Italian Services Are Back Up And Running

Following the traditional August downturn in logistics services to and from Italy, Simarco’s road freight team are delighted to confirm that our Italian export groupage services are now fully operational.

Twice-weekly direct trailer services, operated through both our Witham and Stoke depots, are back up and running to and from multiple hubs, including Milan, Verona, Bologna, Genoa, Florence, Rome and Naples.

Through these strategic locations we are able to provide cost effective collection and delivery solutions, for groupage and part loads, to and from all major towns and cities throughout Italy.

In conjunction with our exclusive partnership arrangements in the country, we are also able to offer customs and warehousing solutions, which couple seamlessly with our fulfilment capabilities throughout the UK.

Our sales team are able to offer competitive rates, and would be delighted to hear from you should you require further information. Therefore, please do not hesitate to contact us using the details below.

Customs Rollback CDS Export Deadline To March

UK Customs have recently confirmed that the deadline for transitioning exports from CHIEF to CDS has been rolled back until 30th March 2024.

CDS (Customs Declaration Service) is HM Customs latest software for processing declarations and performing customs related functions. This replaces the CHIEF system, which has been in operation for thirty years and is being phased out.

Imports moved over to CDS in September 2022, and at that time the plan was for exports to follow in March this year. However, HMRC have now extended that deadline twice.

According to their website notice, they have listened to feedback and have now decided to ‘phase’ CDS exports in. Therefore, for the vast majority of exporters, CHIEF will remain in place until March 2024, but a few high volume declarants will be starting to using CDS from November.

The full notice can be viewed on the .gov website HERE.

If you require more information on CDS, or would like to find out about our customs declaration services, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Supporting Grass Roots Football

We are delighted to announce that we have extended our sponsorship of and collaboration with Witham Town FC for a further two years.

Simarco Stadium, the home of Witham Town FC is part of the Essex County Grass Roots Moving Forward Strategy. The strategy enables nonprofessional clubs such as Witham Town FC offer a safe and fun football environment for all members of the local community. This year the club plays host to 7 adult teams, 29 youth teams, 8 girls’ teams and a soccability and development program.

Their partnership with Simarco has meant that the club can continue to remain at the heart of the local community, by developing and growing year on year, whilst continuing to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for adults and children.

With matchdays a favourite amongst the community the club also plays host to a variety of community events, including our charity quiz nights which are in association with our nominated charity, Brainwave.

Club Chairman, Mark Nicholls said, “We’re absolutely delighted that Simarco have extended their arrangement with us, this will help the club remain competitive and continue our range of operations and help towards improvements planned around the club.”

Managing Director, Trevor Scott said, “Having sponsored Witham Town FC for the past 4 years we have been really impressed with their work in the community ensuring the club is a safe and enjoyable environment. The work that is carried out by the volunteers is fantastic and the clubs’ morals match those of Simarco. We are very pleased to partner for a further 2 years and look forward to our continued sponsorship enhancing the club and local community”.

Simarco’s Special Guest

We are delighted to have recently sponsored local charity, the Peter Pan Centre, a dedicated centre for Children with Special Needs. 

The Newcastle Under Lyme based charity, is an organisation which specialises in the education, care, and development of children with special educational needs.

At the beginning of August, the charity held a ‘School Leavers Family Fun Day’ for all children taking their first steps in to school this September.

With a helping hand from team Simarco, all 39 leavers were able to enjoy a special visit from star guest Princess Elsa, caps, and gowns for their ‘class of 2023’ leavers photos and plenty of party themed refreshments and decorations. 

Peter Pan Centre Manager, Sadie Clarke said, “This was our first graduation celebration for the children leaving to move onto School in September. We wanted to mark their time at the centre with this celebration to show them and their parents how proud we are and the progress each child has made since starting with us. The event was well attended, and it was lovely to see the children enjoying themselves with their parents. It felt special to provide them with treasured photograph’s, with some parents saying they were the best photo’s they had ever managed to get of their child.”

We are dedicated to the support and commitment of community-based projects such as the Peter Pan Centre and we wish all the children the best of luck in their next big steps!

Simarco Plant Over 12,000 Trees With Ecologi

It is now eighteen months since Simarco signed up with Ecologi to make a positive impact on the world by helping to build forests and reducing our carbon footprint.

Since February 2022, we have worked with the climate based solutions business, who have had a huge impact by planting 68 million trees and avoided 2.7 million tonnes of CO2e.

We are delighted to have played our part, having now completed 25 projects we have been responsible for the planting of 12,150 trees and 126 tonnes of carbon reduction.

Ecologi confirm that “The funding for tree planting provides a wide range of benefits to local people and biodiversity. These benefits include food, shelter, and ecosystem services such as regulating water levels, and creating cooler, wetter microclimates in places where the climate is getting hotter and drier. The benefits of trees are truly incredible.”

Simarco are also aligned with Ecologi’s Science Based Targets Initiative where tree planting is recommended as one of the climate solutions to remove residual emissions to reach net zero. 

For more information on Ecologi please visit: https://ecologi.com/

Simarco celebrate a significant reduction in CO2e emissions throughout the month of June

Simarco’s significant aspirations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease our environmental impact are coming to fruition as we are delighted to announce that we have successfully reduced our CO2e emissions by 8tCO2e throughout the month of June.

As part of our sustainability strategy, we recently invested in a 50,000 litre HVO (Hydrotreated Bio-Fuel) fuel tank, located at our Crittall Road depot, Witham. As part of our phased approach, ten of our 44T trunking vehicles were selected to use 50% HVO biofuel.

Since using HVO we have successfully reduced our fleet’s CO2e emissions by 40 tonnes in the past five months; and in June alone, we used 7,000 Lt of HVO, reducing our CO2e emissions by 8tCO2e.

These results are a great step forward towards our five-year sustainability target and highlight the success of and our dedication to Simarco’s sustainability strategy.

Simarco’ s solution to soaring import rates from China to UK in August

If you’re involved in importing goods from China to the UK, brace yourself for an imminent challenge on the horizon. In August, the shipping industry is expected to witness a General Rate Increase (GRI) that could significantly impact shipping costs. Market rates have already surged, with spot levels reaching as high as $2000.00 per 40ft HC container. However, there’s good news for businesses looking for stability amidst these turbulent waters. The Simarco Ocean Freight team is ready to assist with long-term deals at rates below the current spot levels.

The shipping industry has faced numerous challenges over the past years, from capacity issues to rising fuel costs and geopolitical tensions. As global trade continues to rebound and supply chains work to recover from the disruptions caused by the pandemic, shipping lines are adjusting their prices to adapt to the market demands.

The China to UK trade route is experiencing a significant spike in freight rates, making it essential for businesses to carefully plan their logistics and budget for the upcoming increase. Those who rely on spot rates could face even higher costs due to the limited capacity and unprecedented demand. As a result, securing a long-term agreement with fixed rates below the current spot levels can be a smart strategy to mitigate potential financial risks.

Simarco understands the complexities of international shipping. Their Ocean Freight team is well-prepared to help businesses navigate these turbulent times. By locking in long-term rates below the current soaring spot levels, Simarco aims to offer stability and predictability to importers from China to the UK.

With Simarco’ s expertise and extensive network, businesses can gain a competitive edge by securing reliable shipping arrangements. By planning ahead and making use of the available resources, companies can better manage their supply chains, reduce costs, and ensure their goods reach the UK market on time and without unnecessary financial strain.

In conclusion, the impending General Rate Increase demands careful consideration and proactive planning. Market rates have skyrocketed, posing potential challenges to businesses relying on spot rates. However, Simarco’ s Ocean Freight team stands ready to provide relief by offering long-term deals at rates below current spot levels. By collaborating with a trusted logistics partner like Simarco, importers can mitigate the impact of rising shipping costs and ensure a smoother, more efficient supply chain operation.

For further information, contact Scott Hutchison via scott.hutchison@simarco.com

Simarco reach Gold Standard for Carbon Offset

Simarco have recently received gold standard certification in the FloGas Carbon Offset initiative, by compensating 75.30 tonnes of CO2E through the use of LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).

This achievement makes up part of a five-year road map to roll out our sustainability vision and goals. Our sustainability strategy – Simarco’s 3P Vision – focuses the entire business around three key pillars – PEOPLE, PLANET and PROSPERITY.

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.

Some of the key achievements from our sustainability targets during recent times include:

• Joining the United Nations Global Compact and the UN Global Compact Network UK.
• Redesigning our headquarters in Witham to install highly energy efficient lighting systems across the warehouses and offices, reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 70%.
• Continuing to invest in new vehicles to reduce emissions while also improving health and safety for our drivers, customers, and other road users.
• Introducing HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) fuel throughout our fleet.
• Assigning key team members to join the UN Global Compacts ‘Climate Ambition Accelerator’ programme. 
• Setting near-term company-wide emission reduction targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
• Through Ecologi, being directly responsible for the planting of over 10,000 trees reducing carbon by over 100 tonnes.
• Achieving gold standard certification in the FloGas Carbon Offset initiative.

Planning ahead for Friday’s Bastille Day

Friday, 14th July is a public holiday in France, with businesses, shops, banks, public offices and schools closed during Bastille Day.

Bastille Day marks the anniversary of the fall of the Bastille, Paris in 1789. Originally built as a medieval fortress, the Bastille eventually came to be used as a state prison where political prisoners were held.

There is the possibility of delays for customers using our Regime 42 and 40 services during this year’s public holiday.

We would therefore suggest that when planning any shipments to depart 14th-16th July, bookings, paperwork and invoices are sent through to us by 2pm on Thursday 13th July, which should enable us to avoid any delays to clearances and ensure weekend departures.

We very much value your cooperation regarding the above

For those unaware, our Regime services improve EU customs efficiencies and usually reduce door to door transit times for DDP export shipments moving to European Union countries.

Should you require any further information regarding the upcoming public holiday or our Regime services, then please do not hesitate to contact your operational contact or alternatively email michael.dunne@simarco.com.

Simarco on safari at the Witham Carnival

The Witham Carnival was back with a bang this past weekend, as Simarco trucks adorned the streets of Witham on Saturday 8th July 2023.

As a logistics provider headquartered in Witham, Simarco is always delighted to support local events, and the Carnival is one we have very much enjoyed working with down the years.

Six Simarco trucks were provided again, which operated as floats in the procession and each was beautifully decorated in line with this year’s theme – ‘On Safari’.

We would like to say a big thank you to our fantastic team members that unselfishly volunteered to drive the vehicles, each navigating a float sponsoring local organisations, as listed below:

• Darren Moore – Rugby club
• Ben Cheney – Football club
• David Gray – Childminders
• James Smith – 1st Scouts
• Paul Lopez – Templars Community Association
• Kurtis Greatorex (from IT) – Witham Amateur Operatic Society

The judges gave Ickle Rainbow Childminding the best overall float award with their “Children on Safari” theme, while Witham Scouts came second.

The Witham Carnival organisers were quick to thank Simarco and other businesses that support the event, commenting “Without their tremendous support the Carnival day would cease to exist“.