The Mayor of Swindon, Cllr Garry Perkins, supported the official opening of the new OPX Group’s Distribution Centre on Thursday 10th February.
Located in Ignition Park, Dorcan, the 37.000 square feet warehouse & offices with state-of-the-art management systems is the next step in owner Lee Hallett's journey after successfully launching his first company in 2014.
Hallett has always been very open about his journey and how he started his business after a tough time in his personal life in 2012, where he effectively became homeless and unemployed. In 2013, Hallett approached the Job Centre who put him in touch with Outset, a government backed scheme that helps provide funding and to give people the tools to succeed when they have ideas and a drive to run their own business.
If they believe the business plan is viable, the start-up plan is approved, and a small start-up loan provided by the European Development Fund. A successful application saw the start of Hallett’s journey.
Through this funding process, Cllr Perkins first met Hallett and was, therefore, a fitting tribute to be a part of his journey seven years on and see the success Hallett has made from the opportunity given. In his speech, Cllr Perkins recognised Halletts' journey and wanted to express the amazing work people can achieve when given the opportunity through successful schemes such as Outset. He’ said “After the closure of Honda, Swindon needs entrepreneurs like Lee.”
In his seven years, Hallett has continued to build relationships with his customers, and those relationships have helped with the successful growth & expansion of the newly established and rebranded OPX Group, which stands at an annual turnover of more than £25 million a year. OPX Group is the holding company of ‘OPX Recruitment’ ‘OPX Logistics’ & ‘OPX Distribution’
Headhunted from Aldi, after 30 years, Dave Boggild has joined OPX Group as its new General Manager. When asked what made his decision to join OPX Group, Boggild said: "The opportunity to make a difference, every single day. Without the corporate bureaucracy, I'm able to make decisions at any time to create an environment where people want to work.
"The vision is to make OPX the best place in Swindon to work. We've got some of the best employees already, and we want to make it the best for everyone in the future. The depot is modern and efficient, so a great place to work. It's a place where people are valued and trusted, and where their contributions are recognised.
"This is just the beginning. We have exciting plans, and in early 2023 we will hopefully open a larger distribution centre in the Midlands. As an ethical business, we will deliver on our promises of supporting the supply chain and allowing our partners businesses to operate smoothly, we are the solution to their problems.”
When addressing the audience, Hallett reflected on the past few years and the journey they have all been on: "We've experienced such significant growth, year on year; our feet haven't touched the ground. In seven years, we've created three successful, profitable businesses and employ hundreds of people on a daily basis. We are supported by some of the country's biggest third-party logistics providers, supermarkets and retailers."
The newly fitted out facility took only three months to get ready with the hard work and dedication from the team. The opening event was a huge success, with over 100 guests, including family, customers, and employees, who played an integral role in Hallett's success. Existing employees and suppliers shared videos of their experience working with Hallett and the team at OPX Group and the confidence he places in delivering.
The expanding team also sees Andrew Smith, who is considered in the top 1% of Chief Financial Officers in Europe, who joins from the Heineken Group as their newly appointed Financial Director to support the business's continued growth.
Hallett concludes: "This is an exciting time for OPX, and this is an exciting time for Swindon. We have found our place in the market and have ambitious plans to grow throughout the country. I am truly grateful for the continued support of my family, friends, colleagues and employees, who have all played a part in where we're stood today, and I am incredibly proud of everyone involved."
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