contamination, and little or no risk of damage.

Providing POD’s immediately after delivery, tracking door to door, along with regular milestone updates, are just some of the features of our service that provide you with total visibility, while our transparent pricing policy ensures there will be no ‘hidden extras’.

Our same-day and next-day collection and delivery services cover the whole of the UK and our cross-dock solutions, operated through our Witham depot, enable us to deliver to London within an hour.

For express distribution that ensures complete ‘peace of mind’, please do not hesitate to contact Trevor Whiting via email simarcoexpress@simarco.com or call 01376 653128 / 07566 908388.

Simarco Apprenticeship Programme Goes from Strength To Strength

The Simarco management are very much advocates of developing our future stars of the industry from within, and we are proud to see our current team of apprentices has recently grown to an impressive twelve members.

Being affiliated with various local schools and colleges enables us to recruit, develop and mentor rising stars, while providing career pathways and opportunities. Through our apprenticeship programme, we invest heavily in the development, learning and progression of individuals, covering many facets of our business.

Simarco have introduced over fifty apprentices in the past five years and they operate in roles throughout the company. This includes positions in Warehousing, Customer Service, Human Resources and IT to Team Leader roles and the new industry-standard apprenticeship – International Freight Forwarding Specialist L3.

Simarco are committed to upskilling all employees and are continuously looking to develop our team professionally at all levels and in all functions. In addition to our commitment to the National Apprenticeship programme:

• Our Customs Teams are offered professional qualification opportunities with the Customs Academy.
• We have an ongoing certification programme for our dedicated team of drivers
• We have an in-house programme of training for our van drivers taking them to Class 2 Drivers.
• Our leaders are provided with the tools they need to lead with confidence with external coaching and training programmes.
• We are excited to be rolling out a Learning Management Platform so there will always be an opportunity to learn, whether it be workplace skills or upskilling compliance.

For more information on our apprenticeship programme and testimonials from some of our apprentices please visit https://simarco.com/jobs-and-careers/our-apprentices/.

Celebrating 25 Years in business…..

2022 is an exciting year for Simarco celebrating 25 years in business with which Simarco has gained the reputation as one of the UK’s leading independent freight operators, offering logistics services and supply chain solutions to a global customer base.

Simarco operates from seven sites in the UK.  The Head Office remains at Witham and another six sites at Bedford, Bristol, Gloucester, Heathrow, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent with distribution and warehouse facilities operating from Witham and Stoke-on-Trent.

We pride ourselves on great customer service, our team are always on hand to provide dedicated client support, and our state-of-the-art technology ensures we provide proactive real time and system reporting, as well as 24/7 online access to cargo so that our customers and partners remain in full control of their business.

Our main objective is to ensure that we always meet customers’ requirements regardless of size of shipment, location or time constraints.  We are a dedicated partner providing the logistics journey, offering flexible and effective supply chain solutions in the office, in the warehouse and out on the road.

Simarco are committed to a sustainable future and strive to increase the long-term environmental, social and economic value for all stakeholders. Our participation in the United Nations Compact Network and our adherence to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals help us accelerate our commitment to achieving sustainability across our supply chain.

“Thank you to everyone at Simarco for playing their part in our success.  And thank you to all our partners for their business and support over the years.”  Simon Reed, Chief Executive.

From Our Hearts To The Families Of Ukraine

Two trucks left Simarco warehouses this month with aid for the many Ukrainian families that have been tragically displaced since the outbreak of hostilities in their own country.

A full artic load left our Witham facility on March 14th, which has now been delivered to humanitarian warehouses on the Ukrainian/Polish border. Meanwhile, a box vehicle left our premises in Stoke on Friday 25th March and is en-route to the same delivery point.

Both vehicles were full of donations from Simarco staff and family members, customers, partners, the general public and other organisations, such as schools and local authorities.

Products, from torches and colouring books to clothing, blankets and nappies, along with numerous medical supplies, filled the vehicles, after an appeal was launched and coordinated by our team.

It has been impossible to not be incredibly moved by the harrowing pictures coming from Ukraine, including scenes of so many families crossing the border, unsure whether they will ever see loved ones again.

2.2 million Ukrainians have arrived in Poland since the war started and they are now heavily reliant on donations and aid from across Europe for their everyday provisions.

We are extremely proud of the efforts of our team and would like to thank all of those that have so generously come together to make this happen through their help and donations.

Did You Know That Today Is Global Recycling Day !

Global Recycling Day is held every year on 18th March. This day is dedicated to recognising and celebrating the importance that recycling plays in preserving our natural resources and securing the future of our planet.  It is a day for the world to come together and to consider our recycling responsibilities. 

The Earth loses billions of tons of natural resources annually, and in the not-too-distant future, it is expected to run out. That’s why we all need to regularly consider what we throw away – seeing not waste, but opportunity.

Additionally, the last decade has been the hottest on record, which has led to experts suggesting we are now in a climate emergency. If we don’t collectively make rapid changes, we may continue to see rising global temperatures, impacting the entire world.

Simarco are heavily invested in a sustainable vision for the future. Our sustainability program incorporates continuous reductions in our carbon footprint, with recycling, treating and reprocessing of natural resources playing a key role.

Our sustainability strategy – Simarco’s 3P Vision – focuses the entire business around three key pillars – PEOPLE, PLANET and PROSPERITY.  As a proud member of the UN Global Compact Network UK, our approach to sustainability follows the United Nations compact principles and sustainability development goals.  

All that remains, is for us to wish you a Happy Global Recycling Day!  

P&O Ferry Cancellations Leading To Delays

P&O suspended their ferry services pending a ‘major company announcement’ they were due to give today. That announcement has since followed and resulted in around 800 UK seafaring workers losing their jobs.

Their website suggests that there will be significant disruption across their ferry services during the next few days, which they are working on minimising.

Reports in national press are suggesting that the company are planning to use agency workers to maintain their services going forward.

From a road transport perspective, with P&O operating numerous routes between the UK and Europe, this has already led to disruption and delays at ro-ro ports, including Dover and Calais, and we expect this to continue until the situation is resolved.

Simarco are continuing to monitor the situation. If you require further information about current or upcoming orders, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Fuel Prices Lead To Truck Strike in Spain

Sharp increases in diesel prices, and the concern over future supply, have led to a truck driver strike in Spain, which has disrupted transport throughout the country this week.

The strike started on Monday and has continued into today, meaning that we have been unable to arrange collections and deliveries this week.

The strike, which also cites poor working conditions as a factor, is nationwide and is indefinite, so at this stage we are unsure how the situation will develop.

Fears are mounting that the emerging European movement of truckers against rising costs, which has been escalated since the sanctions on Russia, could see more strikes on the continent.

We understand there could be a nationwide strike in Italy on March 19^th and that many French truckers are calling for a strike this month too.

Simarco are monitoring the situation closely. Should you require any further information, then please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team.

United Nations Global Compact Network 

Simarco International Ltd is pleased to announce that we have joined the United Nations Global Compact and the UN Global Compact Network UK — a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices.

With this announcement, Simarco joins thousands of other companies globally and in the UK, committed to taking responsible business action to create the world we all want.

The UN Global Compact is a call to companies to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 12,000 companies and 3,500 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 69 Local Networks.

Simarco is proud to be a part of this prestigious network which is crucial to our 5-year road map to achieve our sustainable vision to create and enhance environment, social and economic values.